CTC classifies asset classes into four separate research groups, each one having their own dedicated team of analysts.  CTC’s Traditional Research team oversees long only equity and fixed income asset classes, both domestic and international, and REITs.  CTC’s Hedge Fund Research team follows managers that invest in publicly traded securities and have the ability to sell short, use derivative strategies and employ leverage in their portfolios.  Examples of these strategies include classic long-short managers, event driven, distressed securities, market-neutral and macro managers.  CTC’s Private Markets Research team researches managers that invest in privately held securities.  Examples of these strategies include venture capital, buyouts, mezzanine, direct real estate and distressed securities.

CTC’s Investment Strategy Research team directs the research and publication of tactical asset allocation advice and the integration of manager placement within client asset allocations.  This group produces  monthly and quarterly market environment pieces as well as the asset class valuations each quarter.

CTC’s manager research process involves sourcing, due diligence and decision-making.  Fund managers are initially sourced through a variety of means, including relationships with other managers, manager database services, proprietary databases, industry conferences and events, industry journals and publications, third party marketing organizations and client referrals.  Preliminary qualitative and quantitative screens are conducted before CTC begins the due diligence process.  The full due diligence process includes proprietary quantitative analysis, manager interviews, reference checks and site visits.  CTC does all of its research through internal teams.   CTC has extensive experience in the identification, evaluation and selection of both traditional and alternative investment managers, and CTC maintains an extensive proprietary database of over 1300 investment managers.  CTC encourages clients to consider a variety of factors in the decision to hire managers, especially how particular managers’ investment styles will either specifically improve diversification or enhance portfolio returns.