President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week to create a sovereign wealth fund, similar to those of nations in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. The funds, which typically use surplus wealth, operate by making direct investments (like stock, bonds, real estate, equity funds, etc.) with government dollars.

Effectively, it's a government-run hedge fund that invests in assets like stocks, bonds, real estate, and infrastructure. It's a fairly straightforward process: the government provides funds, and the SWF invest it into risky assets to try to earn profits. This is the same as any investment company, only that its sole investor is the government.

The Treasury and Commerce Departments are drafting a plan detailing how a federal sovereign wealth fund might be structured, funded, and managed.