An Advisors Guide To Understanding Asset Allocation

Asset allocation is essential for financial advisors to be successful. Advisors use asset allocation to divide their clients’ money among different asset classes, such as stocks, bonds, and cash alternatives, such as money market accounts. Each asset class has varying risk profiles and potential returns. The purpose of asset allocation is to offset any losses in one class with returns and profits in the other; thus, advisors who utilize asset allocation have a reduced portfolio risk. While

In the past, many financial advisors, investors, and brokers did not spend much time focusing on asset allocation and instead dedicated their time to selling products and security selection. However, asset allocation is being utilized today by more financial advisors than ever before. To help financial advisors and investors, we put together a guide that will hopefully provide advisors with a clearer understanding of what asset allocation is so that they can incorporate it into their financial practices.

Understand that perfect allocation does not exist

A perfect portfolio does not exist, nor does a perfect investment mix, rebalancing interval, or tax deferral strategy. The perfect allocation will only be known looking back. When it comes down to it, it won’t matter if an advisor has 5% or 10% in certain asset classes or funds. While there are no correct or incorrect asset allocations for an advisor to choose for their clients, there are some things that should be considered. When selecting asset classes for their clients, advisors should consider the following:

• Will strategic or tactical allocation be practiced?
• What will be owned and why?
• What won’t be owned and why?
• Which asset classes and strategies will be used?
• When will changes be made and why?
• How will a plan be implemented and who much maintenance will be needed?
• To gain exposure, which types of securities or funds will be used?

Understand that you have to be able to explain it

If the perfect asset allocation existed, advisors wouldn’t have the need to explain to their clients which classes they are putting them into and why. However, since there is no perfect allocation, it is essential for financial advisors to be able to explain to their clients which types of investments they will be put into and the reasoning for it. Clients who don’t understand why their own certain investments or how they work will be less likely to stay with a financial advisor. One of the most underrated responsibilities of a financial advisor is to be able to simplify complex topics to clients, and asset allocation is considered one of those topics.

Understand that continuous education is essential.

For advisors to create useful portfolio allocations, they have to understand their clients just as their clients need to understand them. Portfolios were designed for people to be investing in them, rather than for simulation. Continuously teaching clients on asset allocation is about setting the right expectations, educating about market history, and preparing clientele for their futures. Advisors can better educate their clients by considering the following questions:

• What’s the most effective way to explain the investment philosophy and strategies?
• Does the client understand their investments enough to educate them?
• Can a client’s portfolio allocation be simplified enough so that they can understand?
• What’s the communication plan going forward to ensure clients stick around long enough?

Understand the risk factors

Diversifying risks is a vital part of asset allocation, but first advisors must identify those risks before creating client portfolios. When it comes to eliminating risk, diversification is never going to completely do the trick. Asset allocation, however, can help financial advisors manage risk. Historical correlations and relationships are continually changing over time, so an advisor’s goal should be to have several assets that will act differently with each other without becoming overly-diversified. However, it is important to remember that the law of diminishing returns can be a factor when handling several differing assets. Advisors should consider the following to help better understand risk factors:

• What are the right risks to prepare for?
• What is the best way to attain specific asset classes or risk factors?
• What is a reasonable cost to pay for these classes and risk factors?
• What is an efficient way to balance client ‘s short-term sanity with their long-term goals?

Understand that asset allocation is a challenge

Asset allocation itself can be a challenge, and coming up with a long-term allocation policy can be difficult for some advisors, not to mention being able to implement it and have the discipline to stick to it. In real time, asset allocation can be extremely difficult to see through because there will likely for three reasons:

1. There will always likely be risk in a portfolio
2. There are distractions from other advisers and investors, the markets, and investment products.
3. In strong and severe bull markets, long-term policies tend to get pitched.

Advisors who greater good allocation policies and follow through on them will increase their chances of success significantly, but it is easier said than done. And, it can be even more challenging when you are handling other people’s money and investments. It is important that advisors have good reason to make changes to a detailed allocation policy on behalf of their clients and understand that all clients won’t fit into the same allocation mix. Lastly, both advisors and clients should realize that the best asset allocation in the one that is stuck with long-term.

Hopefully this post helps advisors grasp a better understanding of asset allocation. Understanding the in’s and out’s of asset allocation, as well as being able to explain it to clients in a simplified way, is essential to the success of an advising practice. It is important for advisors to explain to clients that asset allocation is how you manage money, without knowing what the future markets will hold. Effective asset allocation can allow advisors to generate strong gains, long-term while reducing the amount of risk in the future.

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