AREAS of EXPERTISE and EXPERIENCE


​​INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
Alternative Investments
​Hedge Funds
Portfolio Management​
​Manager Selection
​​Risk Management
Asset Allocation
​     
​    ORGANIZATION
     Strategic Planning
​     Policies and Procedures
​     Business Development
     Emerging Hedge Fund
​     Litigation Support
     Thought Leadership

​FINANCIAL MARKETS
Trading Strategies
Market Analysis​
​Quantitative Methods
​Financial Securities
Behavioral Finance
​FX/Cryptocurrency
​BENEFITS OF EXTERNAL EXPERTS                           

​​​Optimize Use of Resources
​Cost Saving
​Increased Flexibility
Needed Expertise, Experience 
New Perspectives
​Improved Research Process​
RESEARCH PAPERS
​​Finding Financial Fraudsters
Liquid and Near-Liquid Alternatives 
Understanding ISDAfix Controversy
Activist Hedge Funds Form 13D
Capital Structure Arbitrage
The Libor Scandal and Its Effects 
Hedge Funds: An Industry Overview​
Methodology for Hedge Fund valuation​
Hedge Fund M&A Valuation: 2000-2012
The Trouble with Optimizers
RECENT BLOGS
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        EZRA'S STRATEGIC RESEARCH PROCESS
  • Correctly identify the problems or goals
  • Ask the appropriate questions for your research to answer
  • Develop effective methodology to answer your questions
  • Analyze, interpret and communicate your research
  • Integrate the research findings into your decision-making
WE COMPLEMENT YOUR IN-HOUSE RESEARCH
EZRA's Outsourced Strategic Research Process complements your research function by assisting at any stage of the process, including advising and/or undertaking research projects ourselves.

We bring our extensive expertise and experience to add value to your strategic decision-making and problem-solving via the effective application of the research process.

We can help organize, analyze, synthesize, interpret and present the results of the research process in understandable and USABLE format.

EZRA will also assist in the implementation and subsequent reviews of the research.

EZRA Representative Projects​

  • Founded innovative arbitrage hedge fund with $200 mm AUM
  • President of '40 Act fund of funds with $45 MM AUM​​​
  •  Valuation of hedge funds and complex derivatives ​
  • ​Evaluated Red flags and due diligence in Madoff litigation
  • Risk management at Lehman prior to bankruptcy
  • Fiduciary responsibility and appropriateness for MBS/CDO
  • Wrote  comprehensive policies & procedures manuals 
  • Advised emerging hedge funds, including cryptocurrencies fund, on trading, risk management and business development ​
  • Constructed investment portfolios, including asset allocation, manager selection, due diligence ​and risk management for HNW and Institutional investors, integrating alternative and traditional assets​ ​.


    Research Needs

EZRA ZASK -- UNIQUELY QUALIFIED

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  • 30+ years in finance and investments  as manager, trader, consultant, academic, speaker and author.  ​
  • ​
Managed and/or founded hedge fund, fund of funds, research and consulting company, liquid alternative investments Internet service, and a litigation support companies.

  • Founder and President of EZRA, providing strategic research and consulting to hedge funds, consulting firms, investors, institutions and litigation companies since 1991
  • Consultant and expert witness in 20+ litigation involving hedge funds, Lehman, Bear Stearns, Madoff, MBS/CDO/CDS, policies and procedures, suitability, valuation
  • Founder and manager of a hedge fund/CTA using currency and fixed income arbitrage strategy with $200 MM in AUM
  • President of SEC registered '40 Act Hedge Fund of Funds​
  • Raised funds from HNW and institutions for own and third party hedge funds and fund of funds in U.S., Europe and Asia
  • Developed investment portfolios and asset allocation, manager selection and due diligence, risk management and alternative investments​ for HNW and institutions ​
  • ​Executive in M&A firm focused on alternative investment companies and asset managers ​
  • Global Trading Manager in large banks managing 50 traders worldwide & all aspect of trading currencies, swaps and options ​
  • ​​​​Taught at Princeton, Yale, Rensselaer, Carnegie Mellon and Fordham universities' graduate schools ​​
  • Speaker at numerous investment industry events
  • Extensive writing including best-selling All About Hedge Funds, Second Edition,  (McGraw Hill: 2013)

Benefits of Research Outsourcing with EZRA​

 In today's fast-paced and ever-changing economic and financial environment, the role of research is increasingly important to the survival and growth of most companies.  EZRA provides timely and actionable research in key functions based on extensive work on research and advisory projects and decades of experience as hands-on practitioner, academic and industry insider. The result is expert analysis that is thorough, timely and cost-effective. 
Benefits of External Support; ​​The increasingly technical and rapidly changing  nature of much of today's research lends itself to an outsourcing model.  Outsourcing provides a number of advantages, including:
Cost-Effective Alternative
Hire for Specific Duration
Avoid Adding Staff
Provide Fresh Perspective
Provide Needed Expertise

    Let's Talk