The Independent Market Observer

Playing the Long Game: Investor Expectations Vs. Results

Posted by Mick Comiskey, CAIA

This entry was posted on Aug 14, 2019 3:10:16 PM

and tagged Commentary

Leave a comment

investor expectationsBrad here. Today's post on playing the long game of investing (and golf) comes to you from Mick Comiskey, an investment risk analyst on our Investment Management and Research team. Take it away, Mick. 

In many aspects of life, if your expectations exceed the range of possibilities, you will be disappointed. This axiom is devastatingly true when it comes to investing—and infuriatingly true in the game of golf. The extended bull market in the U.S. has led to a widening gap between investor and advisor market expectations. A similar gap exists between the weekend golfer playing friends for lunch and the PGA Tour pro playing for a casual million dollars.

Tiger Woods is having a decent year, shooting an average round of 70. But typical golfers would suffer endlessly if they measured success by beating a mere average round from Woods. Shooting 70 is simply an unrealistic expectation. In a similar vein, investors who anticipate S&P 500-like returns in their 60/40 portfolios will also suffer. This is a simplistic analogy, but it has some merit: a recent Natixis survey showed that investors expect market returns over 10 percent above inflation, while advisors expect 6.7 percent.

Diversify your holdings

Before getting to the course, a golfer must first evaluate what clubs will be needed to play. No PGA Tour pro sets out to play golf with a bag of 14 drivers. Although you can buy 14 different driver varieties, all serve the same purpose.

Like a bag of drivers, portfolios taking identical risks across security types will not yield desired results. A traditional fixed income allocation provides capital preservation in times of equity market stress. A portfolio with excessive credit risk in times of market stress would be like pulling out one of those drivers in a sand trap. Not pretty. Advisors try to avoid this issue by assigning a clear thesis to individual positions and asset class allocations, defining their role in the aggregate portfolio. Positions are then evaluated individually against a peer group and in combination with the broader allocation.

Take appropriate risk

Once out on the course—with a bag full of clubs that each serves a distinct purpose and no intention of trying to beat Tiger Woods—there are choices to be made. It is 250 yards to carry the water on a par 5 and be on the green in 2 strokes. Having hit 250 yards with the 3-wood  once before, it might be tempting to try. The risk of being short is losing the ball and a penalty stroke. Plus, the upside to getting over the water is far from certain. Those with a short game like mine know being on the green guarantees nothing! If it is the first hole, you may go for it, thinking you have plenty of time to make up for a potential loss. If it is the last hole and buying lunch is on the line, the potential loss may make the difference.

Viewing risk as the potential for loss and understanding your investment life cycle will help inform the decisions you make. Earlier in the investment life cycle, you know that potential losses may be mitigated in the long run. This knowledge lends to an appropriate appetite for more risk. Later in the investment life cycle, losses have the potential to become permanent—and playing around the water could make more sense.

The heart of investing

Investing, as with golf, does require some level of risk taking. Even on a dry day in Scotland, playing a full round with a putter is not the best idea. You may not lose a ball, but you will certainly be paying for lunch. Taking on risk is at the heart of investing. But with risk comes the potential for loss. Investors need to understand the type and magnitude of the risks in their portfolios to balance potential losses with potential gains.

A golf course can change with the weather, and the market can be just as fickle. Golfers and investors alike need to consistently revisit their plans. But by setting reasonable expectations, understanding your diverse set of holdings, and taking on appropriate risk, golfers and investors may just earn themselves a free lunch.


Subscribe via Email

New call-to-action
Crash-Test Investing

Hot Topics



New Call-to-action

Conversations

Archives

see all

Subscribe


Disclosure

The information on this website is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation.

Certain sections of this commentary contain forward-looking statements that are based on our reasonable expectations, estimates, projections, and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.

The S&P 500 Index is a broad-based measurement of changes in stock market conditions based on the average performance of 500 widely held common stocks. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly in an index.

The MSCI EAFE (Europe, Australia, Far East) Index is a free float‐adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the U.S. and Canada. The MSCI EAFE Index consists of 21 developed market country indices.

One basis point (bp) is equal to 1/100th of 1 percent, or 0.01 percent.

The VIX (CBOE Volatility Index) measures the market’s expectation of 30-day volatility across a wide range of S&P 500 options.

The forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio divides the current share price of the index by its estimated future earnings.

Third-party links are provided to you as a courtesy. We make no representation as to the completeness or accuracy of information provided on these websites. Information on such sites, including third-party links contained within, should not be construed as an endorsement or adoption by Commonwealth of any kind. You should consult with a financial advisor regarding your specific situation.

Member FINRASIPC

Please review our Terms of Use

Commonwealth Financial Network®