Kristen VanGelder Speaks With Barron’s on the Outlook for Hedge Funds

In the article, Now Is the Time to Buy Alternative Funds, Barron’s makes a strong case for allocating to alternatives in the current environment. The timing is notable: global hedge fund industry assets surpassed $5 trillion for the first time last year, reflecting growing recognition among investors that traditional portfolios may no longer be sufficient on their own.

The conversation centered on deglobalization, a theme Evanston Capital has been closely tracking. As we wrote in our 2026 Hedge Fund Outlook, ​“Deglobalization has emerged as a structural trend, driven by rising geopolitical tensions, national security imperatives, and supply chain vulnerabilities.” These forces are creating wider dispersion in both macroeconomic outcomes and investment returns, precisely the kind of environment in which we strongly favor active-management approaches over passive.

VanGelder shared why Evanston Capital favors Global Macro and Long-Short Equity strategies in this context. Both are well-suited to navigate, and capitalize on, the divergence in growth trajectories, policy responses, and capital flows that deglobalization tends to produce.

As interest in alternatives continues to grow, manager selection becomes increasingly critical. VanGelder’s insights offer a useful framework for advisors and allocators evaluating how to position alternative exposure thoughtfully.

Read the full Barron’s article