I’d like to wish every one of you a happy Memorial Day.

As we take time today to spend with friends and family, I think it’s important to reflect on the sacrifices behind our ability to be a bastion of free trade. For without the bravery of a few, we masses wouldn’t be able to reap these or so many other benefits.

In today’s blog, I wanted to focus specifically on American companies. I began thinking about some of the biggest ones such as American Airlines (AA), American Express (AXP), and Ameriprise (AMP).

But then I landed on some news out of Bank of America (BAC) that I found particularly interesting.

In a recent interview with Yahoo! Finance, Bank of America CEO Brian T. Moynihan stressed that it was in no rush to dip its toes into cryptocurrencies. He doesn’t think he or his are missing out that way:

“‘Our big thing is helping consumers in America have a successful financial life,’ Moynihan said. ‘Our life plans, financial planning tool – four or five million users – only started three years ago. That’s what you need to do is get people to learn how to make their money work more for them to help in their lives.'”

Personally, I’ve never been long on crypto (except, perhaps, for a few days where my very enthusiastic Gen Z son got into my head). So it’s interesting to see others sharing the same skepticism.

As someone who deals in real assets that generate actual income – founded on solid fundamentals and provable value – crypto seems way too chaotic. It moves on too many whims and scares extremely easily.

In a truly American asset portfolio, I will always recommend something stronger. Something built to last and engineered for growth.

More Non-REIT News to Know About 

With a portfolio that includes 106 companies, $125 billion in private equity, and an entire REIT division, Blackstone (BX) is easily one of America’s most successful alternative investment giants. And while it seemed to have it all for so long, apparently there was one thing missing from its treasure trove of tier-one assets…

Justin Timberlake.

 Until now.

A Blackstone-backed fund recently acquired the all-American former boyband star’s catalog. That makes it the company’s largest music rights acquisition to date.

The exact terms of this deal have yet to be disclosed. But those familiar with it have projected the price well over $100 million.

The deal was brokered in partnership with music-investment company Hipgnosis Song Management. You see, last year, Blackstone formed a partnership with Hipgnosis that cost it an initial $1 billion.

The transaction involved launching a private vehicle called Hipgnosis Songs Capital to buy music rights and manage catalogs. And that entity now has complete ownership over Timberlake’s interest in over 200 songs written across his career to date – both as NSYNC’s front man and a solo performer.

In case you didn’t know, Justin Timberlake is a defining member of the millennial generation. His arsenal of hits includes “Bye Bye Bye,” “Cry Me a River,” “SexyBack,” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”

While he’s a bit young to be selling off his entire catalog, the tax implications alone probably make it a wise move. Let’s just hope this Blackstone-backed fund is generous in sharing these songs with the next generation.

The World According to REITs 

In this all-American post, I thought it would be especially relevant to highlight one of our favorite REITs – especially when we can explore the good work it’s doing on behalf of the international business community.

American Tower (AMT), one of the world’s largest real estate investment trusts (REITs), owns, operates, and develops communications infrastructure through around 221,000 properties. Just a few days ago, this Boston-based blue-chip announced it joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC).

At this point, more than 15,000 global companies have committed through that organization to align strategic operations. Their universal principles involve human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption.

For American Tower specifically, it’s adopted the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles to advance gender equality and female empowerment in the workplace.

CEO Tom Bartlett stated:

“Pledging our support of the UNGC and WEPs reflects our unwavering responsibility to a principles-based approach to corporate sustainability that upholds a commitment to people and the planet. We will continue to embed these initiatives and principles into the strategy, culture, and operations of American Tower, and engage in collaborative projects which advance the broader objectives of the United Nations, particularly the Sustainable Development Goals.”

This is just one of many ways American Tower is committing to ethical business operations through its policies. In a world so full of corruption, it’s great to see an All-American REIT redefining the standards of business.