Author: Lance Pan

Lance Pan joined Capital Advisors Group in 2003. As Director of Investment Research and Strategy, Lance assesses the risk and relative value of asset classes and credits, creates advanced credit approval and surveillance procedures, issues credit opinions, and provides investment strategy recommendations. Lance oversees Capital Advisors Group’s Credit Committee.
Brexit: What Cash Investors Need to Know

Brexit: What Cash Investors Need to Know

4 min readThere has been an increasing amount of coverage in the financial news media recently about the United Kingdom’s upcoming referendum regarding membership in the European Union (EU). On Thursday, British citizens will vote on the question: “Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?” Should the Leave…

Brexit: What Cash Investors Need to Know

Brexit: What Cash Investors Need to Know

2 min readIntroduction There has been an increasing amount of coverage in the financial news media recently about the United Kingdom’s upcoming referendum regarding membership in the European Union (EU). On Thursday, British citizens will vote on the question: “Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?” Should the…

Nine Elements of Credit Approval for Cash Portfolios

Nine Elements of Credit Approval for Cash Portfolios

1 min readAbstract In this research commentary, we offer a behind the scenes look at the credit approval process for cash investment portfolios. We discuss nine essential components to help clarify a process that can sometimes seem mysterious and intimidating. Beyond Ratings – What Makes Cash Unique The Credit Universe – It’s All About Supply Preliminary Screening…

With Slowly Rising Rates, Look to Laddered SMA Portfolios

With Slowly Rising Rates, Look to Laddered SMA Portfolios

3 min readWhen the Fed raised interest rates last December for the first time since 2008, many corporate cash investors who had lived through previous tightening cycles expected a series of increases through 2016. But worldwide turbulence in equity markets in the first quarter, additional easing by central banks overseas, and ongoing uncertainty about the U.S. economy…

Optimizing Separate Account WAM in a Rising Rate Environment

Optimizing Separate Account WAM in a Rising Rate Environment

1 min readAbstract For institutional cash investors unsure of separately managed accounts in a rising interest rate environment, our scenario analysis suggests that a laddered portfolio of agency and corporate securities with a modest WAM could outperform the government money market fund proxy with negligible unrealized loss concerns in a rising rate environment. Both agency and corporate…

Looking Beyond Bank Deposits and Money Market Funds

Looking Beyond Bank Deposits and Money Market Funds

1 min readAbstract Greater vigilance is required of today’s treasury investment professionals. Neither bank deposits nor money market funds alone may be appropriate in the post-crisis, post-regulatory environment. As yields start to rise, cash investment strategy decisions that may have been delayed will require serious consideration. Direct purchases in separately managed accounts may become the primary alternative…

One Shoe Dropped, Waiting on the Other

One Shoe Dropped, Waiting on the Other

1 min readAbstract 2016 will be a year of transition on many fronts for corporate cash investors. The Federal Reserve is expected to remain accommodative in removing monetary stimulus. There will be increased clarity following money market fund reform in October. Credit markets should also manage well through moderate credit deterioration and wider spreads. The primary job…

A Corporate Treasurer’s Guide to Investment Challenges

A Corporate Treasurer’s Guide to Investment Challenges

2 min readIntroduction It has been more than a decade since the last interest rate tightening cycle. As we dust off this report written more than ten years ago for corporate treasurers on how to weather a rising rate cycle, we are struck by how little we needed to revise its content despite a vastly different cash…

The New Era of Cash Management

The New Era of Cash Management

2 min readThis book provides chief financial officers and corporate treasury executives with an overview of changes in the cash investment landscape and a guide to more effective hands-on management of corporate cash portfolios. Its three chapters explain: 1) why many investment managers are migrating to separately managed accounts (SMAs); 2) what investment policies for cash management…