Skip to content

All Asset No Authority

Jan 04 2023

2022 Asset Allocation Review

  • Jan 4, 2023

We’ve heard for eons that “Low bond yields justify high equity valuations.” Value-conscious investors might have described this conundrum another way: “Low future returns in one asset class justify low future returns in another.” (Mysteriously, only the first rendition became a CNBC catch-phrase.)

Dec 07 2022

“The Streak” Is In Jeopardy…

  • Dec 7, 2022

With less than a month to go, our hypothetical All Asset, No Authority (AANA) Portfolio seems likely to beat the S&P 500 on an annual basis for the first time since 2011. However, it’s doubtful that many real-world, institutional multi-asset portfolios were as heavily exposed as AANA to the best-performing assets—commodities and gold.

Sep 08 2022

It’s Been Ugly Across The Board

  • Sep 8, 2022

Aside from a couple specialized approaches, 2022 is shaping up as the second-worst year for “multi-asset” investing since at least 1973. It seems money printing supported more than just the equity subset.

Aug 05 2022

Multi-Asset: Winning By Losing Less

  • Aug 5, 2022

At the beginning of the year, we liked the chances for the “Donut Portfolio” to break its 10-year losing streak against the S&P 500. As a refresher, the Donut holds six of seven key assets in equal weights. The S&P 500 is excluded—a decision probably only suitable for allocators who are self-employed. 

Jan 06 2022

Asset Allocation: A Rising Tide Lifts Most Boats

  • Jan 6, 2022

Boy, we thought policymakers had thrown the kitchen sink at the economy in 2020. Evidently, the Fed’s Marriner Eccles building has two kitchens, because they were able to do it again in 2021: M2 grew 13%, the Fed’s balance sheet swelled19%, and the 2021 federal deficit will come in at 12% of GDP.

Apr 08 2021

Time For A “Donut” Break?

  • Apr 8, 2021

Despite a resurgence in Small Cap stocks and Commodities, it still feels like an “S&P 500 World” for asset allocators. The financial media remain obsessed with S&P 500 targets, S&P 500 earnings, and S&P 500 stocks. And why wouldn’t they be?

Jan 08 2021

Liquidity Didn’t Lift Quite Everything In 2020

  • Jan 8, 2021

Last year should have been a perfect one for “diversification” to shine. Extremely high equity valuations entering 2020? Check. A recession-induced bear market? Check. Massive monetary and fiscal stimulus designed to lift all boats? Check and check.

Nov 06 2020

Tough Times For Allocators

  • Nov 6, 2020

Diversified, multi-asset portfolios have been weak performers for many years. The ultra-flexible, macro hedge-fund manager represents one extreme of the asset allocation continuum. At the other extreme would be the passive holder of multiple asset classes. It’s been a tough three years for this breed, too.

Apr 07 2020

Are You “De-Worsified?”

  • Apr 7, 2020

In recent weeks, we’ve seen the “sell-side” investment community get about as cautious as it ever gets, recommending investors to “trim risky holdings on ‘up’ days” and “stay diversified.” However, these cheerleaders’ idea of diversification is usually to hold more equities in different sizes and styles.

Mar 06 2020

Are You “De-Worsified?”

  • Mar 6, 2020

The past 26 months have been wild ones for equity investors, but one could have essentially matched the S&P 500’s healthy return of +18.1% with a portfolio that was evenly split between the “fear” assets of Treasury bonds and gold. REITs have been solid, too, but EAFE and the Russell 2000 are now both total return losers since the beginning of 2018.

Jan 08 2020

A Good Year To “Own It All”

  • Jan 8, 2020

It’s no surprise that U.S. Large Caps were the #1 asset class performer in 2019. We were surprised that last year was the only one of the decade in which the S&P 500 won the annual performance derby. Here we review the annual performance of “Bridesmaid” asset class and sector, “Perfect Foresight,” and Lowest P/E sector.

Aug 07 2019

Odds & Ends

  • Aug 7, 2019

Here are some brief follow-up notes on topics covered in recent months’ Green Books.

May 07 2019

AANA: The Good And The Bad

  • May 7, 2019

Large Cap U.S. Technology has been the place to be this year, but even an “unmanaged” portfolio with a variety of assets has fared well so far in 2019.

Jan 08 2019

“De-Worsification” Ruled In 2018!

  • Jan 8, 2019

The market difficulties of 2018 were hardly limited to stocks. Commodities, in fact, were the worst performer among the seven major asset classes.

Dec 21 2018

Market Observations

  • Dec 21, 2018

It’s been one of the worst years on record for diversification, with our hypothetical All Asset No Authority (AANA) portfolio down 7.2% YTD through yesterday. That’s the second-worst year for AANA since 1972, and there’s probably not enough time left for performance to undercut 2008 (-24.9%) for the bottom spot.

 

Nov 23 2018

Thanksgiving Leftovers

  • Nov 23, 2018

Whatever one’s preferred leftovers from yesterday’s feast, the odds are good you’ll find them more appetizing than the slop served up by global asset markets this year. Stocks have obviously been turkeys, but all the surrounding trimmings that help diversify a portfolio have proven anything but complementary to the main course.