On January 31, 2013, MarketWatch Journalist, Robert Powell’s article, Retirees and stocks: Sell now or hold on? includes citations from MRT’s Jason Branning.
Category: Portfolio Theory
Harry Markowitz’s paper “Portfolio Selection” published in the 1952 Journal of Finance and subsequent works that have built on these ideas by Markowitz and others, has had a profound effect on the investment philosophy of advisors, foundations, endowments and individuals. The seed of Portfolio Theory set forth in 1952 has indeed become a full grown tree at this point.
The investment community’s thought process is imbedded in Portfolio Theory. Debates center on active vs. passive investing, optimized allocations, and safe withdrawal rates. The assumptions of Portfolio Theory have explained the risk/return relationship in terms of beta, standard deviation, alpha, covariance and Monte Carlo simulations. The goal of managing a portfolio to get the most possible return for the least amount of risk is indeed noble and desirous.
Modern Portfolio Theory’s mathematical sophistication supports the notion that over time, equity markets are the best place to make money over and against other assets, inflation and taxes. Portfolio risk can be reduced through specific optimizations, while recognizing that systematic or market risk cannot be eliminated. These risk computation metrics have been demonstrated over extended periods and then converted into averages that are quite attractive.
Our focus is on how Portfolio Theory has been applied to those near or in retirement. Is it possible that these historical averages purported by Portfolio Theory have lulled advisors and consumers into accepting too much risk during the retirement phase? Thus far, this risk has been accepted by trying to sustain a retirement plan based on an income-producing, market-based portfolio. MRT questions if that is really the best approach for individual retirees.
Retirement is the ultimate consumption phase of life rather than an accumulation phase. The dilemma perceived through the Modern Portfolio view is that the retirement portfolio must continue to grow. MRT believes that retirement is mostly about maximizing the utilization of accumulated assets in ways that do not jeopardize the main goal of retirement, which is to stay retired. If we overlay the notion that there is an absolute deadline for retirement, as defined by the client, then our responsibility to meet the goal must be met. This model views retirement as an absolute, non-negotiable goal rather than a relative one. This concept opposes the view within the planning process that lifestyle should be automatically be altered if the circumstances are unfavorable at the time the client wants to retire. Rather, we ask planners if there is a mechanism or system that can meet this absolute objective of retirement and be sustainable.