ARTICLES

During the last 30-40 year investment period, investors have been spoilt by an unusually favourable period for investments and asset prices. Following the high inflation and low growth period of the 1970s – when stocks and bonds did very poorly – inflation pressures finally subsided as did high interest rates. Furthermore, we had a massive period of peaceful prosperity and globalisation, enabling lower prices and greater economic efficiency. This created excellent conditions for most asset classes to flourish and with it growth orientated static Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA) portfolios and low-cost index funds.

The traditional risk-based investment approach, which determined how a client’s assets are invested based on their risk profile, aims to maximise returns for a given level of risk. Success is measured by comparing returns against market benchmarks, suggesting that investors should be pleased with negative returns, provided they are less negative than the benchmark! The approach also entails a high level of volatility that can decimate a client’s capital, particularly if they need to access their funds in the near term or lose faith in their investment plan and crystalise their losses.

Goals Based Advice is just the first step in Goals Based Investing.

During market downturns, investors are commonly advised to stick with their strategic asset allocation rather than crystalise their losses in the hope that the downturn will be short lived and that returns will revert to historical norms.

Superannuation and pension accounts form a significant portion of most investor's investments. Yet many advisers and investors alike struggle to solve the strategic issues that affect this segment. Two specific challenges are sequencing risk and, as lifespans increase and people’s health improves, the conundrum of longevity risk.

Sequencing risk is one of the most important things to consider when constructing your investment portfolio.

The premise of Goals Based Investing is to focus each investment portfolio on specific individual personal and lifestyle goals. Those goals inform the right timeframe, risk and return parameters, which in turn determine the best asset allocation and investment mix. Goals can be short-term, such as taking a holiday, medium-term, such as renovating or paying school fees, and long-term, such as saving for retirement.

An alternative investment is an investment product other than traditional investments such as stocks, bonds or cash. 

The idea that we should invest to meet our needs and goals is basic common sense. However, somewhat surprisingly, that is not what most players within the investment industry do.