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Fed FSR: Hedge Fund Leverage at All-Time High, Life Insurer Risk Elevated
The Federal Reserve May 2026 Financial Stability Report confirms hedge fund gross notional leverage near record levels and life insurer leverage in the top quartile, both amplifying systemic risk ahead of the next FOMC cycle.
When the Story Gets Ahead of the Foundation
A founder’s note on the danger of letting a persuasive story outrun the foundation an institution has actually built.
Boards Are Driving AI Faster Than They Understand It
BCG’s May 2026 survey of 625 global leaders reveals 61% of CEOs say boards are rushing AI transformation they don’t yet understand, while 75% of CEOs are the sole AI decision-maker. Audit committee chairs have a Caremark exposure to address before proxy season ends.
The SEC Just Abandoned Rule 14a-8: Boards Now Bear Full Liability for Shareholder Proposal Exclusions
The SEC suspended Rule 14a-8 no-action letter reviews in November 2025, forcing boards to make shareholder proposal exclusion decisions alone. Five lawsuits have already been filed challenging 2026 exclusions, with shareholders winning in three cases. Boards now bear full liability for these decisions.
The Fiduciary Duty Trap: Why Boards’ AI Oversight Gaps Are Now Legal Liabilities
Directors now face unprecedented fiduciary liability for AI governance failures. Courts have shifted from accepting generalized technology oversight to demanding concrete knowledge of specific AI systems, documented risk assessment, and accountable governance architecture. Boards that approve major AI investments without establishing mandatory control frameworks are admitting breach of fiduciary duty.
The Question Your Consultants Will Never Ask Your Board
Every board I’ve sat on has hired a governance consultant. They audit the bylaws, review committee charters, benchmark compensation against peer companies. Then they leave. And nothing meaningful changes. The reason is simple: they’re asking the wrong question.
The Board Independence Illusion: Why Structural Separation Does Not Equal Actual Accountability
Structural board independence has become a substitute for actual accountability. SEC enforcement records, Delaware court decisions, and academic research all demonstrate that formal independence provides no reliable protection against oversight failures or shareholder harm.
Board Accountability for AI Risk: The Governance Gap That Exposes Every Director
Eighty-eight percent of organizations have deployed AI, but only 25% have board-level policies governing it. Under the Caremark standard, boards that fail to establish AI governance frameworks face shareholder derivative suits and D&O insurance penalties. Board-level oversight of AI is no longer emerging risk—it is a fiduciary obligation.
Board Cybersecurity Assessment: The 12-Point Due Diligence Framework
Directors and board audit committees must now conduct formal cybersecurity assessments aligned with SEC disclosure requirements and NIST 2.0 governance standards. This 12-point framework helps boards evaluate their organization’s cyber maturity, governance structure, and incident readiness.
Global AI Board Governance Principles Set the Agenda for Director Oversight
KPMG International and the INSEAD Corporate Governance Centre launched Global AI Governance Principles for Boards, establishing the first comprehensive international framework for director-level AI oversight. The framework moves AI governance from abstract principle to enforceable operational reality, setting a new standard against which boards will be measured for regulatory compliance and competitive advantage.
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