Topic 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 [*note 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

Featuring: Greg Leonberger, FSA, EA, MAAA, Vice President and Director of Research; Nat Kellogg, CFA, Associate Director of Research

Who should attend: Institutional investment stewards, investment managers

Please contact us for access to this video.

 

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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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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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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Investment Stewardship 2011

Discusses today’s emotional market volatility and a focused approach to meeting the requirements of investment stewardship in 2011 and beyond.

In the wake of the 2008-2009 financial crisis, institutional investment stewards are faced with more complex fiduciary duties than ever.

Join us for a live webinar to address today’s emotional market volatility and discuss a focused approach to meeting the requirements of investment stewardship in 2011 and beyond.

This webinar will review the three key fiduciary responsibilities that lead to successful investment programs in good markets and bad:

  • Risk control – Stay off the greed-fear roller coaster with complete clarity on asset allocation and a conviction to rebalance as needed.
  • Quality control – Get to know your managers with thorough investment manager search due diligence steps to avoid fraud and poor products.
  • Cost control – Keep costs from eroding performance by actively negotiating so-called “industry standard” fees.

 

Live Webinar – Wednesday, May 25, 2011 – 1:00 PM CT
Investment Stewardship 2011
Fiduciary Duty in An Uncertain Decade

Presenters: Brett Christenson, CFP®, CFA, Managing Director; Greg Leonberger, FSA, Vice President and Director of Research

Please contact us for access to this video.

Stress Testing Portfolios for Inflation

Examines different asset classes’ performance during times of high, rising, falling, unexpected, and expected inflation.

High inflation continues to be a worry for investors, most especially how it could lead to portfolio losses. The following paper examines different asset classes’ performance during times of high inflation, rising inflation, unexpected inflation, and expected inflation. Historical data is analyzed to identify investment themes that offer protection from both high and unexpected levels of price escalation.

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Short Duration vs. Core Bonds in a Rising Rate Environment

April 2011 Investment Perspectives

In today’s low rate environment, interest rate risk has emerged as a primary concern for market participants. Given that the Fed has held interest rates near zero for over two years, many investors are worried about the effect of an increase in rates on their portfolios. As interest rates rise, the discounted value of future cash flows to bond investors falls, causing a drop in the price of bond portfolios.

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Private Equity Position Paper

The first of a two part series, this paper provides an overview of the private equity asset class as well as recommendations and allocation guidance.

This paper is meant to provide an overview of the private equity asset class, an analysis of the qualitative and quantitative factors that should be used to assess private equity funds and determine their appropriate use in a portfolio, and lay-out and justify Marquette Associates’ position on the use of private equity funds in client portfolios. Recommendations as well as guidance towards making an allocation to the asset class are also included.

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