I’ve just returned from a manager research trip in the UK where we visited a variety of strategies from a variety of managers and fortunately for me, with some of the leading thinkers and researchers in the advice industry (hat tip D&G … and I don’t mean Dolce and Gabbana). Several of the managers we …
Category Archive: Investment Strategy
Jun 14
Market Cap Weighted Bond Indices…always tough to beat
The common criticism of market-cap weighted bond indices is that they are inefficient because they are obviously weighted towards those with the most debt. Thus indicating that the index potentially carries more risk than necessary, or than we may want in a portfolio, because those with the most debt carry greater default risk than those with very …
May 09
How often should we rebalance portfolios?
It appears that the financial planning industry is a big believer in rebalancing but a little unsure as to how often. Some accept the automatic quarterly option, some rebalance at the client review, some annual, or even at 13 months to potentially reduce capital gains tax by taking advantage of the 50% CGT discount. Because the …
May 05
Revisiting Asset Weighted Returns and the Lifecycle Fund
Given the start of MySuper this year, superannuation trustees have released numerous lifecycle funds to satisfy this new legislation. Whilst lifecycle funds have been popular among superannuation trustees, the investment and adviser community haven’t been so complimentary. Either way, lifecycle funds definitely have a place in the investment landscape and they provide an approach to …
Apr 24
Absolute return investing…a nice goal but disappointment is likely
Absolute return investing, according to many definitions, is about getting positive returns irrespective of the overlying “market” return of whatever asset class the investor is being exposed to. This essentially means that any “absolute” returning investment needs to employ strategies that are independent of market direction. For example, if the market (and it can be …
Aug 28
What is the Risk Free asset?
This question is probably only important when establishing a base-line return expectation before we accept various type of investment risk. I guess we all know that technically there is no such thing as a Risk Free Asset but generally speaking it is widely believed that Cash is the risk free asset. Whilst I’m prepared to …
Jul 12
RIMSec July Research Report
It has certainly been a while since I posted and, no, this blog is still active and hopefully I’ll be able to produce some good stuff sooner than later. Lots of analysis done, some interesting stuff too, just need the time to write it up. Anyway, I digress… I’ve just finished a short little Research …
May 14
Rimsec May Research Report
The Rimsec Monthly Research report came out today which has commentary on current investment market themes, interest rate thoughts and some information on one of the significant risks within China…their property bubble. Anyway, if it is of interest you can download it by clicking here. Send article as PDF
Apr 12
Is there a “value” bubble in Australia?
Source: Morningstar Direct, Delta Research & Advisory The above chart shows the performance of the MSCI Australian Value GR index vs the MSCI Australian Growth GR index and I’m sure you would agree there is quite a divergence in performance. In fact, as the numbers show over the last 3 years, the Value index has outperformed …
Apr 12
A Couple of Market Outlook Reports (JV w RIMSec)
I’m a little late with the first one of these but the second is hot of the press, so to speak. The following links are Market outlook reports provided by Rim Securities, and written by yours truly for Delta Research & Advisory. The March update (that is only 2-3 weeks old) can be downloaded here; …