Asset Allocation

When building a portfolio, the most important decision an investor makes is determining the proportion of stocks to bonds. In brief, more conservative portfolios hold more bonds than stocks, and have lower total expected return and risk. More aggressive portfolios hold more stocks than bonds, and have higher expected return and risk. So how should investors allocate between stocks and bonds with confidence? The problem is too complex to have a single rule solution. Time horizon, tolerance for risk, anticipated cash flows and the desire to leave an estate will impact the optimal portfolio strategy for each investor. But a common starting point is evaluating a range of model portfolios with different risk and return characteristics. A portfolio holding 100% stocks is riskier than a portfolio holding 100% bonds. Most portfolio stock-bond allocations lay somewhere in between the extremes such as 80%-20%, 60%-40%, 40%-60%, and 20%-80%. Most investors benefit from being able to visualize the volatility-return tradeoff and range of potential outcomes from competing portfolio asset allocations. To learn more about determining broad portfolio balance read our piece titled the Planning Problem.

Which Stocks?

Let’s say an investor has decided on a 60/40 stock-bond mix. Now that investor has another important issue to consider; that is, how to allocate that 60% of stock investments. This is where great opportunities can be found for improving the risk-return tradeoff. Investors who are willing to take on higher risk within the equity portion of their portfolio can “tilt” or overweight their equity allocation towards riskier asset classes with a history of above-average market returns. According to research by Eugene Fama and Kenneth French, investors can increase their expected risk-adjusted return by holding a larger portion of small cap and value stocks. Over a lifetime, these stocks have higher average returns than large-cap stocks and growth stocks. Research also shows that allocations to international small cap and value stocks diversify US portfolios better than international equities that are style and size neutral. These stocks are not highly correlated with the broad US equity market, and their higher expected returns and diversification benefits provide a good rational for including them in a portfolio. Allocations to emerging market small cap and value stocks provide additional portfolio benefits via an even broader array of asset classes. With low variances and co-variances to the US market, the stock-bond ratio of a portfolio can be increased with the addition of these stocks without raising overall portfolio volatility. For further reading on the benefits of diversification see our pieces on International Diversification and the rewards of  Multiple Asset Class Investing.

Real Estate Securities

Real estate securities add further diversification benefits to a portfolio because of their low covariance with other asset classes. Markets may experience varying levels of return correlation with real estate, but diversification with these securities can further reduce risk in a portfolio and result in higher expected long-term annualized returns.

The Limits of Diversification

Diversification is a powerful financial tool. By holding a collection of equity asset classes across global markets, investors can reduce or eliminate the impact of under-performance in a single market or region of the world. Diversification also increases the likelihood of capturing the premiums associated with different size and value risk factors. That said, diversification within equities cannot eliminate broad economic systematic risk. The only way to avoid systematic risk is to not be exposed to it, that is, to be out of the market.

Temper Portfolio Risk with Bonds

To temper the risk of equities investors are advised to add bonds (fixed income) to their portfolio. A bond is a debt security issued by a company, public authority, or government, and represents a promise to pay interest to the bondholder for a given period of time as well as to reimburse the original principal at maturity. Bonds are traditionally regarded as less risky than equities (stocks) since bondholders in most countries have a legal claim to an issuer's assets. Bonds also have offered lower historical returns because the bond holder is not an equity owner and typically does not participate in company profits.

One purpose for holding bonds is to manage overall risk in a portfolio. Some long-term investors seek higher total expected returns by shifting risk to the equity side of their portfolio, while lowering risk with short-term bonds. These bonds have historically lower yields but are a good tool for tempering portfolio risk.

The second purpose for holding bonds is to generate cash flow. Income-oriented investors, including retirees, pension plans, and endowments, may not be concerned about short-term price risk in their bond portfolio. Instead, their priority is to meet specific future obligations. They design their portfolios around bonds with longer maturities and/or lower credit ratings in hope of earning higher yields. Whether investing for total long-term return or for income, a bond portfolio should be diversified across issues and global markets.

Asset Allocation Process at Cardiff Park

The asset allocation advice we provide at Cardiff Park is based on a long-term “buy and hold” investment philosophy incorporating modern portfolio theory and principles of finance. The aim of a well-constructed asset allocation strategy is never just about making money. It’s also about defining goals, managing risk, and developing a long-term plan that reflects each investor’s goals, timeline and financial situation.

At Cardiff Park each asset allocation plan begins with a comprehensive picture of a client’s unique situation, risk tolerance and capacity, and need for liquidity, income and growth. This is the basis for determining the optimal allocation of equities, real estate, commodities, gold and fixed income.

Summary

The initial decision about how much to allocate to stocks versus bonds is perhaps the most crucial decision affecting long-term term portfolio performance. This decision can be made with lots of historical data and analysis. During the portfolio design process Cardiff Park Advisors will show you different stock-bond combinations and  will help you visualize the risk-return tradeoff of competing allocations and range of potential outcomes over time. Once the appropriate asset mix is determined, specific asset class choices can be considered. This is by no means a “final decision.” Over time, as investor risk preference or needs shifts, the asset allocation mix will be periodically revisited. Again, we will visually demonstrate how shifts in the portfolio mix may impact future wealth accumulation before decisions are made.

Learn More About Us

Cardiff Park Advisors is located in San Marcos, 25 miles north of San Diego. We work with clients throughout the United States. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your financial goals and how we can help you reach them. You may reach us by emailing our principal at jgorlow@cardiffpark.com or calling our office at 760-635-7526.

For more information about Cardiff Park Advisors please review our brochure at https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/126752 or visit www.cardiffpark.com