Building a portfolio structure
We have found developing investment programs for retirement plans and individuals are not dissimilar. Over the years, we have seen a difference in attitudes regarding “risk” and “volatility”. We believe risk and tolerance of risk are concepts understandable to institutions and individuals alike. What has become quite clear is our clients find adapting to the speed of changing risk factors and the resulting market volatility, increasingly more difficult to manage.
Our philosophy of constructing outcome based strategies using a consistent core of investment managers focused on the three questions listed above might seem simple but it is not simplistic. Our rigorous process of identifying, reviewing, and modifying these managers for the clients’ specific tolerance is core to our ability to help manage volatility.
We look to work with a client where the attitudes, assets, and circumstances line up and is a fit for both of us. Typically, we may use 12 to 15 investment managers and build 5 core allocation strategies: Conservative, Moderate, Balanced, Growth and Aggressive. The differences between the strategies are the percentage of assets held with each investment manager. The adopted strategy is based on the specifics of the client’s attitude toward volatility and intended purpose for their money. This is not to say that all clients can be categorized in one of the 5 strategies. As in most situations, a portfolio is a blend of one or more of the strategies or may be combined with a complimentary ETF program. Also available for individual clients, we will use a structured stock dividend program based on companies who have consistently paid a dividend and have historically increased them.
