Mark R Graham

  You can access   alternative credit and debt investments   through digital platforms that connect you directly to lending, private credit, and debt-based opportunities—allowing you to diversify your portfolio beyond traditional markets. This guide gives you a veteran’s perspective on how to use these platforms intelligently. You’ll discover ten of the most trusted options, what makes them different, and how to measure risk versus reward. The aim is to help you invest with the precision of a business athlete—disciplined, informed, and built for consistent performance. 1. Prosper Marketplace – Peer-to-Peer Consumer Loans Prosper Marketplace   is one of the original peer-to-peer lending platforms in the United States. It allows you to fund unsecured personal loans directly to borrowers. You earn interest as borrowers repay, creating a predictable stream of returns.  Read More . 

High-profile mergers and acquisitions succeed when strategic intent, leadership alignment, and execution discipline stay intact from announcement through integration. The most visible deals in modern business history reveal repeatable lessons that separate value creation from value erosion. This article breaks down what those landmark transactions teach you about deal strategy, leadership decisions, integration planning, and long-term performance. You’ll see how experienced dealmakers think beyond price, manage complexity under pressure, and turn ambition into durable results. What actually makes a merger or acquisition successful? A successful merger or acquisition delivers sustained operating improvement, not just a short-term market reaction. Financial logic matters, but performance follows execution discipline after the deal closes. High-performing transactions start with a clearly defined strategic objective. You pursue scale, capability expansion, market access, or operational ...

To perform accurate M&A risk analysis, you need the right technology stack — tools that uncover operational, financial, legal, and cyber risks before they compromise deal value.  This guide introduces ten platforms used by professional investors, private equity firms, and corporate acquirers to evaluate risks more precisely and manage integration with greater control. You’ll learn which platforms dominate the market, what they do best, and how to implement them effectively in your deal workflow. 1. LogicManager — Risk Management Centralized LogicManager is a purpose-built platform for mergers and acquisitions that enables you to assess, document, and monitor risks across multiple deal stages. Its M&A module simplifies due diligence and post-close integration by structuring risk scoring and accountability into measurable frameworks. The software centralizes workflows, linking each risk to responsible owners, deadlines, and mitigation actions. You can compare risk profiles b...

A hostile takeover occurs when an acquiring company attempts to gain control of another business without the approval of its board or management, often by appealing directly to shareholders or replacing directors through proxy votes. Understanding this concept is essential for any executive navigating corporate strategy, M&A activity, or investor relations. In this article, you’ll explore how hostile takeovers work , why they occur, and what defenses companies use to resist them. You’ll also learn about famous cases, legal implications, and key lessons for business leaders managing unsolicited acquisition threats .  What Is a Hostile Takeover? A hostile takeover is a corporate acquisition attempt made against the wishes of a target company’s board. Unlike friendly mergers, where both sides negotiate terms, a hostile bid bypasses management altogether. The acquirer goes directly to shareholders or seeks to replace board members who oppose the deal. Hostile takeovers typically ar...

You can diversify your portfolio through leading crowdfunding platforms like Wefunder, StartEngine, Fundrise, Urbanitae, Invesdor, and Crowdcube, each serving distinct asset classes and investor needs. This article breaks down the best crowdfunding platforms across startups, real estate, and international markets . You’ll see which sites are best for equity access, where you can find liquidity, and how to align platforms with your investment goals. Which crowdfunding platforms let you invest in startups? Wefunder is the most popular equity crowdfunding platform in the United States. It allows you to invest in early-stage companies for as little as $100. Startups such as Diem and Spill opened their rounds to everyday users, giving them access to the same opportunities as venture capital firms. Wefunder has already facilitated more than $700 million in startup funding across thousands of campaigns. StartEngine is another top choice, having raised over $1.2 billion across more than 1,000...

You see big mergers get blocked when regulators determine that consolidation would significantly reduce competition, raise prices, or stifle innovation.  This guide gives you a clear, actionable view of how antitrust enforcement works, why certain high-profile deals fail, and what strategies can help you manage merger risks. You’ll explore legal thresholds, market analysis methods, recent enforcement examples, and region-specific rules that determine deal outcomes. What triggers antitrust authorities to block a merger? Regulators act when a proposed merger substantially increases market concentration or creates conditions that harm consumer welfare. They measure this using tools like the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) , market share analysis, and competitor impact studies. For example, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) guidelines highlight concern when the post-merger HHI exceeds 2,500 and the increase is more than 200 points. In the Comcast–Time Warner Cable case, projected marke...