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Successful Wealth Management in 2019

Modern Portfolio Theory

Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) was developed by the economist Harry Markowitz and the paper from which the theory came, Portfolio Selection*, won him the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1952. It outlines two fundamental ideas:

  • All investors will seek the maximum level of returns possible for their level of risk tolerance
  • A well-diversified portfolio can significantly mitigate risk.

The theory broke new ground in the way it postulated that individual investments should be considered within the wider context of an overarching investment portfolio and its overall level of risk and return.

Markowitz theorised that within the context of a carefully diversified portfolio, if some assets performed poorly, others would perform well in compensation. As such, your portfolio should be considered as a whole, rather than examining the volatility of its constituent parts.

In a nutshell, MPT theorised what we all know instinctively: don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

MPT in the 21st century

MPT and its relevance to portfolio diversification continues well into the 21st century. Whether an investor has an active or a passive approach, and whatever their risk tolerance, the overarching advice given today is that diversification by percentage in different instruments and sectors will serve them best – and that’s MPT at its most basic level.

MPT has led to the use of quantifying statistics such as the beta coefficient which is a measure of volatility (also known as systematic risk i.e. interest rate fluctuations, recessions, wars, etc.) which is used as a comparison to the unsystematic risk (risk relating to a particular company or industry sector) across the market as a whole. Beta expresses the returns of a particular security in relation to movements in the market. Beta is used in CAPM (capital asset pricing model) for pricing securities with a higher than average risk profile.

So, theory begets modelling and while MPT has been fundamental in providing a foundation for wealth management and investing strategies for decades, it is only one economic theory and has limitations in the practical sphere. In the end, successful investing depends on the individual approach and knowledge of the investor and/or their investment manager.

Blacktower Financial Management

Blacktower Financial Management is committed to helping you define and then reach your financial goals, from education fee planning to savings, pension planning and investment management. We offer a range of actively managed portfolios, the Nexus Portfolio Range, which provide a variety of opportunities for both the protection and growth of your wealth.

We are a fully regulated wealth manager with offices throughout Europe and we can help you choose the right products and services for your circumstances and goals.

As international financial advisers our consultants speak fluent English as well as the language of the country they operate in and all are well-versed with the regulations, issues and interests of the local communities in which they live and work.

* https://www.math.hkust.edu.hk/~maykwok/courses/ma362/07F/markowitz_JF.pdf Accessed 17-09-19

This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, investment recommendations or investment research. You should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this communication is correct, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions.

Other News

Spanish Tax Office’s Gibraltar crackdown

50 Euro NoteSpanish newspaper ABC has reported that tax authorities in the country are cracking down on expats who fraudulently claim Gibraltar residency for the purposes of wealth management.

Apparently the measures have already led to the collection of €20 million from 160 high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) claiming residency in Gibraltar when in fact they lived in nearby Andalucía. This meant that, on average, €125,000 was collected from each HNWI.

Jorge Ramírez, a representative of the Tax Agency in Andalucía, told the newspaper, “A tracking system was used to collect verifiable documentary evidence, and we found some Gibraltarians whose primary financial interests were actually entirely situated in Spain.”

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GREXIT

Grexit

Yet again what another country does or doesn’t do could have huge implications of the rest of Europe and the Western world. 

The clock is ticking for the Greek government to pay back the International Monetary Fund over €1bn (£720m) in loans in early May, as well as fund €1.4bn Treasury bill redemptions, and other major payments, including coupon payments on Greek government bonds.

It would appear that the Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis has been sidelined in Greek debt negotiation talks, but as Holly Cook from Morningstar says “The situation hasn’t changed that much, no matter who is actually doing the talking, they can’t stray too far from what their original mantra was, because their original mantra was all about anti-austerity… They’ve got a relatively tight margin for maneuver.”

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