Heuristic and other Approaches to Asset Allocation
Heuristics, also known as rules of thumb, are simplistic and generic rules that investors use to satisfice. Satisficing, as covered in the behavioral economics section, reflects an attempt to reach a satisfactory economic decision at the expense of an optimal…
Goals-based Approach
A goals-based asset allocation process combines into an overall portfolio numerous sub-portfolios, each designed to fund a single goal within its time horizon and required probability of success. Individuals have unique needs that differ from those of institutions. The critical…
Liability-Relative Asset Allocation
Liability-relative approaches first view the cash flows of the sponsoring organization in question and then attempt to build a portfolio of securities that will satisfy these payments as they come due. This is in contrast to the popular asset-only approach…
Liability-Relative Asset Allocation
Liability-relative approaches first view the cash flows of the sponsoring organization in question and then attempt to build a portfolio of securities that will satisfy these payments as they come due. This is in contrast to the popular asset-only approach…
Characteristics of Liabilities Relevant to Asset Allocation
Aside from the well-known asset-only approach to asset allocation, other options are available to financial professionals. Another lens to view asset allocation involves thinking not of an already constructed portfolio of assets but first viewing the liabilities under the portfolio’s…
Use of Investment Factors
Until this point in the curriculum, risk has been looked at through an asset class perspective, answering the question, ‘What risks are inherent in each asset class?’ Switching to a new paradigm, portfolios may be constructed when viewing risk not…
Client Needs and Preferences VS. Asset Allocation
Client needs, and preferences would seem to be a qualitative factor. How, then, would an analyst include these factors into the quantitative models required to analyze a portfolio from the perspective of modern portfolio theory? The following three approaches are…
Absolute and Relative Risk Budgets
Risk budgeting is a means of making optimal use of risk to pursue return. A risk budget is optimal when the ratio of excess return to marginal contribution to total risk (MCTR) is the same for all assets in the…
Asset Class Liquidity Considerations
The problem of illiquid assets complicates traditional asset allocation. Some of the most prominent investments in this category include direct real estate, infrastructure, private equity, and hedge funds. Illiquidity and Lack of Investable Index Illiquid assets represent those for which…
Use of Monte Carlo Simulation and Scenario Analysis
Shortcomings of Mean-Variance Optimization As discussed, mean-variance analysis can help investors and advisors begin to zero in on an asset allocation while considering asset correlations, total return, and total risk. Effectively use of MVO will result in a specific set…
