This study explores optimal portfolio management contracts in the context of ‘opaque' portfolios invested in illiquid or privately held assets. We identify shortcomings of linear contracts in this context and demonstrate that the second-best optimal contract features a convex component. The...

This paper analyzes a fund manager's portfolio optimization problem when compensated by either a high-water marks (HWM) contract or a recurring option contract with a fixed benchmark rate. In a model with an indefinite number of periods, the compensations are paid out annually, while the...