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Tag Archives: investment
The Year of Reconciliation, Part I
Last year was a very difficult year in terms of investment management; very rarely will I speak in extremes, but 2011 could have been the most challenging year ever. There was, and still is, a confluence of factors too divergent to properly quantify. This created an environment of high volatility; so high that tactical strategies had trouble achieving, and subsequently maintaining, investment gains. “Buy and Hold” has its own issues involving behavioral risk.
This industry is marred with contradictions. Our timeframes are too long and, simultaneously, too short. Investors seek to maximize growth and moderate risk. Our focus is divided between the macroeconomic situation and microeconomic considerations, both of which drive portfolio decisions. Returns are benchmarked variably; on an absolute basis or relative basis depending on the particular day and/or perspective. Continue reading
Posted in Investment, Portfolio Strategy
Tagged dynamic, economy, investment, portfolio, strategy, structuring
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Investors Prefer Commissions? Really?
The investors that prefer not to pay an ongoing fee do not perceive the value. And unfortunately, the last 10 years of flat performance for domestic equity markets has reinforced this perception. As we transition to a tactical investment management era, commissions will be harder and harder to justify. Commissions create a barrier that needs to be overcome in order to break even. While asset-based fees also create a barrier, the barrier is much smaller and the tradeoff is flexibility. Furthermore, I believe most services that are purchased upfront (e.g. commissions or hourly) disincentivize a continued healthy relationship. An asset-based fee requires, theoretically, continued satisfaction; whereas, a commission requires the opposite. Continue reading
Posted in Executive Views, Portfolio Strategy
Tagged commissions, interests, investment, longevity
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A Redefined Landscape Requires An Updated Map
Imagine creating a map 250 million years ago during the supercontinent phase of Pangaea. You are probably long overdue for an update. Similarly, there is a paradigm shift that is taking place among the investment management community. It is evolving slowly and growing out of necessity. Let’s refer to these strategies as “traditional” and “new normal.” I only suggest “new normal” because it is an already popularized phrase used to describe a time period with a new landscape. The difference between portfolio strategy from the traditional perspective and the new normal perspective is constraint; time constraint, weight constraint and, most importantly, mental constraint.
With time constraint, I’m referring to holding periods with long-term philosophies. With weight constraint, I’m referring to maximum mandated percentages of particular holdings or asset classes. What establishes the prior two obstacles is an emphasis on history; an emphasis that constrains the possibility of what a portfolio structure should resemble in the future. If this is a new normal economic period, it stands to reason that portfolio strategy should be redefined as well. Continue reading
Posted in Executive Views, Investment, Portfolio Strategy
Tagged dynamic, investment, portfolio, strategy, structuring
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The Individual Investor is at a Disadvantage
In the following video, Michael Lewis, author of “The Big Short,” delivers his personal experience with investment management during the financial crisis. He describes the inherent conflict of interest investment banks have because of their dual roles as both client advisors and proprietary traders. Continue reading
Posted in Analysis, Investment, Portfolio Strategy
Tagged etf, investment, portfolio, strategy, structuring
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Playing by the Rules and Winning the Game
You can distinguish one money manager from another by how well they play the game. In order to determine the winners and losers, you must know the objectives. Here they are: consistent returns, positive returns, and–for the bonus round–outperformance of equity benchmarks at all times. There is no rulebook for this game. Nor was this game shrink-wrapped neatly on the shelf of a Toys-R-Us [sic]. These are the rules imposed by clients. While these requirements do change, the past ten years and the current “new normal” economy have formed these parameters. Continue reading
Posted in Portfolio Strategy
Tagged dynamic, investment, portfolio, risk, strategy, structuring, volatility
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