Top financial advisors evaluate investment opportunities systematically and particularly, as opposed to haphazardly and generally. When you can help your clients navigate a methodical process tailored to their personal needs, the value of your services will increase – whether or not investments perform as expected.

A case in point is one of the hottest investment olutions of 2005 and probably 2006 – long/short equity funds. This is by far the largest category of equity hedge funds, with an estimated $300 billion of global assets, and it also represents a small but fast-growing niche of mutual funds and separate accounts. As former "long-only" managers, analysts, and traders seek greener pastures, new long/short equity funds are being formed at a torrid pace. In 2005, this was one of a few hedge fund categories that had respectable performance, summarized below.