A bachelor of science graduate in economics from St. Lawrence University, St. Louis resident James Giacin is a managing director at a financial firm in Missouri. He leads the company’s strategic initiatives in finance and asset management solutions for insurance companies. James Giacin’s responsibilities at the St. …

James Giacin is an investment professional based in St. Louis, Missouri. Drawing on 23 years of experience, James Giacin has worked to provide financial services such as insurance mergers and asset-liability management to financial institutions in St. Louis. Asset-liability management is a strategy used by financial institutions to maintain a…

In the United States, due diligence became a common business practice after the passage of the 1933 Securities Act. The act requires that sellers of securities provide investors with financial and other significant information before a sale. The due diligence process involves verification, audits, and investigation of an investment or…

As the business environment becomes more competitive, corporate development is a strategic necessity. Corporate development encompasses the strategic actions a company adopts to drive growth. These actions fuel expansion and improve sales, revenue, and return on investment. Companies must anticipate competitive disruption and growth opportunities to stay vital and maintain…

Structured finance is a financial instrument available to major financial institutions and corporations with complex or unique financing needs. Conventional financiers loan money after assessing a company’s assets and market value. This, however, may not be sufficient for businesses facing unforeseen emergencies or crises. For instance, banks hoping to expand…

Corporate finance covers businesses’ capital investment and capital funding decisions. This branch of finance deals with how corporations fund their operations to optimize shareholder returns and minimize costs. Chief financial officers (CFOs) are responsible for overseeing corporate finance. They do this by monitoring cash flows, implementing accounting practices, designing financial…

Private equity is owning a stake in a company not listed on a public stock exchange to gain better returns than public stock markets. It is one of the ways organizations use to raise capital. Other methods include selling bonds, issuing stock, and taking loans. While most private equity investment…

Since uncertainty in the business world is the norm, doing the right things at the right time is important. To remain ahead of the competition and relevant, companies must keep tabs on the trends shaping business development and adopt them or change accordingly. A notable trend is the demand for…

Multi-asset investment strategies, an approach that invests in various asset classes, are growing in popularity. Assets may include cash, stocks, bonds, commodities, collectibles, and alternative assets, such as real estate, infrastructure, and private equity. More recently, multi-asset investing has broadened to include alternative asset classes like renewable energy projects. Although…