Managing Your Portfolio
Some managers prefer to add flair to portfolio management by taking unnecessary risks. Simply put, that’s not our approach. We use evidence-driven principles to manage your portfolio, supported by a team that purposefully applies continuous monitoring, rebalancing and tax management. This is done with significant discipline—regardless of market, economic or political news.
Our strategy may sound boring—but we prefer it that way. We never buy-and-forget. We strive every day to deliver fewer surprises and more support as we take control of your portfolio together.
Managing the Emotions of Investing
As you start your investment journey with your advisor, you’ll likely feel excited for the future. As markets oscillate, however, we know many investors experience emotional cycles. Even the best investment strategy is moot without the discipline and conviction to stay invested through rough market patches.
That’s why we say good investment outcomes come from marrying a good strategy with predictable behavior. This is done to anticipate some of the inherent emotions—from excitement to fear to relief—coming from market cycles that can otherwise affect better decisions.
The Roller Coaster of Investor Emotions
Preparing for the Rough Patches
At the beginning of our journey together, we set an Investment Policy Statement that will guide how we respond to different market environments. Because, as history shows us, market declines are not uncommon.
The chart demonstrates that, despite the frequency of market hiccups, a long-term perspective highlights the potential benefit of staying invested. We plan for market declines, because we know that, on average:
- One in every three months, stock markets lose value
- Every eighteen months, stock markets decline by 10 percent or more, which is generally considered a market correction
- Every three to four years, stock markets decline by 20 percent or more, which is generally considered a bear market
At Buckingham, we stick to the evidence. We don’t make changes to your portfolio based on economic, political or societal events. These events matter, so we’ve planned for their shocks. It’s part of our strategy and another reason we’re firm believers in diversification—to help manage for and withstand short-term rough patches, keeping you on track to meet your long-term goals.
Disclosure
Ken French Data Library, Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED(r)). Hypothetical value of $1 invested at the end of 1927 and kept invested through December 31, 2022. Assumes reinvestment of income and no transaction costs or taxes. Total returns in U.S. dollars. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Stocks are represented by the Fama/French Total US Market Research Index Portfolio, which is an unmanaged index of stocks of all U.S. companies operating on the NYSE, AMEX, or NASDAQ. The Fama/French Total U.S. Market Research Index Portfolio Index is an unmanaged baskets of securities that investors cannot directly invest in. Index performance does not reflect the fees or expenses associated with the management of an actual portfolio. Risks associated with investing in stocks potentially include increased volatility (up and down movement in the value of your assets) and loss of principal. Performance is historical and does not guarantee future results. Index total return includes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. These charts illustrate a graphical representation of the hypothetical growth of a dollar invested in the index mentioned above. Information from sources deemed reliable, but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. This information should not be considered as a demonstration of actual performance results or actual trading using client assets and should not be interpreted as such. The results may not reflect the impact that material economic and market factors may have had on the advisor’s decision-making in managing actual client accounts.
Over the 96-year period from January 1927 through December 2022, U.S. stocks had an intra-year decline of 10% or more 65 times (roughly once every 1.5 years), and they had an intra-year decline of 20% or more 25 times, which is roughly once every 3.8 years. U.S. stocks were down 429 of the 1,152 months in that time frame, or slightly more than once every 3 months. Recession periods are based on the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)-based recession indicators for the United States from the Peak through the Trough.
Keeping Your Portfolio in Balance—So You Can Focus on What Matters
Markets move every day–that’s expected. Our job is to monitor your portfolio year-round to ensure that it stays in-line with your tolerance for risk.
- As your portfolio moves out of balance, you’ll see us sell some of what’s done well and buy some of what’s done poorly.
- We call this rebalancing, and it enforces a discipline of buying low and selling high.
- If stocks have done well and have grown over pre-defined target values, we may sell stocks and buy bonds to keep your overall portfolio risk aligned.
Discover how rebalancing can manage risk. Dive Deeper →
The Process of Rebalancing
Rebalancing to Manage Risk
Stocks tend to grow faster than bonds, so left unchecked your portfolio can gravitate towards having proportionally more money invested in companies than agreed to in the context of your Investment Policy Statement. Over time, this can add up and increase risk. Without rebalancing, an increasing allocation to stocks may expose you to bigger losses during market downturns.
Disclosure
Source: Ken French Data Library, Morningstar Direct 2022.
The chart shows the allocation to stocks for two portfolios to demonstrate that, over time, not reblaancing can lead to having relatively more money invested in stocks than originally targeted. Both portfolios start with the same allocation with 36% in U.S. Stocks, 18% in International Stocks, 6% in Emerging Markets Stocks, and 40% in bonds. The Portfolio with No Rebalancing is not rebalanced over the entire 30-year period. The Portfolio with Rebalancing follows a rebalancing rule where all portfolio asset classes are rebalanced to the target allocation when either major asset class (stocks or bonds) deviates more than 5% away from the target weight.
U.S. Stock returns are represented by the total U.S. market return, from the Ken French Data Library. International Stocks are represented by the total developed international market, from the Ken French Data Library. Emerging Market Stock returns are represented by the total emerging market, from the Ken French Data Library. Intermediate Government Bonds are represented by the Ibbotson Associates U.S. Intermediate Government Total Return Index Index from the Stocks, Bonds, Bills, and Inflation (SBBI) data, from Morningstar.
Turning Losses into Tax Breaks
Sometimes investments lose money. In fact, some may be worth less than what you bought them for. Yet, these can be used to help offset gains and limit taxes. This is known as tax-loss harvesting and its benefits are key to our ongoing strategy:
- Identifies and replaces losing assets
- Locks in losses to offset taxable gains
- Keeps the portfolio in-line with targeted allocation
- Can reduce overall tax burden
Combine Gains
With Losses
Reduce or Eliminate Tax Bill
See how tax-loss harvesting adds up during volatile markets. Dive Deeper →
The Silver-Lining to Market Volatility
During volatile markets, investments may experience severe turbulence, even losses. When this happens, we use Tax-Loss Harvesting to sell holdings trading at a loss, replacing them with similar but not identical investments. The losses on these trades can be used to offset other capital gains—potentially reducing either current or future tax bills.
Illustrated here, this can result in higher tax breaks during periods of market downturn, reducing some of the impact of volatile markets. This can be done across stocks, bonds and alternatives.
Hypothetical Tax Break Scenario
| Taxes | Initial Investment | Investment declines 20% | Investment gains 40% | Balance | Cost Basis | Tax Offsets | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Tax Loss Harvesting | $100,000 | → | $80,000 | → | $112,000 | $112,000 | $100,000 | $0 | |
| With Tax Loss Harvesting | $100,000 | → | $80,000 | → | $112,000 | $112,000 | $80,000 | $20,000 | |
|
↑ ↓ Tax Loss Harvest Sell the initial fund Realize $20,000 Capital Loss Buy a similar fund |
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Changing Your Portfolio as Your Life Changes
Life isn’t linear. That’s why, as we monitor your portfolio, we also review your plan and financial goals.
Based on your circumstances, the likelihood you will be able to meet and exceed your goals may change. As a result, we may recommend adjustments, such as savings and spending changes, to maintain a healthy probability of future success. To do this, we analyze and test the potential impact of these changes on the long-term viability of your portfolio, helping to maintain its value longer as you go through retirement.
We don’t frequently suggest changes to your portfolio. But, as your situation changes and your goals evolve, we will evaluate the impact on your plan together.
See How Different Life Changes Can Affect the Probability of a Successful Outcome
Disclosure
General Assumptions: $3 million initial portfolio. Hypothetical clients are age 60 and live through the end of their age 94 (35 years). Portfolio allocation is assumed to be 36% U.S. Total Stock Market, 18% International Total Stock Market, 6% Emerging Markets Total Stock Market, and 40% U.S. Intermediate Government bonds. Portfolio estimate of average annual return is 6.8% , with a 10.8% volatility. Inflation is assumed to be 2.7% per year. Using these assumptions, annual returns are simulated using a Monte Carlo Analysis. The portfolio return for each year is assumed to be independent and the returns are assumed to follow a lognormal distribution. Each scenario assumes no other income besides portfolio withdrawals. Results are based on 10,000 simulations. Success is defined as having at least one dollar left at the conclusion of age 94.
All dollar figures are presented in today’s dollars, and nominal spending will be higher due to inflation adjustments. Spending figures are inclusive of all goals and taxes; actual lifestyle spending would be less after considering taxes on portfolio income, capital gains, and distributions. Portfolios are assumed to be rebalanced to target weights at the beginning of each year. Spending is assumed to be withdrawn at the beginning of each year, prior to the application of portfolio returns for the year.
Scenario saving and spending assumptions:
Retire at 65: $60,000 per year savings from 60-64 (5 years). $120,000 per year total spending from 65-94 (30 years).
Retire 5 Years Earlier: $120,00 per year total spending from 60-94 (35 years).
Work 5 Years Longer: $60,000 per year savings from 60-69 (10 years). $120,000 per year spending from 70-94 (25 years).
Increase Annual Savings: $120,000 per year savings from 60-64 (5 years). $120,000 per year total spending from 65-94 (30 years).
Pay Grandkid’s College: $60,000 per year savings from 60-64 (5 years). $120,000 per year total spending from 65-94 (30 years). From age 70-73 (4 years), increase spending by $100,000 per year for assumed college expenses.
Downsize home: $60,000 per year savings from 60-64 (5 years). $120,000 per year total spending from 65-94 (30 years). At age 65, sell current residence for $1 million and purchase a new residence for $600,000, resulting in a net portfolio deposit of $400,000. Any taxes for the home sale are assumed to be covered by the annual spending.
Buy a vacation home: $60,000 per year savings from 60-64 (5 years). $120,000 per year total spending from 65-94 (30 years). At age 65, purchase a new residence for $600,000.
A Probability of Success is based on a Monte Carlo Simulation. The projections or other information regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not guarantees of future results. Monte Carlo simulations are used to show how variations in rates of return each year can affect your plan results. A plan includes information about your assets, financial goals, and personal situation, as well as assumptions regarding the projected inflation rate and the projected return and volatility for various asset classes. A Monte Carlo simulation calculates the probability of success of a plan by running it many times, each time using a different sequence of returns. Some sequences of returns will give you better results, and some will give you worse results. These multiple trials provide a range of possible results, some successful (you would have met all your goals) and some unsuccessful (you would not have met all your goals). Analogously, the percentage of trials that were unsuccessful is the Probability of Failure.
Managing Your Financial Future
As we study the financial landscape, we’re constantly observing the economic drivers and market events that impact us—keeping you informed at every step.
We don’t try to outsmart the market using tactical shifts or other trendy strategies. Relying on evidence, we design portfolios to be resilient to a variety of market environments. But this portfolio is just the beginning of our journey together. We work with you to constantly align your plan to your portfolio, using your Investment Policy Statement as a roadmap and guide.
Talk to your advisor to learn more about our approach to managing portfolios successfully.
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