QUESTION: 153 Exam Topic: Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning

Dan Draper, CFA is a portfolio manager at Madison Securities. Draper is analyzing several portfolios which have just been assigned to him. In each case, there is a clear statement of portfolio objectives and constraints, as welt as an initial strategic asset allocation. However, Draper has found that all of the portfolios have experienced changes in asset values. As a result, the current allocations have drifted away from the initial allocation. Draper is considering various rebalancing strategies that would keep the portfolios in line with their proposed asset allocation targets.
Draper spoke to Peter Sterling, a colleague at Madison, about calendar rebalancing. During their conversation, Sterling made the following comments:
Comment 1: Calendar rebalancing will be most efficient when the rebalancing frequency considers the volatility of the asset classes in the portfolio.
Comment 2: Calendar rebalancing on an annual basis will typically minimize market impact relative to more frequent rebalancing.
Draper believes that a percentage-of-portfolio rebalancing strategy will be preferable to calendar rebalancing, but he is uncertain as to how to set the corridor widths to trigger rebalancing for each asset class. As an example, Draper is evaluating the Rogers Corp. pension plan, whose portfolio is described in Figure 1.

Draper has been reviewing Madison files on four high net worth individuals, each of whom has a $1 million portfolio. He hopes to gain insight as to appropriate rebalancing strategies for these clients. His research so far shows:
Client A is 60 years old, and wants to be sure of having at least $800,000 upon his retirement. His risk tolerance drops dramatically whenever his portfolio declines in value. He agrees with the Madison stock market outlook, which is for a long-term bull market with few reversals.
Client B is 35 years old and wants to hold stocks regardless of the value of her portfolio. She also agrees with the Madison stock market outlook.
Client C is 40 years old, and her absolute risk tolerance varies proportionately with the value of her portfolio. She does not agree with the Madison stock market outlook, but expects a choppy stock market, marked by numerous reversals, over the coming months.

Draper believes that the risk tolerance for tracking error relative to the target asset mix and the volatility of any other asset classes in a portfolio are important factors in determining an appropriate rebalancing corridor.
Assuming all other factors are equal, the optimal rebalancing corridor will be wider when:

the risk tolerance for tracking error is high and the volatility of other asset classes is low.
the risk tolerance for tracking error is high and the volatility of other asset classes is high.
the risk tolerance for tracking error is low and the volatility of other asset classes is high.

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

A higher risk tolerance for tracking error provides more flexibility for the asset allocation relative to the target mix, and therefore a wider rebalancing corridor. If the volatility of other asset classes is high, then large differences from the target asset mix are more likely. Lower volatility reduces the likelihood of large differences, and allows for a wider corridor. (Study Session 16, LOS 46.0)

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QUESTION: 154 Exam Topic: Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning

Dan Draper, CFA is a portfolio manager at Madison Securities. Draper is analyzing several portfolios which have just been assigned to him. In each case, there is a clear statement of portfolio objectives and constraints, as welt as an initial strategic asset allocation. However, Draper has found that all of the portfolios have experienced changes in asset values. As a result, the current allocations have drifted away from the initial allocation. Draper is considering various rebalancing strategies that would keep the portfolios in line with their proposed asset allocation targets.
Draper spoke to Peter Sterling, a colleague at Madison, about calendar rebalancing. During their conversation, Sterling made the following comments:
Comment 1: Calendar rebalancing will be most efficient when the rebalancing frequency considers the volatility of the asset classes in the portfolio.
Comment 2: Calendar rebalancing on an annual basis will typically minimize market impact relative to more frequent rebalancing.
Draper believes that a percentage-of-portfolio rebalancing strategy will be preferable to calendar rebalancing, but he is uncertain as to how to set the corridor widths to trigger rebalancing for each asset class. As an example, Draper is evaluating the Rogers Corp. pension plan, whose portfolio is described in Figure 1.

Draper has been reviewing Madison files on four high net worth individuals, each of whom has a $1 million portfolio. He hopes to gain insight as to appropriate rebalancing strategies for these clients. His research so far shows:
Client A is 60 years old, and wants to be sure of having at least $800,000 upon his retirement. His risk tolerance drops dramatically whenever his portfolio declines in value. He agrees with the Madison stock market outlook, which is for a long-term bull market with few reversals.
Client B is 35 years old and wants to hold stocks regardless of the value of her portfolio. She also agrees with the Madison stock market outlook.
Client C is 40 years old, and her absolute risk tolerance varies proportionately with the value of her portfolio. She does not agree with the Madison stock market outlook, but expects a choppy stock market, marked by numerous reversals, over the coming months.

Based on the information provided in Figure 1, which asset class of the Rogers pension plan should have the narrowest rebalancing corridor width?

U.S. small cap stocks.
Emerging market stocks.
U.S. government bonds.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

Factors indicating a narrower corridor width are low transaction costs> low correlation with the rest of the portfolio, and high volatility. Emerging market stocks have the lowest correlation with the rest of the portfolio, as well as the highest standard deviation. Their transaction costs are only slightly higher than U.S. small cap stocks. The narrow corridor means that small changes in value may necessitate rebalancing. The low correlation and high volatility increase the likelihood of increasing divergence from the target asset mix. The low transaction costs reduce the cost of rebalancing back to the target mix. (Study Session 16, LOS 46.f)

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QUESTION: 155 Exam Topic: Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning

Dan Draper, CFA is a portfolio manager at Madison Securities. Draper is analyzing several portfolios which have just been assigned to him. In each case, there is a clear statement of portfolio objectives and constraints, as welt as an initial strategic asset allocation. However, Draper has found that all of the portfolios have experienced changes in asset values. As a result, the current allocations have drifted away from the initial allocation. Draper is considering various rebalancing strategies that would keep the portfolios in line with their proposed asset allocation targets.
Draper spoke to Peter Sterling, a colleague at Madison, about calendar rebalancing. During their conversation, Sterling made the following comments:
Comment 1: Calendar rebalancing will be most efficient when the rebalancing frequency considers the volatility of the asset classes in the portfolio.
Comment 2: Calendar rebalancing on an annual basis will typically minimize market impact relative to more frequent rebalancing.
Draper believes that a percentage-of-portfolio rebalancing strategy will be preferable to calendar rebalancing, but he is uncertain as to how to set the corridor widths to trigger rebalancing for each asset class. As an example, Draper is evaluating the Rogers Corp. pension plan, whose portfolio is described in Figure 1.

Draper has been reviewing Madison files on four high net worth individuals, each of whom has a $1 million portfolio. He hopes to gain insight as to appropriate rebalancing strategies for these clients. His research so far shows:
Client A is 60 years old, and wants to be sure of having at least $800,000 upon his retirement. His risk tolerance drops dramatically whenever his portfolio declines in value. He agrees with the Madison stock market outlook, which is for a long-term bull market with few reversals.
Client B is 35 years old and wants to hold stocks regardless of the value of her portfolio. She also agrees with the Madison stock market outlook.
Client C is 40 years old, and her absolute risk tolerance varies proportionately with the value of her portfolio. She does not agree with the Madison stock market outlook, but expects a choppy stock market, marked by numerous reversals, over the coming months.

In selecting a rebalancing strategy for his clients, Draper would most likely select a constant mix strategy for:

Client
Client
Client

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

The constant mix strategy will be optimal for Client C, an investor whose absolute risk tolerance varies proportionately with wealth, and who expects a choppy stock marker with frequent reversals. Client A has a floor value which limits his willingness to take risk if his portfolio declines below that value. Further, Client A appears to have a risk tolerance that varies by more than any change in his wealth (his multiplier is greater than 1). Client B has risk tolerance that varies proportionately with her wealth, as evidenced by the fact that she wants to hold stocks regardless of her wealth level. However, Client B expects a trending market with few reversals, in which a constant mix strategy would perform poorly. (Study Session 16, LOS 46.h,j)

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QUESTION: 156 Exam Topic: Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning

Dan Draper, CFA is a portfolio manager at Madison Securities. Draper is analyzing several portfolios which have just been assigned to him. In each case, there is a clear statement of portfolio objectives and constraints, as welt as an initial strategic asset allocation. However, Draper has found that all of the portfolios have experienced changes in asset values. As a result, the current allocations have drifted away from the initial allocation. Draper is considering various rebalancing strategies that would keep the portfolios in line with their proposed asset allocation targets.
Draper spoke to Peter Sterling, a colleague at Madison, about calendar rebalancing. During their conversation, Sterling made the following comments:
Comment 1: Calendar rebalancing will be most efficient when the rebalancing frequency considers the volatility of the asset classes in the portfolio.
Comment 2: Calendar rebalancing on an annual basis will typically minimize market impact relative to more frequent rebalancing.
Draper believes that a percentage-of-portfolio rebalancing strategy will be preferable to calendar rebalancing, but he is uncertain as to how to set the corridor widths to trigger rebalancing for each asset class. As an example, Draper is evaluating the Rogers Corp. pension plan, whose portfolio is described in Figure 1.

Draper has been reviewing Madison files on four high net worth individuals, each of whom has a $1 million portfolio. He hopes to gain insight as to appropriate rebalancing strategies for these clients. His research so far shows:
Client A is 60 years old, and wants to be sure of having at least $800,000 upon his retirement. His risk tolerance drops dramatically whenever his portfolio declines in value. He agrees with the Madison stock market outlook, which is for a long-term bull market with few reversals.
Client B is 35 years old and wants to hold stocks regardless of the value of her portfolio. She also agrees with the Madison stock market outlook.
Client C is 40 years old, and her absolute risk tolerance varies proportionately with the value of her portfolio.

She does not agree with the Madison stock market outlook, but expects a choppy stock market, marked by numerous reversals, over the coming months.

A buy and hold strategy:

would be appropriate for Client C.
is an example of a concave strategy.
is a constant proportion strategy with a floor greater than zero and a multiplier equal to 1.

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

The buy and hold strategy is a special case of the constant proportion strategy where the floor is positive and the multiplier is equal to I. A buy and hold strategy has a linear payoff curve. The constant mix strategy (not a buy and hold strategy) is a concave strategy that supplies liquidity to the market, "selling insurance" by taking the less popular side of trades when the market is trending up or down. A buy and hold strategy would not be an appropriate strategy for Client C, whose risk tolerance varies in proportion to her wealth, and who expects a choppy stock market. (Study Session 16, LOS 46.i)

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QUESTION: 153 Exam Topic: Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning

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QUESTION: 154 Exam Topic: Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning

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QUESTION: 155 Exam Topic: Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning

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QUESTION: 156 Exam Topic: Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning

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