The Hedge fund industry has grown significantly over the past 20 years, and is considered by many to be a part of the optimal portfolio. Using a Market Model, l created the optimal Markowitz portfolio over different business cycles to determine which hedge fund strategies are a part of the optimal portfolio. I determined that Distressed Credit Fixed Income hedge funds are optimal during bull markets, with no strategy being optimal during bear markets.

In 2007, the United States suffered what is known as the "Subprime Mortgage Crisis". This took an enormous toll on the United States Economy. However, nearby country, Canada did not experience this situation. The objective of this thesis is to determine why such different outcomes were seen in order for future economic stability. This research will examine mortgage processes, mortgage management, foreclosures on mortgages of both countries. It will then paint the economic picture that each country faced in 2007, while providing an explanation as to why the United States fared much worse than Canada during this time.

The growth rate of chief executive officers' (CEOs) compensation has dramatically outpaced average employees' pay increases. Scholars have not been able to reach a consensus on whether the financial performance of firms has a positive influence on CEOs' compensation. Also, boards of directors lack a clear understanding of the relationship between financial performance of firms and CEOs' incentive compensation in the U.S. banking industry. The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the predictive relationship between financial performance of firms (measured by return on equity [ROE] and annual revenue) and CEOs' total compensation in the U.S. banking industry. According to agency theory, which was the theoretical framework for this study, failing to understand such a relationship could cause a misalignment between CEOs' compensation and the performance of firms. Hence, the research question was, does a predictive relationship exist between ROE, annual revenues of firms, and CEOs' total compensation? Archival data from publicly traded U.S. banking firms were collected and analyzed. Multiple regression techniques were used to identify a statistically significant predictive model, F (2, 121) = 95.691, p < .000, R2 = .613. Changes in annual revenue were found to be significantly more sensitive than changes of ROE relative to the impact on changes in CEOs' total compensation. This study may contribute to positive social change by raising individuals' awareness of the importance of maintaining CEOs' equitable compensation. Additionally, compensation committees of banking firms can use the findings from this study to evaluate their compensation strategies and make necessary adjustments.

The early failure of startup businesses is a concern for many local communities, including the Virgin Islands, with about half of startups failing within the first 5 years of their life cycle. Besides the social and economic impact on communities, these failures have a personal effect on small business owners. Grounded in decision-making theory and the theory of financial management, the purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies and processes Virgin Islands retail business managers use to implement financial analysis for decision making to help sustain their operations. Data were collected using company records and semistructured interviews with 7 retail managers, who had developed successful financial analysis strategies. Keywords and narrative segments from the collected data were analyzed using methodological triangulation by integrating the findings from the review of company records and the semistructured interviews. Emergent themes from interviews and company records revealed 5 themes, including selection and retention of personnel, implementation of growth and development strategies, and the monitoring and evaluation of financial data, that contributed to business success. With the implementation of the results suggested by participants, retail managers may improve their profit margins beyond the first 5 years of operation, contributing to the increases in tax revenues within the Virgin Islands, and they may improve their ability to make sound financial decisions for continued business success.

This study uses real estate data and a distress index to test the success of the “Opportunity Zone” program in California. Part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that was passed on December 22, 2017, this program offers sizable tax incentives to investors who reinvest their capital gains into distressed neighborhoods across the country. I analyze changes in home values and monthly rents to determine if designated opportunity zones have seen increased investment as a result of the program. Additionally, I use a distress index to examine whether this tax program has merely encouraged investment into already- gentrifying areas or if its benefits have extended to the most distressed and low-income communities. My study concludes that within California, opportunity zone real estate has successfully seen a boost in investment and that this increased investment has extended to even the most distressed areas in the state.

Some community bank managers do not possess the skills needed to retain employees, which increases employee turnover and decreases their competitive advantage. The purpose of this explanatory case study was to explore strategies community bank managers use to minimize employee turnover for their organization. The population consisted of 4 community bank managers in the Central Florida area who had at least 1-year of managerial experience evaluating employee retention. The conceptual framework was the jobs characteristics theory of Hackman and Oldham. Data were collected from semistructured face-to-face interviews and business documentation. Methodological triangulation was appropriate to validate the creditability and interpretation of the data. Three themes derived from analysis of coded of words and phrases: (a) employee compensation, (b) open communication, and (c) opportunities for growth and development. The implication of social change includes the potential for business managers to improve employee motivation and job satisfaction by implementing strategies to retain employees and reduce employee turnover for their organization leading to better customer service. The results from this study may also strengthen community wealth and knowledge by improving the standard of living for returning customers because of quality customer satisfaction.

Individuals are faced with making important economic decisions regarding retirement, savings, investing, and insurance. Across the globe, developed and emerging economies are experiencing growth in the sophistication of financial markets and products. Individuals require a greater degree of financial literacy to understand and explore these sophisticated and emerging financial markets and products. A review of literature revealed African Americans, however, lack the decision-making tools to function in the financial world. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which African Americans have financial knowledge. The sample size was 382 African Americans residing in Columbus, Ohio. The study was based on the planned behavior theory, self-determination theory, and transtheoretical theory, all of which emphasize autonomy and competency. Data were collected utilizing the Jump-$tart Coalition survey instrument for measuring financial knowledge. Survey questions focused on personal finance topics including income, money management, savings and investment, and spending and credit. Data were analyzed using t test and ANOVA. On average, participants demonstrated a lower knowledge level of personal finance. Results (M = 45%) were compared with the Jump-$tart Coalition national average (M = 48%). Results however, indicated that, formal financial education has a positive impact on knowledge of personal finance. There was significant knowledge difference (t = 12.921, p = .00) between participants who took courses in finance and economics and participants who did not. This study has positive social change implications in that it could lead to improvement in economic well-being of African Americans as well as the health of the nation's economy.

Multilateral development banks (MDBs) are under increased pressure to justify their allocation of donor resources. These funds help produce growth in developing regions such as Central America (CA), where wealth inequality limits individuals' access to basic services and increases the prevalence of crime and corruption. MDB leaders are not always confident the allocation of limited resources creates optimal value. The capital asset price model (CAPM) was the theoretical framework of this correlational study. Archival data consisting of annual reports and audited financial statements were used to draw a sample (N = 66) of USD $4.857-asset valued loans made by MDBs between 1995-2013 in 7 CA countries. Regression analysis was used to determine the significance of relationships between the independent variables including the risk-free rate of return (Rf), volatility of a project (βp), and expected return on the market (Rm) and the dependent variable, the expected return (rp) used by MDBs. No evidence of a statistically significant relationship between the expected return of individual loans (adjusted for risk-free rate, volatility, and market return) and the expected return used by MDBs was found using correlational analysis. Findings from multiple regression analysis indicated that the expected return used by MDBs underperforms risk-adjusted market expectations. Study findings may help MDB leaders to promote business development and social welfare in CA through private investments, which may result in positive social change.

Organizational managers and business leaders struggle to retain hotel employees. The purpose of this qualitative, multiple case study was to explore the strategies that hotel managers use to improve employee retention and reduce turnover. The conceptual framework for this study was Herzberg's motivation-hygiene theory. The 4 cases were 4 different hotels in the midAtlantic region of the United States. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 4 purposefully selected hotel managers (1 from each hotel) and document review. Data analysis consisted of compiling the data, coding for emergent and apriori codes, disassembling the data into common codes, reassembling the data into themes, interpreting the meaning, and reporting the themes. Five themes emerged from the data: driving forces for motivating employees, management strategies for retaining employees, strategies for improving workers' job performance, strategies for promoting employment commitment to the organization, and strategies for reducing turnover costs and encouraging job satisfaction in the hotel industry. Implications for positive social change include improving employee retention strategies that can lead to improved working relationships between the organization and its employees. Improved employee retention can lead to an improved organizational image among employees and other stakeholders within the community, which can contribute to the growth of local community.

Small and medium enterprise (SME) business owners play a significant role in the Kenyan economy as they account for approximately 78% of total employment and 57% of the new jobs created. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore what strategies some Kenyan SME business owners used within the past 5 years to access credit to improve company profitability and growth. The target population consisted of 4 SME owners of businesses located in Kakamega Town, Kenya, who have had access to credit within the past 5 years. The conceptual framework for this study was the social capital theory. Semistructured interviews were conducted and company documents were gathered. All interpretations from the data were subjected to member checking to ensure the trustworthiness of findings. Based on the methodological triangulation of the data collected, 4 themes emerged after the data analysis: (a) group lending, (b) information access, (c) education and professional background of the entrepreneur, and (d) effect of access to credit on the performance of SMEs. The application of the findings from this study may contribute to social change by providing insights and strategies for SME business owners to access credit and ensure sustainable business growth that could potentially enhance community standards of living.