Strategic asset allocation, the hallmark investment approach of financial advisory firms who use risk profiling to determine a client’s investment portfolios, is under the spotlight, with an increasing number of investment firms questioning whether the strategy remains appropriate in light of the seismic shift seen in financial markets over the past decade.
There has rarely been a more urgent time to assess whether your money is being optimally managed. Market valuations are close to all-time highs while risk levels are high and long-term real return prospects are near zero. We anticipate re-runs of 2020 over the coming years, with more volatility and markets that ultimately go nowhere.
Developing client-centric advice models has been a hot topic for many financial planning firms in recent years, with the duty of acting in the client’s best interest further cemented by the newly established Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority's Code of Ethics. This has led some advisors to question whether the conventional weighting of a portfolio across today’s increasingly volatile and highly correlated asset classes satisfies this duty of care.
Part 1 of this article examines why advisors are increasingly moving to outsource the investment function of their financial planning business when implementing a goals based investing approach. The next step is to consider a suitable investment and administrative structure that will support the advisor in delivering the key objective of goals based investing; tailoring each client’s portfolio to ensure it meets their unique objectives.
Investment advice is often considered by both clients and financial planners as a vital component of a thriving financial planning business, making it essential to get right.
The ASX200 fell roughly 10% in the financial year just finished, which included a terrifying 35% plunge and euphoric 30% rally in a 16-week period. This loss-making white-knuckle ride is not what investors seek, and has left many on the sidelines feeling cautious and confused.
Dynamic Asset Portfolio Manager, Jerome Lander, discusses the risks of strategic asset allocation - particularly during the very difficult market conditions we face today. He argues that unless you're prepared to change the way you manage your client's money, there's really no way to manage that risk.
A market correction can spell disaster for a financial planning business. Time is lost calming clients’ nerves rather than building your business, some clients may even leave after seeing their capital shrink and your income may plunge along with the market. But this is not true for all financial planning firms; some businesses thrive during weak market conditions, which provide them with an opportunity to demonstrate their value.
Equity markets have bounced well over 20% since the lows just over a month ago, so technically we are already in a new bull market.
With peak new cases now behind us, the economy agitating to reopen and governments starting to ease restrictions, is the massive fiscal and monetary stimulus in the pipes about to prove the bulls spectacularly right?
