The case for a flexible approach to asset
allocation
Category
The Lot - Multi-asset class
Company
Select Asset Management
Research
Paper
The difficulties in investment markets in recent
years have decimated many portfolios and raised
questions regarding conventional approaches to asset
allocation. In particular, it has highlighted the
limitations of the strategic, largely “set and
forget” approach to asset allocation that many in
the industry adopt. This research paper highlights
some flaws in the conventional approach to asset
allocation and explains why a more flexible approach
is appropriate for many investors, particularly in
the challenging investment environment expected to
continue in coming years. This paper does not
provide a “magic bullet” for determining client’s
asset allocation nor suggest that successful asset
allocation is easy. However, it shows how value can
be added over time and highlights that the decision
to ignore asset allocation or simply adopt
historically based, fixed, strategic allocations may
be a costly approach for many clients.