Services Tags: Asset Allocation

Portfolio Rebalancing Guide

Failure to rebalance a portfolio can lead to a much different risk and return profile than suggested by the original asset allocation. Although straightforward in concept, the topic of rebalancing is not always understood, most especially its importance in times of market stress. In this paper, we address the most common rebalancing programs utilized by investors, and investigate the advantages of each.

Regularly rebalancing portfolios is one of the key duties of trustees and other fiduciaries responsible for managing institutional portfolios. Asset allocations are set to provide a predetermined risk/reward profile that fits a fund’s objectives and constraints. Portfolios are rebalanced when they drift away from policy target in order to maintain the risk/reward profile implicit in the original asset allocation. How often should clients rebalance their portfolios? What guidelines should clients use to determine when to rebalance? What are the costs and benefits associated with rebalancing? This paper takes a rigorous look at rebalancing, and provides some guidelines for implementing a rebalancing policy.

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Portfolio Rebalancing Policy: A Fiduciary Duty in Good Markets & Bad

Live webinar to discuss our upcoming paper on rebalancing and guidelines for implementing a rebalancing policy.

Portfolios must be rebalanced to maintain the risk/reward profile set in the original asset allocation. But how often should portfolios be rebalanced? And what guidelines should be used to determine when to rebalance? As institutional investment stewards, trustees and their investment consultants have a fiduciary duty to set a clear policy on portfolio rebalancing.

Register now to join us for a live webinar to discuss our upcoming paper on rebalancing [Ed: updated in 2018] and guidelines for implementing a rebalancing policy. We’ll address key questions to consider and discuss in more detail with your consultant.

 

Live Webinar – Wednesday, May 16, 2012 – 1:00-1:45 PM CT

Please contact us for access to this video.

 

LDI Position Paper Part 2 (of 2)

LDI Position Paper Part 2 (of 2). Intended as a resource for plan sponsors who have decided to implement an LDI strategy, and covers the practical issues surrounding implementation and maintenance, along with risks.

Over the last five years, Liability Driven Investing (“LDI”) has grown in popularity as an investment strategy for pension plan sponsors. Our two part position paper series on LDI takes a close look at LDI strategies, with an emphasis on the “if” and “how”: deciding IF an LDI strategy is appropriate for a given pension plan, and if so, HOW it should be implemented. In Part I, we examined the motivations for LDI strategies, and which types of plans are best suited to adopt an LDI mandate. Part II is intended as a resource for plan sponsors who have decided to implement an LDI strategy, and covers the practical issues surrounding implementation and maintenance, along with risks. Ultimately, the following paper should help plan sponsors decide if an LDI strategy is appropriate for their plans.

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LDI Position Paper Part 1 (of 2)

LDI Position Paper Part 1 (of 2).  Examines the motivations for LDI strategies, and which types of plans are best suited to adopt an LDI mandate.

Over the last five years, Liability Driven Investing (“LDI”) has grown in popularity as an investment strategy for pension plan sponsors. Our two part position paper series on LDI takes a close look at LDI strategies, with an emphasis on the “if” and “how”: deciding IF an LDI strategy is appropriate for a given pension plan, and if so, HOW it should be implemented. In Part I, we examine the motivations for LDI strategies, and which types of plans are best suited to adopt an LDI mandate. We also cover a progressive series of LDI portfolios to demonstrate how they can help control funded status risk. Ultimately, the following paper should help plan sponsors decide if an LDI strategy is appropriate for their plans.

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Commodities Position Paper

Explores commodities as an investment, focusing on investment vehicles, the sources and attributes of historical risk and return, and commodities’ place in an investment portfolio.

Skyrocketing commodity prices combined with the poor performance of equities have led to an increased interest in commodity allocations. Commodities have not historically been part of an institutional investor’s asset allocation, and some even question whether commodities are an asset class.

This paper will explore commodities as an investment, focusing on investment vehicles, the sources and attributes of historical risk and return, and commodities’ place in an investment portfolio. Commodities as an investment are introduced and then the mechanics of long-only futures positions are explained. Next, the drivers of individual commodity returns and portfolios of commodity positions are examined. Finally, commodities are analyzed in the context of a balanced portfolio.

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Commodities: Institutional Asset Class Ascending

A briefing on the commodities asset class and key points from our newly published position paper.

Skyrocketing commodity prices combined with the poor performance of equities have led to an increased interest in commodity allocations. Commodities have not historically been part of an institutional investor’s asset allocation, and some even question whether commodities are an asset class.

Register now to join us for a live webinar to discuss commodities as an institutional asset class with senior research analyst Eric Przybylinski and director of research Greg Leonberger. We’ll explore commodities as an investment, focusing on investment vehicles, the sources and attributes of historical risk and return, and commodities’ place in an investment portfolio.

We’ll brief participants on key points from our newly published position paper, including:

  • An introduction to commodities as an institutional asset class
  • The mechanics of long-only futures positions
  • Drivers of individual commodity returns and portfolios of commodity positions
  • Commodities as part of a balanced portfolio

 

Live Webinar – Thursday, March 1, 2012 – 1:00 PM CT

Please contact us for access to this video.

2012 Market Preview

January 2012 Investment Perspectives

Reflecting back on 2011 does not elicit a lot of warm and fuzzy feelings.

News highlights include a downgrade to the U.S. credit rating, political gridlock in Washington D.C., ongoing sovereign debt issues in Europe, and a stubborn lack of economic growth. Predictably, these major news items took a toll on the capital markets, with U.S. equities mostly down for the year, and non-U.S. equities considerably worse off than their U.S. counterparts. Not surprisingly, the ongoing frustration (and dispersion) of equity markets pushed investors to the bond market, as rates – contrary to popular sentiment one year ago – fell yet again, thus making the year a profitable one for fixed income investors. Moving outside of the traditional capital markets, alternative asset classes had more of a mixed 2011: hedge funds again disappointed, while real estate and private equity continued their recoveries from the abyss known as 2008 – 2009.

But enough about 2011 – it is 2012 and investors are less concerned about what happened, and more interested in what the coming year holds for their portfolios. In the following articles, we will take a closer look at critical issues for each asset class in 2012. Each article contains insightful analysis and key themes to monitor over the coming year, themes which will underlie the actual performance of the asset classes covered. Articles are offered for the following asset classes: fixed income, U.S. equities, non-U.S. equities, hedge funds, real estate, private equity, and infrastructure. As a backdrop to the capital markets, we examine some crucial macroeconomic topics as they pertain to the U.S. economy.

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Intraday Volatility

This week’s chart depicts the intraday percentage change of the S&P 500 index over the trailing ten years. Several outlying events have been highlighted, however, we will focus on 2011.

This week’s chart depicts the intraday percentage change of the S&P 500 index over the trailing ten years. Several outlying events have been highlighted, however, we will focus on 2011. In the first six months of 2011 (125 trading days), the average intraday percentage change was 1.05%. From July 1, 2011, through December 5, 2011 (109 trading days), the average intraday percentage change was 2.33%. If you were to translate the intraday percentage change into points, the S&P 500 index has traveled 4,717 points to net a year to date return of 1.91%. Given the recent market volatility, it is important to not overreact to short-term market volatility and have your asset allocation guide your decision making process.

Infrastructure Position Paper

Examines the infrastructure asset class in great detail, from its early beginnings in the 1980s to its current day role in an institutional portfolio.

Infrastructure is a relatively new asset class to institutional investors and over the last five years has emerged as a sustainable addition to client portfolios. The following paper examines the asset class in great detail, from its early beginnings in the 1980s to its current day role in an institutional portfolio. In particular, the nuances of infrastructure, as well as its unique characteristics are discussed in an effort to cultivate a thorough understanding of the asset class. Recommendations as well as guidance towards making an allocation to the asset class are also included.

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Please see our 2018 Update to this Infrastructure position paper.

Analysis of Debt Ceiling Debate

July 2011 Investment Perspectives

As the August 2nd deadline for a resolution to the debt ceiling debate quickly approaches, many questions are emerging about the ramifications for investors in the U.S. truly does default on its debt obligations. Not surprisingly, opinions differ on what the bottom line impact will be for financial markets and investors. Unfortunately, the only consensus among market pundits is that there is no consensus. It should be noted that the current situation is extremely fluid, so portions of this newsletter may be out of date by the time it is read.

The following analysis tackles the biggest questions debated by analysts and market participants:

  • Will the U.S. Treasury default on its debt?
  • Will a major rating agency downgrade the U.S. credit rating?
  • What impact could a downgrade have on the U.S. fixed income market? U.S. equity? Non-U.S. equity?

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