Finology is the emerging (and converging) research field covering the study of minds, customs and behaviours with respect to money. It incorporates behavioural finance, and much, much more.

There may be rocks ahead. Reconnecting risk and return must be the right focus - but thinking conventional tools will keep us out of trouble may be a mistake.

Going forward, instead of 5% real, traditional stocks and bonds will offer about 2.5%. But there are many things you can do to bridge the gap.

Here are some brief thoughts on four issues that matter a lot, in our view. Two have been poorly discussed in the financial press, and the other two have been ignored completely.

Three interrelated aspects of practically managing client portfolios - constructing portfolios using buckets, diversifying human capital, and the Withdrawal Policy Statement.

Our Symposium NZ 2014 faculty debated that the best way for practitioners to manage a client's primary risk of not meeting their objectives is to manage the long-term uncertainty of returns.

This paper and presentation argue that starting period equity valuations impact not just medium-term equity returns, but medium-term equity volatility and bond-equity correlations also.

This paper and presentation argue against the use of debt-weighted benchmarks for global bond managers, in favour of a better approach to setting an appropriate benchmark.

This paper and presentation argue that understanding what is going on under the bonnet at central banks is key to understanding what will drive markets, and how best to position portfolios.

Using risk factors in evaluating investments in the portfolio construction process can provide valuable information about the true drivers of performance.

There's some evidence that some managers can add (relatively) consistent value net of costs. Can we (or anyone) identify them?

Are the human and organisational barriers to being better investors insurmountable, or can we learn and improve our decision-making?

Typically, MPT has focused solely on how to invest within classes, not amongst them. But MPT continues to evolve.

Recorded at the recent Symposium 2014, this session examined the truth as to whether regulation makes markets more efficient or causes markets to produce lower returns.

In the wake of the GFC, the public's belief in the free market has taken a battering. But for all its flaws, capitalism remains the best way of creating prosperity.

This paper and presentation provide an introduction to the risk tolerance paradox, exploring the main reason it exists, and introducing risk management strategies that seek to solve the problem.

This paper and presentation argue that there are real sign-posts that clearly suggest that the US is off its knees and ready to surprise the world on the upside, with significant implications for markets and portfolios.

This paper and presentation argue that the bond market can offer compensation against rising rates through roll down and active management of forwards.

Central banks must complete the Great Unwind – removing ultra-easy monetary policies. The critical period for markets will come when the Fed lifts short-term rates (probably, but not necessarily, after tapering ends).

The majority of the world will see an improvement in economic growth this year. While equities remain the most attractive asset class, they will need a more nimble approach.