Portfolio Construction
Strategic Portfolio Construction
2Q 2015
Topics - Portfolio Construction Asset Allocation Strategic Asset Allocation
This issue of Alternative Thinking discusses strategic portfolio
                                    construction, focusing on top-down decisions where mean-variance optimization,
                                    always to be used carefully, is of even more limited use. How to combine traditional
                                    asset classes with illiquids or with alternative risk premia? How much illiquidity,
                                    leverage and shorting to allow? The answers — and thus major portfolio choices — are
                                    largely driven by investor beliefs and constraints.
Many investors ask for guidance on “putting it all together.” This issue does not give definitive answers, or even recommend a particular framework for making such decisions. Instead, it starts from the authors’ quantitative home territory (inputs such as expected returns, volatilities and correlations) and then explores how investor-specific beliefs and constraints can inform and interact with formal optimization methods.
This document is not intended to, and does not relate specifically to any investment strategy or product that Lodestone Wealth offers. It is being provided merely to provide a framework to assist in the implementation of an investor’s own analysis and an investor’s own view on the topic discussed herein.
This document
                        has been provided to you solely for information purposes and does not constitute an offer or
                        solicitation of an offer or any advice or recommendation to purchase any securities or other
                        financial instruments and may not be construed as such. The factual information set forth herein
                        has been obtained or derived from sources believed by the author and Lodestone Wealth Management
                        LLC (“Lodestone Wealth”) to be reliable but it is not necessarily all-inclusive and is not
                        guaranteed as to its accuracy and is not to be regarded as a representation or warranty, express
                        or implied, as to the information’s accuracy or completeness, nor should the attached
                        information serve as the basis of any investment decision. This document is not to be reproduced
                        or redistributed to any other person. The information set forth herein has been provided to you
                        as secondary information and should not be the primary source for any investment or allocation
                        decision. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Diversification does
                        not eliminate the risk of experiencing investment losses. 
                        
                        This material is not research and should not be treated as research. This paper does not
                        represent valuation judgments with respect to any financial instrument, issuer, security or
                        sector that may be described or referenced herein and does not represent a formal or official
                        view of Lodestone Wealth. The views expressed reflect the current views as of the date hereof
                        and neither the author nor Lodestone Wealth undertakes to advise you of any changes in the views
                        expressed herein. 
                        
                        The information contained herein is only as current as of the date indicated, and may be
                        superseded by subsequent market events or for other reasons. Charts and graphs provided herein
                        are for illustrative purposes only. The information in this presentation has been developed
                        internally and/or obtained from sources believed to be reliable; however, neither Lodestone
                        Wealth nor the author guarantees the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of such information.
                        Nothing contained herein constitutes investment, legal, tax or other advice nor is it to be
                        relied on in making an investment or other decision. There can be no assurance that an
                        investment strategy will be successful. Historic market trends are not reliable indicators of
                        actual future market behavior or future performance of any particular investment which may
                        differ materially, and should not be relied upon as such. Diversification does not
                        eliminate the risk of experiencing investment losses.
                        
                        The information in this paper may contain projections or other forward-looking statements
                        regarding future events, targets, forecasts or expectations regarding the strategies described
                        herein, and is only current as of the date indicated. There is no assurance that such events or
                        targets will be achieved, and may be significantly different from that shown here. The
                        information in this document, including statements concerning financial market trends, is based
                        on current market conditions, which will fluctuate and may be superseded by subsequent market
                        events or for other reasons. 
                    
