Evidence-Based Investing
Our Evidence-Based approach to investing draws on more than 90 years of data and research
Our Evidence-Based Solution
Achieving your most important goals shouldn’t depend on guesswork, gut instincts, emotions or unnecessary risks.
You need a solid, globally–diversified approach—grounded in decades of data and academic research—that harnesses financial science and puts the power of markets to work for you.
1. Evidence-Based
We begin with the evidence: decades of data, analysis and insights from some of the best minds in finance and academia (including 12 Nobel Laureates) on factors that can help decrease risk and increase potential returns.*
*Nobel Laureate
2. Best-of-Breed
Using a rigorous screening process, we identify and implement an optimized blend of investment management expertise for each. We work with a team of top investment managers, carefully aligning their expertise in accessing specific asset classes and factors of return in order to optimize each portfolio.
3. Disciplined & Independent
We believe a consistent, long-term approach is essential, but readily embrace new research when it can make a real difference for investors.
We also go to exceptional lengths to try and minimize every fraction of returns lost to income taxes, transaction costs, and other inefficiencies.
All of our Evidence-Based solutions employ an exclusive blend of top Money Managers and offer a world of smart-diversification.
Broadly Diversified
Cost Conscious
Process Driven
Tax Sensitive
Transparent
Flexible
Putting the Factors of Return in Your Portfolio
A key component of our Evidence-Based approach is incorporating factors of return. Factors are characteristics of stocks or bonds that have been identified by extensive research as offering the potential for:
- Higher returns over time
- Reduced risk*
Just as healthy diets depend on the right nutrients…portfolio returns depend largely on the right factors. This is why we believe that factor diversification is just as important as asset class diversification for a better long-term investment experience, especially when it comes to portfolios. Because not all factors outperform all of the time, we believe that a factor strategy requires a long-term focus, regardless of short-term performance.
* RISK CONSIDERATIONS – Higher potential return generally involves greater risk, short-term volatility is not uncommon when investing in various types of funds including but not limited to: sector, emerging markets, small and mid-cap funds. International investing involves special risks such as currency fluctuation, lower liquidity, political and economic uncertainties, and differences in accounting standards. Risks of foreign investing are generally intensified for investments in emerging markets. Risks for emerging markets include risks relating to the relatively smaller size and lesser liquidity of these markets, high inflation rates and adverse political developments. Risks for investing in international equity include foreign currency risk, as well as, fluctuation due to economic or political actions of foreign governments and/or less regulated or liquid markets. Risks for smaller companies include business risks, significant stock price fluctuation and illiquidity. Investing in real estate entails certain risks, including changes in: the economy, supply and demand, laws, tenant turnover, interest rates (including periods of high interest rates), availability of mortgage funds, operation expenses and cost of insurance. Some real estate investments offer limited liquidity options. Investing in higher-yielding, lower-rated bonds has a greater risk of price fluctuation and loss of principal income than U.S. government securities, such as U.S. Treasury bond and bills. Treasuries and government securities are guaranteed by the government for repayment of principal and interest if held to maturity. Investors should carefully assess the risks associated with an investment in the fund. Diversification seeks to reduce volatility by spreading your investment dollars into various asset classes to add balance to your portfolio. Using this methodology, however, does not guarantee a profit or protection from loss in a declining market. Rebalancing assets can have tax consequences. If you sell assets in a taxable account you may have to pay tax on any gain resulting from the sale. Please consult your tax advisor.
Investment Factors
Stocks tend to outperform bonds
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Small company stocks tend to outperform those of large companies
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Cheap stocks and bonds tend to outperform expensive stocks and bonds
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Stocks and bonds that outperform in the near term tend to continue to do so
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Stocks and bonds of high-quality companies tend to outperform those of low-quality companies
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Minimum volatility stocks tend to offer better risk-adjusted returns than high volatility stocks
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Shorter maturity / lower volatility bonds tend to have better risk-adjusted returns as compared to longer maturity / higher volatility bonds
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Bonds with longer durations or maturities tend to outperform shorter-term bonds
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Bonds with lower credit quality tend to outperform bonds of higher credit quality
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