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How the Euro Affects Your Investments
Posted: 2012-05-17

Alan McKnight, the director of global investment strategy at Balentine, said taking on currency exposure adds the risk that movements in the currency can influence the overall value of the asset regardless of the underlying characteristics of the asset. To illustrate this point he offered an example: "An investment in a German stock that is held in euros would be hurt by a weakening euro regardless of the underlying fundamentals of the company," such as cash flows and the balance sheet.

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New Firm Builds Hedge SMAs at $250K Minimums
Posted: 2012-05-08

The concept is indeed enticing for advisors because of the ability to give investors as much data about their holdings in a hedge fund strategy as possible, says Alan McKnight, director of global investment strategy at Balentine, an Atlanta-based RIA that offers alternatives to its clients. “We love the concept, but we expect it to take time to build a robust offering,” he adds. “You don’t want a limited subset.”

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Community Foundation of Northeast Georgia Hires Balentine
Posted: 2012-04-26

Judy Waters, executive director of the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia, said that the fund had put its investment consulting services contract out to bid during a strategic planning process unrelated to the litigation, which eventually led to the appointment of Balentine as its investment consultant.

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A Primer for Investing in Commodities
Posted: 2012-04-24

Keep in mind that commodities as an asset class can be volatile and therefore deserve "considerable research and scrutiny," says Alan McKnight, the director of global investment strategy at Atlanta-based investment advisory firm Balentine. "Investors should be very careful. ... It is important that they have a clear understanding of the spot and futures markets," he says.

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Freaky Friday the 13th: Risk returns to market
Posted: 2012-04-13

"Profit levels are already at record highs. So Corporate America has to start showing sustainable revenue growth to justify current stock valuations. That is key. And there are considerable headwinds for companies to digest," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at Balentine in Atlanta.

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How Weak Is China?
Posted: 2012-04-03

"It is not in the Chinese government's interest to not have things go smoothly and hurt the economy," Clark Li, global research director of Balentine in Atlanta said in a recent interview.

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Is China Worth Trusting?
Posted: 2012-04-02

HSBC surveys managers in the private sector, while the government surveys national companies. They can do anything they want with the numbers, but as one investment advisor told me, Clark Li, the Global Investment Research Director from the $1 billion Balentine asset management firm in Atlanta, “You must believe someone. If you don’t believe the Chinese government, then you have to find better data to follow.”

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Filings give peek inside wealth management world
Posted: 2012-03-30

The firm gives investors the ability to choose whether they want to be party to all decisions about their money, said President Jeff Adams. "We believe that offering both appropriate. There are still clients who prefer to make the decisions themselves," he said. Still, "We have more clients than not that trust us to do it for them."

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US Stocks Decline On China, Euro-Zone Worries
Posted: 2012-03-22

"I would put Europe as the No. 1 issue. It has been the No. 1 issue for markets over a year now," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at Balentine.

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US stocks end down on Chinese and eurozone PMI contraction
Posted: 2012-03-22

Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at Balentine said, "The data today suggested the fact that the economic downturn there might be a little worse than people were anticipating a few weeks ago."

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Video Game Industry Veteran Brings Media Skills to Financial Advisory Shop
Posted: 2012-03-12

A former producer with video game design shop Electronic Arts, Joe Stallings worked on hits like The Sims and Tiger Woods PGA Tour. So when he joined Atlanta-based financial advisory firm Balentine as partner and communications director in January 2010, it's no surprise he ensured the firm was making use of every digital channel to communicate with clients and prospects.

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ICE, Global Payments lead Ga. overseas growth
Posted: 2012-03-09

"It's been a good strategy for companies," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at Balentine LLC, which manages more than $1 billion in investments. The top line of a balance sheet, where revenue is listed, grew the most at companies that expanded their business into emerging markets outside the United States, he said.

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Need for cash spurs golden opportunity
Posted: 2012-02-08

Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer of the investment advisory firm Balentine, said for now, he recommends clients hold onto gold in their investment portfolios. But when interest rates rise, he added, there will be better ways to invest. Still, he said it is best to be cautious. "For now, it's not yet in a bubble," he said. "It's a very good candidate to become a bubble at some point."

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China: Fast food nation. Too fast economy?
Posted: 2012-02-07

"There is a bubble in the housing market in China. There is no doubt about that. But it may not burst as dramatically as it did in the U.S.," said Yulong "Clark" Li, global investment research director at Balentine, a money manager based in Atlanta. "For 2012, the probability of a hard landing in China is still pretty low."

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Life after Wilmington Trust is good for Balentine
Posted: 2012-02-06

"When we opened our doors in 2010, there was a dearth of independent investment firms and a crisis of confidence among investors, prompting many to lament the lack of objective investment advice," Balentine, chairman and CEO, said in a statement.

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Top Picks In The BRICs For February
Posted: 2012-02-03

The stock market in China tends to rally after the Chinese New Year, says Clark Li, Global Investment Research Director at Balentine, a $1 billion advisory firm in Atlanta. "We are bullish towards emerging markets this month," says Li. Balentine's models update monthly. February the model went from bearish EM equity compared to developed markets, to bullish. His favorite country this month is India. "We favor passive investments like ETFs into India due to their liquidity and low costs," he says.

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Atlanta Market Bustles with Advisor Moves
Posted: 2012-01-30

Another big RIA in the Atlanta market, Balentine, just marked a milestone in passing the $1 billion mark in assets in less than two years since it re-formed after advisors who had joined Wilmington Trust and SunTrust Banks got back together in early 2010. It now has 10 partners.

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The Butterfly Effect: Biodiversity In The Blue Ridge
Posted: 2012-01-25

In "The Butterfly Effect: Biodiversity and the Blue Ridge," Robert Balentine discusses the incredible biodiversity of the region, examining the symbiotic relationships between this bioregion and the flora and fauna found there. His discussion centers on the interdependence of life, sharing examples of how forces that are seemingly unrelated to the average person can come together to create mortal stresses on an already fragile ecosystem.

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Balentine Sponsors the 12th Annual Atlanta Jewish Film Festival
Posted: 2012-01-25

"At Balentine, we believe a global perspective provides essential insight into today's markets," explained Philip Cave, Director of Business Development at Balentine. "We are proud to support the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival in its efforts to share a variety of perspectives on complex and challenging issues facing both the Jewish and global communities."

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Balentine tops $1B under management
Posted: 2012-01-20

The firm, started less than two years ago by Robert Balentine, targets entrepreneurs who have recently sold their businesses to larger firms, and foundations and endowments looking for more active management of their funds.

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Balentine Surpasses $1 Billion in Assets Under Management
Posted: 2012-01-20

"When we opened our doors in 2010, there was a dearth of independent investment firms and a crisis of confidence among investors, prompting many to lament the lack of objective investment advice," said Chairman and CEO Robert Balentine. "In response to that need, we built a firm that provides exceptional service to our clients and bottom line results to protect and preserve their wealth, and we do all of this using a transparent, conflict free investment process."

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Balentine Sponsors the 2012 Balser Symposium for Professional Advisors
Posted: 2012-01-18

"Because of the philanthropic nature of our clients, it is important that we support efforts to stay current on matters of estate planning as it pertains to charitable giving," explained Erica Farber, Balentine's Director of Operations and a Balser Symposium Committee Member. "We are proud to partner with an organization that supports this mission."

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Advisors Steer Wealthy Clients Away from Gold
Posted: 2012-01-11

Adrian Cronje, CIO of Atlanta-based advisory firm Balentine, is also looking to emerging markets debt to provide a hedge against the dollar.

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Former Gold Fans Search for New Havens
Posted: 2012-01-09

One strategy, says Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer of Balentine, an investment advisory firm in Atlanta, is to buy emerging-market bonds, which provide some diversification against the dollar.

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Big companies come out on top of stock markets
Posted: 2011-12-30

"It's never a good place when so much is in the hands of politicians both here and in Europe," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at Balentine, which manages $995 million.

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As Gold Slides, Some Seek New Havens
Posted: 2011-12-30

Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer of Balentine, an investment advisory firm in Atlanta, recommends investors who are worried about gold's tumble move money into other commodities, such as energy and agriculture stocks, which would also protect portfolios against inflation.

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Thought Leader Robert Balentine on the Art and Science of Investing
Posted: 2011-12-14

When I founded the company in fall of 1987, I wanted to move away from a commission based structure, mainly because I felt there was a real conflict of interest when stockbrokers sold stocks and investment vehicles that they could make commissions on. I wanted our investment firm to be more centered on the client needs than on the salesperson's bottom line.

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Investors Anticipate Clearer Picture From Europe
Posted: 2011-12-04

"The bar has been raised somewhat," said Adrian Cronje, the chief investment officer of Balentine. "The market is essentially betting that it is not going to end in a catastrophe."

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Georgia Faces a New Lost Decade
Posted: 2011-12-04

"In a low-growth environment, the economy is vulnerable to outside shocks like what's happening in Europe, and recessions may come more frequently," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at Balentine LLC, an Atlanta-based finance firm.

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Clock ticks down on super committee
Posted: 2011-11-18

If the panel can agree on $1.2 trillion in savings, the market reaction will likely be "a great big yawn," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer of Balentine, an investment advisory firm.

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Debt committee: Market reaction a big unknown
Posted: 2011-11-17

"Markets want less ideology and more problem-solving," Adrian Conje said. "They want clarity. They want to know the rules of the road."

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Brazil: Searching for Balanced Solutions
Posted: 2011-11-14

For Philip Cave, partner at investment management firm Balentine, the move comes as no surprise. "Emerging markets versus developed countries have a different yardstick as to what is considered measurable inflation," he says. "Many have viewed the tightening move as political since the central bank has raised rates five times recently. As with the norm of central banks, they often overcorrect to hit a target rate and then have to retrace an equivalent amount; it is prudent to offset a trend and let the markets adjust."

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Beijing's 5% Housing Correction Far From A Collapse
Posted: 2011-11-12

Clark Li, Global Research Director at Balentine, a $1 billion asset management and advisory firm in Atlanta, told Forbes last week that there is a risk mid-sized and smaller developers could go bankrupt, but noted that China's big four commercial banks still had healthy balance sheets and could probably afford to take a hit on loans to developers.

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40 Under 40 Leader Survey
Posted: 2011-11-11

Unfortunately, the cold, hard reality is we are still only in the fourth inning of a long de-leveraging cycle that started with the financial crisis in late 2007. It was always going to be a long, hard slog for the economy to fully recover from that. The Federal Reserve can still do more to help cushion the impact of weak private-sector growth, but the tools still at its disposal are of limited potency, having pre-committed to exceptionally low interest rates well into 2013.

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Dismantling The China Hard Landing Narrative
Posted: 2011-11-08

"There is some kind of property bubble in Shanghai, but I don't think there is going to be a bust," says Yulong "Clark" Li, Global Investment Research Director at Balentine, a $1 billion asset management firm in Atlanta. "The China housing bubble is incomparable with the U.S. because of stricter lending rules, no sub prime, and continued urbanization trends that will absorb some of the vacancies we are seeing now," Li says.

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Selling a Business in Turbulent Times
Posted: 2011-10-31

Most mergers and acquisitions in the United States involve companies with $50 million to $300 million in revenue, and those businesses aren't all affected by political and global uncertainties, says Philip Cave, partner and director of business development at Balentine, a registered investment advisor in Atlanta. "Do not get distracted by global disinformation if it does not affect your business," he says.

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Stocks: Investors take a step back
Posted: 2011-10-28

"I think investors are taking a step back, in the sense that they're getting down to the details that were in the plan yesterday," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at Balentine.

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Nonprofits Turn to GTAA
Posted: 2011-10-26

"The Eurozone debt crisis has created many opportunities. There has been a lot of volatility within asset classes, so there have been a lot of mispriced asset classes. Those without a dedicated tactical asset allocation approach may have missed these opportunities."

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Muni meltdown? No. But don't ignore risks.
Posted: 2011-10-14

"The muni market is benefiting from Operation Twist. There is a sense that rates are going to be low a lot longer," said Alan McKnight, director of global investment strategy with Balentine, a money manager in Atlanta. "People are willing to take risks because they are so starved for yield."

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Advisors See More Alts with $100K Minimums
Posted: 2011-10-13

For advisors, the challenge will soon shift from a lack of product options to instead the hefty burden of reviewing a big slate of possibilities, says Alan McKnight, director of global investment strategy at Balentine, an Atlanta-based independent advisor. "Just because you can bring it down to the $50,000 level doesn't mean it's right for everyone," he says. "It puts more of an onus on the advisor to make sure that it's appropriate for their clients."

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How Low Can Interest Rates Go? Bernanke Says: Let's Twist
Posted: 2011-09-21

Alan McKnight, director of global investment strategy at investment management firm Balentine, says that despite lower short-term interest rates over the last two years, the nation hasn't seen a commensurate improvement in lending, borrowing or job creation. That has left the Fed with very few options. "It is very much a 'throw the kitchen sink at the problem,'" he said.

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Balentine Named One of Atlanta's Best Places to Work
Posted: 2011-09-20

"We are honored that the exceptional work we do for our clients has been so widely recognized this year, and we are particularly proud to receive The Atlanta Business Chronicle's Best Places to Work designation. Our unique combination of culture, kinship and camaraderie makes Balentine a rewarding place to work and encourages outstanding service to our clients, our colleagues and our community," said Robert Balentine, Chairman and CEO of Balentine.

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Considering Commodities: Benefits and Traps
Posted: 2011-09-16

For Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at Balentine, an investment management firm in Atlanta, one reason to incorporate commodities into client portfolios is to protect against unanticipated inflation. "Commodities always tend to contribute to portfolio performance when inflation is higher than expected, and it's unanticipated inflation that really matters," he says.

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Balentine Named Top Money Manager and Premier Advisor
Posted: 2011-09-14

"This is a wonderful recognition of what we've been able to accomplish in just nineteen months as a firm. We have built a team that provides exceptional service to our clients and bottom line results to protect and preserve their wealth," said Robert Balentine, Chairman and CEO of Balentine.

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American Economic Decline? Exaggerated
Posted: 2011-09-12

"Perhaps the most damning evidence [of potential American decline] is the unemployment rate of around 9 percent," explains Adrian Cronje, a partner and Chief Investment Officer at Balentine, a worldwide investment firm. "The question is whether large segments of the U.S. workforce are sufficiently skilled and productive to compete and drive future economic growth."

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Wealthy investors seek alternatives to stocks, bonds
Posted: 2011-09-09

"As we look across the landscape, we're being drawn to some of these strategies and these philosophies on managing money which we haven't in the past," said Alan McKnight, director of global investment strategies at Balentine LLC, which manages $800 million. Balentine is investing more heavily in hedge funds, which can benefit from a falling market, and private equity, which avoids market volatility because the companies in it are privately owned and not traded on the open market.

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What Rookie Investors Should Know About Emerging Markets
Posted: 2011-09-07

Both emerging market stocks and bonds are risky asset classes, but they're becoming less volatile as investors increasingly come to see the relatively stronger macroeconomic conditions in emerging market countries -- less debt, better demographic trends, more policy options available -- as positives amid these in troubled times for the developed world, says Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at Balentine.

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T&E? Phone Office
Posted: 2011-09-01

"Our director of marketing actually first found Expensify and pitched it to me," says Sandy Petty, controller at Balentine, an Atlanta investment advisory firm, noting that as the sole accounting and finance staffer, "leveraging technology was huge for me." Now, Petty says, what was previously a three-hour expense process requires just three clicks.

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What A "QE3" Would Mean For Emerging Markets
Posted: 2011-08-23

Meanwhile, major economic indicators show that there is a risk that the U.S. and some of Europe could "do Japan" in the future without right fiscal and monetary policies, warns Clark Li, global investment research director at Balentine in Atlanta. "From a global perspective, QE3 would seriously affect the economic future of BRIC countries," he says, but there is a plus side to this. Since the purpose of QE3 is to stimulate growth and avoid a long run weak economic growth path in the U.S., "this potential stimulus package will also benefit the BRIC countries over the long run," Li says.

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Shares Fall as Anxiety Over Europe Holds Sway
Posted: 2011-08-17

Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer of Balentine, said that the markets needed to hear a forceful message that the troubles in the euro zone went beyond the sovereign debt crisis. "What markets are sensing and are worrying about is that the resolution to the European debt crisis is going to be a timid, untimely and inconsistent response," Mr. Cronje said.

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Experts weigh in on recession
Posted: 2011-08-14

The worst problem is not economic, it's the dearth of leadership, Adrian Cronje said. "We really need somebody, someone to stand up and show leadership, to be honest about the painful choices that must be made, someone who says, 'This is what needs to be done' and then goes and does it."

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S&P, markets rock Atlanta
Posted: 2011-08-12

"The economic picture hasn't changed a lot but there's been a real change in psychology, an exasperation that the people in Washington haven't done anything," said Robert Balentine, chairman of wealth manager Balentine LLC.

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Joe Stallings, Balentine's Director of Communications, Elected to the Board of the Frazer Center
Posted: 2011-08-11

"As a parent of two children on the autism spectrum, I believe that it is important to support the very limited number of programs like the Frazer Center, that provide key services for both children and adults with special challenges," said Joe Stallings.

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US stocks rise after big fall
Posted: 2011-08-09

"We need to understand that things are going to be tough for a while," Robert Balentine added. "That's why you've got to have the right balance between safe assets and risk assets."

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U.S. Stocks Manage to Eke Out a Gain
Posted: 2011-08-03

Adrian Cronje, the chief investment officer of Balentine, said that as concerns persisted about the euro zone and the United States economy, investors were starting to turn their focus to whether the debt ceiling deal's cuts could create further headwinds for growth and whether earnings, one of the few bright spots, could be sustained. "People are really taking a step back and saying, 'How long can this period of record corporate profits continue?'" he asked. "There is very little room now to stimulate the economy if it continues to underperform expectations."

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US stocks mixed amid continued poor economic data
Posted: 2011-08-03

In addition, the debt ceiling deal has not completely removed doubts about the impact on the credit rating. "Bonds are see-sawing on whether there still could be a potential downgrade," said Adrian Cronje, the chief investment officer of Balentine.

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As Washington fiddles, Georgians fear the burn
Posted: 2011-07-31

Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at Balentine, an Atlanta-based investment advisory firm, said the debt ceiling debate brought to the fore a fiscal crisis that has loomed for decades. "In the developed world, the U.S. and Europe, the bills of the past 25 years are coming due," said Cronje, describing government spending on entitlements as "unsustainable."

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Navigating Global Macro
Posted: 2011-07-28

"Going forward, global macro is likely to continue to reward U.S. investors with compelling, risk-adjusted performance given the upcoming risk divergent world," explains Clark Li, Director of Global Investment Research.

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Great Recession Created a Historic Racial Wealth Gap
Posted: 2011-07-26

Joe Stallings, partner at the investment management firm Balentine, sums it up this way: "Although the focus in Washington today is on the 'here and now,' there are some serious systemic challenges facing the United States in the long-term. It seems unlikely that persistent inequality in wealth distribution, particularly as it affects the nation's fastest-growing demographic [Hispanics], is a recipe for success going forward."

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Rob Ragsdale, Managing Director at Balentine, Elected to the Board of the Marbles Kids Museum
Posted: 2011-07-26

"In addition to being a big hit with my kids, Marbles is a really vibrant, growing and worthwhile part of our community. It has a great mission, and it has become one of the top ten museum destinations in North Carolina in the relatively short time since its inception," said Ragsdale. "I'm proud to be a part of an organization that encourages imagination, discovery and learning in North Carolina's children."

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China's Currency Conversion
Posted: 2011-07-25

"General Motors has set an ambitious sales target of 5 million cars in China by the year 2015, demanding huge capital spending," points out Clark Li, a partner in global investment research at asset-management firm Balentine.

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Balentine Announces Summer Reading List
Posted: 2011-07-06

Discussing this summer's Reading List, Jeff Adams, Balentine's President explained, "It was fun to canvass our highly talented, diverse and well-read team here at Balentine to generate a list of suggested summer reading for clients and friends of the firm. The list includes a range of offerings from light beach fare to more serious and thought provoking works." He continued, "We encourage readers to dive in, and we welcome and encourage comments on our Facebook page. We hope readers will feel free to offer commentary or random thoughts about what they got from their reading experiences. Here's to a pleasurable summer - and fun reading!"

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Don't fear the commodities bear
Posted: 2011-06-30

Commodities were on a tear earlier this year amid global worries like the Arab Spring uprisings, Japan's earthquake and more worries in Greece. As a result, they got "somewhat overcooked," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer of Atlanta-based Balentine.

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WEALTH MANAGER-Fretting, not panicking, over money funds
Posted: 2011-06-28

"What's the point of chasing 20, 30 basis points of yield if there's the possibility that what is cash may not be cash at some point?" said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at Atlanta-based Balentine, which oversees $800 million in client assets. "It's a risk you cannot afford to ignore right now."

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Aflac to absorb $610 million loss on European investments
Posted: 2011-06-23

"The real issue is a lot of European banks own these bad sovereign bonds," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at Balentine, a Buckhead wealth advisory firm. "It's jarring to hear a company like Aflac having so much exposure."

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How You Can Prepare for a (Possible) Double-Dip Recession
Posted: 2011-06-20

"Strategic cash allows you peace of mind, flexibility and the ability to ride the downs without having to sell at the bottom," says Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer of financial services firm Balantine.

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Banks And Sino-Forest Drag Paulson's Fund Down 20%
Posted: 2011-06-16

"We continue to be concerned about bank balance sheets in the face of QE2 ending. We still haven't cleaned them up to the degree needed for them to start loaning money," said Alan McKnight, global director of Balentine investments.

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Balentine Named One of Investment News' Top Ten Up and Coming Registered Investment Advisors
Posted: 2011-06-14

When asked by InvestmentNews to discuss the key components that have led to Balentine's growth, Jeff Adams, Balentine's President, explained, "When we restarted our firm at the end of last year, we insisted on hiring the best and brightest for every position....the firm has a specific culture." He continued, "That culture is defined by our people. We feel diversity of background and experience is essential to bringing best thinking to our work and encouraging innovation in our industry."

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Home truths about limited horizons
Posted: 2011-06-13

Adrian Cronje, the chief investment officer at Balentine, an independent investment advisory firm in Atlanta, Georgia, observes that investors in Australia and Scandinavia have more progressive attitudes about international diversification, while those in America and Britain lag.

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Pandora's Music Box Wound Up for Wall Street Debut
Posted: 2011-06-13

"The company is certainly no fly-by-night newcomer, having spent over a decade honing their brand and their technology, the amazing Music Genome Project, which is still without peer," observed Joe Stallings, communications director for Balentine. "Additionally, having viable brand loyalty cannot be dismissed. Pandora reportedly claims over half of the Internet radio market, with enthusiasts willing to preach the gospel about Pandora and its many fantastic features and qualities," he told the E-Commerce Times.

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Clark Li Elected As Inaugural Member Of The Woodruff Arts Center Roundtable
Posted: 2011-06-09

"I am very excited to be part of the Woodruff Arts Center Roundtable," said Li when discussing his appointment. "I am eager to help the Arts Center share the arts and arts education with a more diverse audience, and I'm very excited to help them explore ways of connecting with Atlanta's Asian American communities."

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Is China's Real Estate Bubble Starting to Pop?
Posted: 2011-06-07

Analysts like Yulong Li, research director at Balentine in Atlanta, have been saying that a 20% to 30% year-over-year correction in Chinese real estate along coastal cities like Beijing and Shanghai would not be unheard of.

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Balentine named one of Investment News' Top Ten Up and Coming Firms
Posted: 2011-06-01

When discussing our firm and the ingredients that have led to our success, Jeff Adams, Balentine's President, explained, "When we restarted our firm at the end of last year, we'd insist on hiring the best and brightest for every position.... the firm has a specific culture."

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Allocators Tepid About Japan
Posted: 2011-05-31

Clark Li explains, "After more than a decade's decline in valuation from their inflated levels of the early 1990s, the Japanese stock market is no longer expensive today, its multiple is roughly in line with the rest of the EAFE index constituents. However, we see key near-term risks that remain unresolved, and an absence of positive momentum means that we remain cautious and still recommend an underweight allocation to this region versus the MSCI EAFE index. Japan accounts for around 20% of the index today."

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Probes into banks' mortgage lending grow
Posted: 2011-05-17

"It's not surprising to see everyone wants a piece of the action while they can get it," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at Atlanta-based Balentine, an investment advisory firm with $800 million in assets.

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M&T Bank officially takes over Wilmington Trust
Posted: 2011-05-17

"Things fell apart with stunning alacrity," said Robert Balentine, a former executive vice president of Wilmington Trust and CEO of its Investment Management business. "It really is profoundly sad."

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Bears Beat Bulls on Big Emerging Markets, Says Barchart.com
Posted: 2011-05-10

Clark Li, Partner and Director of Global Research at Balentine in Atlanta, also says his models are not recommending individual BRIC country ETF investments at this time either. Li cited the same inflationary pressures and tight monetary policy as a potential margin squeeze.

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Boards Eye China As a Source of Capital
Posted: 2011-05-09

"Companies need to think about why they want to list on the SSE," says Yulong Li, director of global investment research at Balentine. "Demand is strong, but they need to consider geopolitical factors."

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Three Cs to Success: Communication, Capital, Culture
Posted: 2011-05-06

As an entrepreneur who built a company, sold it to a public company and who's back at it again, I've learned through experience that although successful companies come in all shapes and sizes, three things matter most - communication, capital and culture.

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Why China's Property Bubble is Different
Posted: 2011-04-22

"I have not heard of any of them having problems with failed loan...yet," says Yulong Li, Research Director at Balentine, an independent investment advisory firm in Atlanta. Prior to joining Balentine, Li was a banker at China's No. 5 bank, China Merchant.

Read more . . .

BRICS Summit 2011: Why Americans Shouldn't Fear this New "Superpower"
Posted: 2011-04-14

"The loss of jobs from higher labor cost nations to the lower cost nations is a global issue, not an American issue, and it's been going on for 20 years because of globalization," says Clark Li, research director at Balentine, an investment research and advisory firm in Atlanta.

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JP Morgan profits rise to $5.6bn in first quarter
Posted: 2011-04-13

Adrian Cronje, from wealth management firm Balentine: "The key is loan growth," he said. "That's what will ultimately turn this recovery into a durable expansion, but it seems like that's not yet happening."

Read more . . .

Rethinking those Roth IRA conversions
Posted: 2011-04-13

David Damiani, director of risk management at Balentine, an Atlanta-based wealth management firm that has a minimum client net worth requirement of $5 million, said he advised clients against conversions given the vagaries of determining investment performance and the uncertainties of tax law modifications.

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Balentine opens here, names Ragsdale Managing Director
Posted: 2011-04-12

Balentine, an Atlanta-based wealth management firm, has named M. Rob Ragsdale, Jr. to serve as director of the company's new Raleigh office.

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U.S. Treasury reports $188.2 billion budget deficit for March
Posted: 2011-04-12

"The reality in the short-term is that it needs to happen to continue the process of government, but I would hope that there would be thoughts about the repercussions," McKnight said.

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How do you say bond vigilantes in French?
Posted: 2011-04-07

Bob Reiser, senior investment strategist with Balentine, an investment firm in Atlanta, agrees. He said that this is the "early phase" of a new inflation cycle, and that it would be a mistake for investors - or the Fed - to assume the run-up in commodities is a temporary phenomenon.

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Mortgage probe talks split, clouds market recovery
Posted: 2011-03-24

"It's never great news when there's no coordinated response to the greatest challenge in the economy," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at Balentine, an Atlanta-based wealth management firm. "It's such a political minefield that I could see something like this might cause the inventory of foreclosed homes to remain high for quite a bit longer."

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High stakes for Aflac
Posted: 2011-03-19

Alan McKnight, a partner with Atlanta-based Balentine, agreed, calling the situation in Japan "a short-term hiccup" for Aflac.

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Citigroup in, Goldman out at top funds
Posted: 2011-03-07

"To the extent that banks are going to be restricted from betting on market movements with their own capital, that creates headwinds to Goldman Sachs' business model," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at Atlanta-based wealth manager Balentine, which indirectly owns bank stocks.

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Where the risk is (and isn't) in muni bonds
Posted: 2011-03-03

"I think the worst thing is to think, 'I have a need for safety, I'm going to buy cheap, low-cost passive municipal bonds,'" Cronje said. "People ought to consider a broader array of asset classes in the safe part of their portfolio today, including inflation-protected bonds and international bonds."

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NYSE, Deutsche Boerse in Advanced Merger Talks
Posted: 2011-02-09

Adrian Cronje, Chief Investment Officer at Balentine: "I'm astounded this merger that was dismissed two years ago is now back. At the time, the conventional wisdom was that it would be difficult to do a merger of equals and there were not obvious synergies in the businesses. But I think this indicates the alternative trading platforms that are out there must be eating into their business faster than people realize."

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Understanding and Using Investment Benchmarks
Posted: 2011-02-04

The point is that boards that are under increasing pressure to meet the obligations of their institutions should focus more on benchmarks measuring absolute levels of investment performance, rather the relative-performance benchmarks that have been prescribed by the investment industry for decades.

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Morgan Stanley Posts Profit on Investment Banking Gains
Posted: 2011-01-20

"They're starting to look a little clever with these more stable revenue businesses," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at Atlanta-based Balentine, a wealth management firm.

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For Georgia's economy, storm like a head wind
Posted: 2011-01-16

"Knowledge-based" companies, whose workers require just a laptop, Internet connection and perhaps a phone have an advantage, said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at Balentine.

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Ultra-Wealthy Remain Risk-Averse
Posted: 2011-01-05

"People are afraid that growth will stop if the Federal Reserve Board takes its foot off the gas pedal," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at Atlanta-based investment advisory firm Balentine. "At the end of the day, private sector expectations and confidence are more important than government actions for a self-sustained recovery."

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Economic Stakes are high as Georgia enters 2011
Posted: 2011-01-02

"I think 2011 is really, really important," said economist Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at Balentine, an Atlanta wealth management firm. "The big story will be the hand-off of government stimulus to the private sector."

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Temporary work not so temporary for Georgia workers
Posted: 2010-12-30

"The surge of temp placements makes financial sense to companies during the long, uneasy transition from recession to recovery," said economist Adrian Cronje, a partner at Balentine, an Atlanta-based wealth management firm.

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US STOCKS-Wall St slips as strong dollar offsets data
Posted: 2010-12-16

"We're going into the end of the year and just hit a two-year high, so even though macro data has been better, things haven't perked up so much to lift us farther from here," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at the Atlanta-based Balentine, which has about $800 million in assets under management.

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Dow hits 2-year high on retail strength
Posted: 2010-12-14

Though the Dow reached it's highest intraday level in more than two years, Balentine's Adrian Cronje warns of the unsolved debt crisis in Europe.

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Equity Markets Fall as Concern Shifts to Portugal
Posted: 2010-11-26

Adrian Cronje, the chief investment officer of Balentine, said that investors were unsettled by the "piecemeal" approach to each country's financial troubles and that there needed to be a solution for the euro zone as an entire system.

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Instant view: GM IPO prices at top of range
Posted: 2010-11-18

"This is by all accounts, going to be a very successful IPO. What was that statement that used to float around? 'What's good for GM is good for America.' Well, I think in this case, what's good for GM is good for the American taxpayer."

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Bonds: All eyes on inflation
Posted: 2010-11-16

"Bonds are not like stocks," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer for Balentine. "If inflation does pick up and interest rates shoot up, you could find yourself taking a quite meaningful capital loss."

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40 under 40 alumni group still up and coming
Posted: 2010-11-11

Balentine's Adrian Cronje named to Atlanta Business Chronicle's '40 Under 40

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Sales rising again for state's top companies
Posted: 2010-11-05

"Growth is really in the emerging world," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at Balentine, a Buckhead wealth advisory.

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Awaiting Fed's Plans, Markets Are in Limbo
Posted: 2010-10-31

"If there is any sign of a more cautious approach, or a smaller scale, you could see long-term bond rates rise, the dollar strengthen and perhaps stocks selling off a bit," said Adrian Cronje, the chief investment officer of Balentine.

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A Day After China's Jolt, Markets Rise
Posted: 2010-10-20

Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer of Balentine, said investors have digested the move as somewhat of a step in the right direction to a more sustainable growth path.

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Culver Academies named Small Endowment of the Year
Posted: 2010-10-12

Foundation & Endowment Money Management has just named The Culver Academies Endowment, whose investment committee is chaired by Balentine's Jeff Adams, as the Small Endowment of the Year, lauding that "its progressive investments resemble those of a much larger fund."

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Ex-Northern CIO Leads Wealth Firm's Growth
Posted: 2010-10-12

Alan McKnight, partner and director of global investment strategy, who focuses on foundations and endowments for the firm, says he is definitely seeing a movement to the outsourced CIO model.

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Dodd-Frank broadens SEC powers
Posted: 2010-10-12

Jeff Adams, Balentine's Chief Operating Officer, writes in 'The Daily Report' that "(e)nforcement activity, private litigation is likely to rise in wake of financial reform legislation."

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Atlanta's bank deposits shrink by $4 billion
Posted: 2010-10-07

Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer with Buckhead-based Balentine, said one explanation for the shrinking deposit base is investors are looking for something with a better return.

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US Stocks Falling As Investors Wait For Earnings, Jobs Report
Posted: 2010-10-04

Adrian Cronje, partner and chief investment officer at Atlanta investment firm Balentine, said investors are waiting to see from the monthly jobs report whether the Federal Reserve might be forced to act to prop up the economy.

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The housing recession isn't over
Posted: 2010-09-20

"For housing to turn a decisive corner, the inventory overhang has to dissipate. That may take one to three years," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer of Balentine, an investment firm based in Atlanta.

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More companies buying back shares or looking to acquisitions rather than hiring
Posted: 2010-09-10

Collectively, American corporations are sitting on $1.1 trillion in cash, according to Atlanta investment advisory firm Balentine. The figure, the highest in 40 years, represents 10 to 15 percent of total market capitalization and swells to $3.2 trillion when financial institutions are included.

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Economy Needs a Plan and Some Confidence
Posted: 2010-09-09

Bad morale is trickling down from financial leaders to everyday investors, who are now reluctant to make long term investments.

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Jobs: 'Stopped firing, not yet hiring'
Posted: 2010-09-01

"The two reports in combination give us a glimpse of exactly where we're at: companies have stopped firing, but are not yet hiring," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer of investment firm Balentine.

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Hedge funds cut BofA for Citi
Posted: 2010-08-30

"Economic data is weak, joblessness is high, and we're all uncertain of the rules of the road going forward," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at Atlanta-based wealth management firm Balentine. "Financial regulation itself is an incredible bill with impact that is not properly understood."

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Hiring Spree Gets Long in the Tooth
Posted: 2010-08-22

Balentine's appetite for U.S. corporate debt is "little to none anymore," says Chief Investment Officer Adrian Cronje.

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Stocks in for Summer Slip 'n' Slide
Posted: 2010-08-20

The economy is not suffering from a lack of money or liquidity. What the economy is desperately short of is confidence and visibility and the willingness to take risk," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer of investment firm Balentine.

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U.S. Stocks Pare Losses But Set To Post 2nd Straight Down Week
Posted: 2010-08-20

"There's been the realization that the economy in the second half of this year - and therefore corporate profits - are going to be more modest than where a lot of people thought they would be six months ago," said Adrian Cronje, partner and chief investment officer at Balentine.

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Fidelity, Schwab Debut Agribusiness SMA
Posted: 2010-08-17

Balentine's Alan McKnight discusses differences between separately managed accounts and private equity.

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Market Notebook
Posted: 2010-08-16

Balentine's Alan McKnight revisits the three key validators of a true economic recovery.

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Companies Hold on to Cash
Posted: 2010-08-16

In this AJC exclusive report, Balentine's Adrian Cronje observes that the nation's businesses "remain unwilling to invest, and expand, and hire."

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Deflation is the Worry, Inflation Looms Too
Posted: 2010-08-14

Adrian Cronje: "We tell clients that simply buying and holding stocks and bonds isn’t going to be good enough."

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No Women in High Finance? Look Again.
Posted: 2010-08-12

Balentine's Brittain Prigge describes the differences in how men and women in the financial services industry view relationship management.

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Atlas Didn't Shrug
Posted: 2010-07-27

Balentine is advising clients to reduce risk by increasing hedged positions and trimming exposure to international equities.

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Li Discusses Systemic Risk Hedging and Performance Enhancement in Shanghai
Posted: 2010-07-27

Yulong Li, partner of the American investment firm Balentine, spoke on the application of index futures in the asset management industry at the Stock Index Futures Investment Seminar held by China Financial Futures Exchange last Friday in Shanghai.

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CNBC: Is the Next Leg of the Bull About To Begin?
Posted: 2010-07-25

"GE is a company whose tentacles extend throughout large parts of the economy," explains Adrian Cronje of wealth management firm Balentine.

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Measuring What Matters - A Special 4-Part Videocast Series
Posted: 2010-07-25

The events of the first six months of this new decade certainly haven't been comforting for people who crave consistency and predictability. In this four-part video series, "Measuring What Matters," we take a hard look at many of the hot spots in the current economic environment, and share with you what matters most with respect to preserving your assets and managing risk.

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The New Normal
Posted: 2010-07-25

On CFFEX Stock Index Futures Investment Seminar, Yulong Li, partner of the American investment firm Balentine, said that today the global capital market has entered a New Normal period.

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U.S. Stocks Maintain Big Gains; All But One DJIA Component Ahead
Posted: 2010-07-22

"It's great to say the outlook's fine," Adrian Cronje tells the Wall Street Journal, "but what are you doing with your cash?"

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Hey, Corporate Misers. Stop Hoarding Cash!
Posted: 2010-07-14

"Companies seem unwilling to hire people and invest, and that needs to occur...for this recovery to turn into a real expansion," Balentine's Adrian Cronje tells CNN Money.

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Balentine Milestone
Posted: 2010-07-05

Robert Balentine’s new wealth management firm, Balentine LLC, launched at the beginning of this year, crossed the $500 million assets-under-management milestone last week and is on track to meet its goal of $1 billion by year end.

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U.S. Stocks Pare Gains After Existing Home Sales Decline
Posted: 2010-06-22

Balentine Chief Investment Officer Adrian Cronje tells the Wall Street Journal, that "the housing data today is confirmation of a recent trend in which data on the economy are starting to underperform expectations, which is a little worrying."

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U.S. Stocks Drop as Investors Consider Yuan's Pace
Posted: 2010-06-21

Speaking of the Chinese currency to the Wall Street Journal, Balentine's Adrian Cronje notes "it's too early to tell if this (potential currency revaluation) is a fundamental regime change. There is a lot of speculation about whether they are going to follow through on this."

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Markets Make a Run, Rising More Than 2%
Posted: 2010-06-15

Markets gain, but Balentine's Adrian Cronje tell the New York Times that broader regulations should be expected going forward.

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What goes up, down then winds up the same? Stocks.
Posted: 2010-06-14

"I think the bottom line is visibility about the near-term outlook has dimmed," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at the investment firm Balentine in Atlanta. "It's almost like an aircraft. We've gone through some clouds and you're likely to have a few more air pockets."

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Manager Selection Building Block Podcast
Posted: 2010-06-02

New three-part podcast featuring Alan McKnight's discussion of Balentine's manager selection process and strategy.

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Manager Selection Building Block
Posted: 2010-06-01

Alan McKnight, Director of Global Investment Strategy, discusses Balentine's manager selection building block and selection process in this special report.

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Personal Spending Unchanged in April
Posted: 2010-05-28

Friday's report shows consumers are now taking a step back to moderate their spending and build up their savings, which may subdue the robust recovery some were hoping for but provide for more sustainable growth over the long term, said Adrian Cronje, chief financial officer of investment firm Balentine.

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Good Riddance May. Now Go Away!
Posted: 2010-05-28

Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer of Balentine, an investment firm based in Atlanta, added that stable companies that pay healthy dividends will probably outperform the market over the next few months. That's because he expects that the volatility that has become a hallmark of trading as of late will continue for some time.

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Risk-Averse Investors Send Stocks Sliding on Debt Fears
Posted: 2010-05-25

Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer of Balentine: "You can try to bring out the bazooka to solve what is going on in Greece, but don’t ignore what is happening elsewhere" in Europe.

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A Conversation with Robert Balentine
Posted: 2010-05-25

Balentine Chairman Robert Balentine was a recent guest interviewee for the 2010 Hines Atlanta Portfolio Speaker Series.

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US Stocks Lower As Euro Concerns Cause Investors To Shed Risk
Posted: 2010-05-17

"Risky-asset markets are trying to digest the effects of monetary tightening in the developing world and fiscal tightening in the developed world and what that might mean for future global growth," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at Balentine.

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The Ultimate Index?
Posted: 2010-05-16

"The economy has recovered impressively, albeit slower than the sharp trajectory that often follows severe contractions, " said Adrian Cronje, partner and chief investment officer at Atlanta-based Balentine LLC, who routinely checks the (Chicago Fed National Activity Index).

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Dr. Clark Li, Former Executive Manager Of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, Joins Balentine
Posted: 2010-04-26

Yulong (Clark) Li has joined Balentine, Li will be responsible for leading the firm's global research efforts.

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Former Chief Investment Officer Of Wilmington Trust Investment Management Robert Reiser joins Balentine
Posted: 2010-04-26

Bob Reiser, an icon in the Atlanta investment community, has joined Balentine as a senior advisor.

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New Podcast Available
Posted: 2010-04-23

In our latest podcast, Balentine Chief Investment Officer Adrian Cronje reviews recent developments in capital markets and global economics.

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Portfolio Risk: Real vs. Perceived
Posted: 2010-04-23

In his address to the Southeastern Council on Foundations today, Balentine Director of Global Investment Strategy Alan McKnight told participants that, in the aftermath of the market downturn, foundations need to reconsider the concept of risk in their portfolios.

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Non-Profit News Profiles Balentine's Alan McKnight
Posted: 2010-04-22

While Balentine's professionals have a depth of experience in the wealth man- agement sector, the Atlanta-based firm believes it possesses more than enough credentials to advise the foundation and endowment space.

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Emerging
Posted: 2010-04-22

Two emerging markets experts who are familiar faces in the wealth management community - Clark Li and Robert Reiser, Jr. - have joined their former boss at Balentine.

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Stocks End Higher on Hopes for Good Intel Report
Posted: 2010-04-13

"The market has ground higher steadily," said Adrian Cronje, chief investment officer at the investment firm Balentine in Atlanta. "It's up a little bit every day, a little bit every day. And that tends to lull people into complacency."

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Breakfast with Balentine Videocast now available online
Posted: 2010-03-29

It seems hard to believe today, but almost a year ago, financial markets were anticipating the nationalization of our financial services industry, another Great Depression and the end of Western civilization as we knew it. Since then, markets have posted fifty-plus percent returns, and the talk today is about "the return to normalcy." Balentine's Robert Balentine, Adrian Cronje, Alan McKnight and Bob Reiser discussed these and other issues at our recent Breakfast at Balentine event on March 25th in Atlanta.

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Wealth-Firm Prospects Take a Hard Line
Posted: 2010-03-12

When prospects come to Balentine LLC, a new investment advisory that works with private and institutional clients, the first thing they ask is if the firm is a broker-dealer or a manufacturer of investment products. If the answer is yes to either question, "then the conversation is over," says the firm’s chief investment officer, Adrian Cronje. "They only want to do business with an independent investment counsel."

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Balentine Picks Fortigent For Reporting
Posted: 2010-02-27

"In selecting partners for our firm, we researched the best products and greatly admire the flexibility, innovation and accuracy offered by Fortigent," Balentine Chairman Robert Balentine said in a press release.

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From Irrational Fear to Irrational Optimism?
Posted: 2010-02-14

It seems hard to believe today, but almost a year ago, financial markets were expecting the nationalization of our financial services industry, another Great Depression and the end of Western civilization as we knew it. Since then, housing prices have stabilized, credit has begun to thaw and the Dow Jones Industrial average has risen more than 60 percent from its March low. Volatility has steadily declined and the alphabet soup of Ls, Us, Ws, (even square root-shaped signs) that has been used to describe the likely recovery has now turned into a V.

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Balentine Unveils Asset Strategy Shop
Posted: 2010-02-10

Robert Balentine, the former executive v.p. of Wilmington Trust and chairman and ceo of Wilmington Trust Investment Management, has launched an independent asset strategy firm targeting high-net-worth individuals, families and non-profits.

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Balentine Launches Independent Asset Strategy Firm
Posted: 2010-02-10

Balentine, which opened its doors in January 2010, currently has more than $250 million under management and expects to oversee $1 billion by the end of the summer. The firm builds upon the successful Balentine legacy, an employee-owned firm established over 25 years ago with a proven record of success and operations founded on partners investing their capital alongside clients.

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Balentine Hopes Timing Right for a New Firm
Posted: 2010-02-07

“We listened to our clients and they told us two things: they were confused about who they could trust and they were looking for people that could act more nimbly and with greater agility than most asset mangers,” Adrian Cronje, Balentine’s chief investment officer said in an interview Thursday.

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Thomas Oliver: Advisors cautious about 2010
Posted: 2009-12-17

“By many measures, this has been the flakiest rally in risky assets on record, meaning it has been driven by the junkiest, lowest quality stocks and bonds,” Balentine's Adrian Cronje writes me. “This poses the question whether irrational fear has not turned into irrational optimism.”

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