The Dodd-Frank Act continues to remain rooted in the minds of financial markets professionals. Asked about the recent layoffs on Wall Street and whether Dodd-Frank’s weighting of compensation toward base salary rather than bonuses played a role, a majority (52%) agree the Act has contributed to the downsizing.

The 2011 eFinancialCareers Bonus Expectations Survey took place in the United States between September 20 and October 3, 2011 with 1,098 currently employed financial markets professionals responding.

Personal performance (45%) and firm performance (22%) hold sway as the primary reasons driving anticipated year-end bonus increases. Among the 30 percent of respondents who report expecting decreased bonuses at year’s end (a figure up sharply from last year’s 20 percent who expected smaller bonuses) firm performance (40%) and market conditions (35%) stand out as the most-cited primary causes.

Asked to make a prediction about bonuses sizes over the next three years, 46% say they expect bonuses to decrease in the future, up from 30 percent a year ago. On the flip side, 20 percent say they expect bonuses to increase between now and 2014, a decline from 34 percent last year. Market conditions dominated the list of factors pressuring compensation, followed by the Dodd-Frank Act and voluntary restraint by firms.

One response has remained almost perfectly stable year to year: the majority of Wall Street professionals (59% in 2011, versus 61% in 2010) tell us that money, while important, isn’t the most important reason why they work in the financial markets. The remainder (39%, versus 37% last year) say compensation is the most important reason to work on Wall Street. Again, a mere two percent indicate that compensation is not important at all.

Vernon and his firm handle financial litigation and arbitration matters nationwide, though he is best known for his work educating and advocating on behalf of investors who are the targets of Wall Street misconduct.

Vernon’s firm has been on the forefront of investigations into Lehman notes sold to retirees who lost billions. The firm has represented investors with tens of millions of dollars in Lehman notes and other claims involving principal protected notes, structured notes, non-traded REITs and bond funds as well as investors harmed by incompetent or negligent hedge fund managers, wealth managers, family offices and those affected by land trust fraud.

Vernon Healy’s extensive nationwide investigations were featured in the March 2011 AARP Magazine article “The Time Bomb in Your Nest Egg,” in which Vernon warned investors about unscrupulous investment practices and products, specifically Lehman notes. The firm represents investors with more than $10 million in Lehman notes claims alone.

Over the past two years, Vernon has also been in the forefront of warning investors about non-traded Real Estate Investment Trusts or REITs, which financial advisors are pushing to retirees as income producing investments without adequately warning them about the pitfalls of these investments, many of which are similar in structure to Ponzi schemes. Regulators such as FINRA recently have begun echoing Vernon’s calls for caution on this front, this week issuing a warning to investors about non-traded REITs.

Susan Healy, Vernon’s partner, has also been named by her peers as one of The Best Lawyers in America in the area of securities law and is one of è Bella magazine’s Women to Watch. She has held leadership positions in both state and local bar associations and was recently elected statewide chair of the influential Florida Association of Women Lawyers (FAWL).

The firm’s investigations have delved into myriad financial products and practices, including structured products such as principal protected notes and reverse convertibles, non-traded REITs, Preferred stock, TICs, private equity investments, tax shelters such as 419 plans, hedge funds and fund of hedge funds, Ponzi schemes, annuities and other insurance products and ETFs (exchange traded funds).

Date: October 6, 2011
Location: The Pierre – New York, NY.

The LatAm Chapter of HFA is proud to bring you prominent expert speakers to address critical issues involved in working effectively at raising and retaining capital, navigating the regulatory landscape and communicating effectively with investors that are keen to increase allocations to LatAm. HFA invites you to join us on October 6, 2011 in New York for new insights.
This symposium includes cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Space is limited, so RSVP early. A $25 credit card guarantee is required forHFA Members, Managers and Investors (48 hours advance cancellation required to prevent being charged). Service Providers are welcome to attend by paying $100 registration fee in advance of the event.

KEYNOTE
Anthony Scaramucci

SPEAKERS
Tulio P. Vera
Antonio Miranda

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LGBT Capital, a specialist Corporate Advisory and Investment Management Unit of hedge fund investor Galileo Capital Management and Fridae, Asia’s leading LGBT social networking operation, have announced a strategic alliance to develop a world class LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) operation in Asia to support this rapidly developing market.

“We are delighted to have concluded this agreement with Fridae which supports our core philosophy of impact investment.” Paul Thompson, former head of offshore funds for Goldman Sachs and Executive Chairman of Fridae, said, “We are particularly excited by the opportunity in Greater China and the potential this offers. We will look to combine running a commercial business with support and empowerment for the developing LGBT market in Asia.”

Through its investment in Fridae, LGBT Capital will work with Fridae to develop its impact investment philosophy by combining a commercial business with support for the LGBT community, particularly in the developing markets in Asia. As part of this, the Fridae Foundation will be established. WebWorks, LGBT Capital’s investment vehicle will also be investing in other LGBT social networking businesses to look to achieve scale within this area, provide an impact investment opportunity and to implement its philosophy of actively supporting LGBT social development.

Fridae is Asia’s leading LGBT social networking operation with half a million registered users, more than 1.5 million visitors and 30 million page views hits per month. Available in English, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Fridae will, through the Foundation, look to further develop its education program on HIV/AIDS and support for the LGBT community.

LGBT Capital is the world’s first and only corporate advisory and investment management firm focused on the LGBT consumer sector, with particular interest in LGBT social networking companies benefiting from LGBT growth.

It is estimated that the LGBT population in the Asia region is more than 300 million with spending power of more than US$800 billion per annum. Compared to the United States where the LGBT population is estimated at around 18 million and the estimated spending power is around the same as Asia, both LGBT Capital and Fridae believe the potential in the Asia region is significant.

Recognized as having the largest attendance for any type of event in the hedge fund industry, the HedgeCo Networking Events have quickly become the top destination for generating new business and meeting new industry contacts.

Join us at the Aspen Social Club, 157 West 47th Street in NYC, September 27th, 2011 6:00-10:00pm to celebrate the beginning of fall, contribute to Hedge Funds Care, eat, drink and network with other members of the alternative investment community.

RSVP here. A portion of your $20 admission fee supports our charitable partner Hedge Funds Care. HedgeCo.Net is a premier hedge fund database and community for qualified and accredited investors only. Membership in HedgeCo.netis FREE and EASY. We also offer FREE LISTINGS for Hedge Funds!

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Hedge Fund Association (HFA) members and their guests are meeting for the fourth event of the HFA Golf League taking place Thursday September 15th, 2011 at Doral Arrowwood in Rye Brook, NY.

Bring your talent, make valuable connections, entertain clients, and win prizes for closest to the pin (par 3′s), longest drive, and low round of the day.

More about the HFA Golf League & Championship:

• Monthly events May – September. Great networking, in an informal and relaxing outdoor setting.
• The newly renovated and expanded practice facilities at the Doral Arrowwood golf club include a driving range, practice bunker and professional putting green.
• Little Blue Monster – Critically acclaimed as one of the most challenging nine-hole courses in the country, our signature Doral Arrowwood golf course presents the renown Robert von Hagge’s trademark mounds, shadows, bunkers, and water hazards. The 3,200-yard, par 35 course presents a challenge to every level of play — from beginner to professional.
• Mulligans – Westchester’s favorite seasonal outdoor bar and grill overlooking the picturesque ninth green featuring variety of specialty drinks and micro brewed beers as well as live music.
• HFA Corporate Golf Championship (10/3)- A 18 hole end of summer spectacular event with the HFA Perpetual Trophy awarded (location TBD).

Final 18 hole championship is being planned for October 3rd. Register.

“Given the tremendous impact Hurricane Irene has had on the east coast of the United States, it is vital that first responders have unfettered access to reliable communications,” said Sanjiv Ahuja, chairman and chief executive officer of LightSquared. “LightSquared, working with Inmarsat, is committed to ensuring that those on the front lines of this national emergency have seamless connectivity with one another.”

“During emergencies such as Hurricane Irene, reliable satellite communications is essential for emergency responders and government agencies,” said Andrew Sukawaty, chairman and chief executive officer of Inmarsat. “Together with LightSquared we have moved rapidly to ensure that we have sufficient capacity to support emergency management agencies and first responders.”

The deployment and operation of LightSquared’s network represent more than $14 billion of private investment over the next eight years. For the year ended 31 December 2010, Inmarsat plc had total revenue of $1,171.6 million.

The list will include business and financial executives, investors, bankers, government leaders, hedge fund managers, economists, and analysts who influence the value of everything from corporations to currencies, commodities and economies.

To coincide with the issue, the magazine is joining forces with Bloomberg LINK to host the inaugural Bloomberg Markets 50 Summit, a day-long event, to be held on Thursday, September 15, 2011 at New York City’s Morgan Library.

The Summit will provide attendees with access to the men and women who matter most in financial markets worldwide — the individuals who can help make sense of a global economy in flux. Speakers from candidates for the Bloomberg Markets 50 will discuss monetary policy, economic outlook, financial reform, commodities, inflation, finance, and alternative investments.

The “Backstage from the Bloomberg Markets 50 Summit” live audio web conference will feature speakers from the Summit discussing related topics.

“The most powerful people in the world of finance read Bloomberg Markets and appear in its pages,” said Ronald Henkoff, the magazine’s editor. “For the first time, we’re going to rank the Top 50 and bring many of them together in one place. We expect some lively discussions.”

“Bring your talent, make valuable connections, entertain clients, and win prizes for closest to the pin (par 3’s), longest drive, and low round of the day.” HFA says. Over $1500 in prizes awarded!

More about the HFA Golf League & Championship:

- Monthly events May – September. Networking in an informal and relaxing outdoor setting.

- The newly renovated and expanded practice facilities at the Doral Arrowwood golf club include a driving range, practice bunker and professional putting green.

- Little Blue Monster – Critically acclaimed as one of the most challenging nine-hole courses in the country, our signature Doral Arrowwood golf course presents the renown Robert von Hagge’s trademark mounds, shadows, bunkers, and water hazards. The 3,200-yard, par 35 course presents a challenge to every level of play — from beginner to professional.

- Mulligans – Westchester’s favorite seasonal outdoor bar and grill overlooking the picturesque ninth green featuring variety of specialty drinks and micro brewed beers as well as live music.

- HFA Corporate Golf Championship (10/3)- A 18 hole end of summer spectacular event with the HFA Perpetual Trophy awarded (location TBD).

Additional golf events are planned for June 30, July 28, August 18, September 15 and October 3.

“It’s very satisfying to see that it’s the third time within the last six months that Merrant’s market neutral strategy is validated as one of the leaders in the hedge fund Industry.” Co-founders Ulf Sedig & Rolf Hagekrans said of the nomination.

Merrant Alpha Select was in 2010 named “Best New Fund of Hedge Funds in Europe” by Hedge Fund Review and nominated for the “Best New Fund of Hedge Funds” by InvestHedge.

Merrant Alpha Select’s USD-class returned +0.61% and it’s SEK-class was up 1.01% during March 2011. The HFRI Fund of Fund index returned  -0.11%.

The fifth annual HFMWeek Awards will be held in London on May 26, 2011. The event celebrates hedge funds and funds of hedge funds that outperformed their peers through the volatility of the last year. Award categories covered a wide range of strategies. The full shortlist can be accessed here.  The Swedish version of the story is available here.