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Asset Allocation (asset + allocation)
Selected AbstractsGENDER-BASED RISK AVERSION AND RETIREMENT ASSET ALLOCATIONECONOMIC INQUIRY, Issue 1 2010KATHLEEN ARANO This research examines whether women have higher risk aversion than men as demonstrated by their retirement asset allocation. The analysis is extended to investigate how retirement asset investment decisions are made in married households. Initial results suggest controlling for demographic, income, and wealth differences lead to no significant difference in the proportion of retirement assets held in stocks between women and male faculty. For married households with joint investment decision making, results indicate that gender differences are a significant factor in explaining individual retirement asset allocation. Our estimates imply that women faculty are more risk averse than their male spouse. (JEL J16, G11, D10) [source] Socialism and Intrafirm Asset AllocationEUROPEAN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2005Petra Joerg G31; L22; M14 Abstract We rely on a survey of Swiss firms to document deviation from first-best for reasons of internal ,fairness' when allocating resources. This ,socialist' practice is more widespread in smaller than in larger firms. It ignores the reputation and past performance of the managers who apply for funding, but takes into account their hierarchical position and their past use of resources. Socialism is only partially explained by concerns about empire building and managerial optimism, and it is not meant to benefit shareholders. [source] Optimal Life-Cycle Asset Allocation: Understanding the Empirical EvidenceTHE JOURNAL OF FINANCE, Issue 2 2005FRANCISCO GOMES ABSTRACT We show that a life-cycle model with realistically calibrated uninsurable labor income risk and moderate risk aversion can simultaneously match stock market participation rates and asset allocation decisions conditional on participation. The key ingredients of the model are Epstein,Zin preferences, a fixed stock market entry cost, and moderate heterogeneity in risk aversion. Households with low risk aversion smooth earnings shocks with a small buffer stock of assets, and consequently most of them (optimally) never invest in equities. Therefore, the marginal stockholders are (endogenously) more risk averse, and as a result they do not invest their portfolios fully in stocks. [source] Heterogeneity, Efficiency and Asset Allocation with Endogenous Labor Supply: The Static CaseTHE MANCHESTER SCHOOL, Issue 3 2001Marcelo Bianconi We study the implications of consumption and labor allocations with ex ante efficiency and possibly ex post inefficiency on international/interregional portfolio diversification. The answers we obtain depend crucially on the market regime relative to unemployment insurance. If there are complete markets for unemployment insurance, changes in asset allocation are small in the presence of ex post inefficiency, but if there are incomplete markets for unemployment insurance, changes in asset allocation can be large. The direction of the asset movement is towards more diversification. [source] Asset allocation and age effects in retirement savings choicesACCOUNTING & FINANCE, Issue 2 2010Paul Gerrans D91; G11; D14 Abstract We examine the asset allocation decisions of members of three large Australian retirement savings funds. Superannuation Guarantee legislation in 1992 made Australian employees compulsory investors by requiring employers to contribute a fixed proportion of earnings to a superannuation fund on behalf of employees. A majority of these employees can choose an investment strategy for these contributions. We examine how actual investment strategy and asset allocation choices of members change with age in view of the conventional wisdom that individuals allocate less to risky assets as they age and investments theory which provides conflicting advice on the issue. [source] AN INVESTIGATION OF HOME BIAS IN SUPERANNUATION INVESTMENT CHOICESECONOMIC PAPERS: A JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECONOMICS AND POLICY, Issue 1 2006PAUL GERRANS Australian superannuation funds have increased investment choices available for their members. Fund members can typically choose from a range of ready-made options or select their own asset allocations. Evidence suggests that individuals may display a home bias in these allocations by favouring domestic assets at the expense of international assets. Such a bias may produce a sub-optimal investment. This paper investigates the asset allocations of members of the Government Employees Superannuation Board (GESB), the superannuation fund for Western Australian public sector employees. Asset allocations appear to be in line with a normal allocation to international equity, especially at the time of their first choice. Subsequent choices however appear to be driven more by historical performance of the asset classes offered, rather than by a home bias. [source] Modeling and Forecasting Realized VolatilityECONOMETRICA, Issue 2 2003Torben G. Andersen We provide a framework for integration of high,frequency intraday data into the measurement, modeling, and forecasting of daily and lower frequency return volatilities and return distributions. Building on the theory of continuous,time arbitrage,free price processes and the theory of quadratic variation, we develop formal links between realized volatility and the conditional covariance matrix. Next, using continuously recorded observations for the Deutschemark/Dollar and Yen/Dollar spot exchange rates, we find that forecasts from a simple long,memory Gaussian vector autoregression for the logarithmic daily realized volatilities perform admirably. Moreover, the vector autoregressive volatility forecast, coupled with a parametric lognormal,normal mixture distribution produces well,calibrated density forecasts of future returns, and correspondingly accurate quantile predictions. Our results hold promise for practical modeling and forecasting of the large covariance matrices relevant in asset pricing, asset allocation, and financial risk management applications. [source] GENDER-BASED RISK AVERSION AND RETIREMENT ASSET ALLOCATIONECONOMIC INQUIRY, Issue 1 2010KATHLEEN ARANO This research examines whether women have higher risk aversion than men as demonstrated by their retirement asset allocation. The analysis is extended to investigate how retirement asset investment decisions are made in married households. Initial results suggest controlling for demographic, income, and wealth differences lead to no significant difference in the proportion of retirement assets held in stocks between women and male faculty. For married households with joint investment decision making, results indicate that gender differences are a significant factor in explaining individual retirement asset allocation. Our estimates imply that women faculty are more risk averse than their male spouse. (JEL J16, G11, D10) [source] The Asset Management Industry in Asia: Dynamics of Growth, Structure, and PerformanceFINANCIAL MARKETS, INSTITUTIONS & INSTRUMENTS, Issue 1 2007Ingo Walter We examine the industrial organization and institutional development of the asset management industry in Asian developing economies,specifically in China, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, and Thailand. We focus on the size and growth of the buy-side of the respective financial markets, asset allocation, the regulatory environment, and the state of internationalization of the fund management industry in its key components,mutual funds, pension funds, and asset management for high net worth individuals. We link the evolution of professional asset management in these environments to the development of the respective capital markets and to the evolution of corporate governance. We find that the fund management industry occupies a very small niche in domestic financial systems that are dominated by banks. At the same time, we find that its growth has been very rapid in the early 2000s and we suggest that this is likely to persist as the demand for professional management of financial wealth in the region develops and as the pension fund sectors of the respective economies are liberalized to allow larger portions of assets to be invested in collective investment schemes. [source] Optimal asset allocation for a large number of investment opportunitiesINTELLIGENT SYSTEMS IN ACCOUNTING, FINANCE & MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2005Hans Georg Zimmermann This paper introduces a stock-picking algorithm that can be used to perform an optimal asset allocation for a large number of investment opportunities. The allocation scheme is based upon the idea of causal risk. Instead of referring to the volatility of the assets time series, the stock-picking algorithm determines the risk exposure of the portfolio by concerning the non-forecastability of the assets. The underlying expected return forecasts are based on time-delay recurrent error correction neural networks, which utilize the last model error as an auxiliary input to evaluate their own misspecification. We demonstrate the profitability of our stock-picking approach by constructing portfolios from 68 different assets of the German stock market. It turns out that our approach is superior to a preset benchmark portfolio. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Random walk hypothesis in exchange rate reconsideredJOURNAL OF FORECASTING, Issue 4 2006Chia-Shang J. Chu Abstract An econometric model for exchange rate based on the behavior of dynamic international asset allocation is considered. The capital movement intensity index is constructed from the adjustment of a fully hedged international portfolio. Including this index as an additional explanatory variable helps to explain the fluctuation of the exchange rate and predict better than the competing random walk model. Supporting empirical evidence is found in Germany,USA, Japan,USA, Singapore,USA and Taiwan,USA exchange markets.,,Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] To Hedge or Not to Hedge: Managing Demographic Risk in Life Insurance CompaniesJOURNAL OF RISK AND INSURANCE, Issue 1 2006Helmut Gründl Demographic risk, i.e., the risk that life tables change in a nondeterministic way, is a serious threat to the financial stability of an insurance company having underwritten life insurance and annuity business. The inverse influence of changes in mortality laws on the market value of life insurance and annuity liabilities creates natural hedging opportunities. Within a realistically calibrated shareholder value (SHV) maximization framework, we analyze the implications of demographic risk on the optimal risk management mix (equity capital, asset allocation, and product policy) for a limited liability insurance company operating in a market with insolvency-averse insurance buyers. Our results show that the utilization of natural hedging is optimal only if equity is scarce. Otherwise, hedging can even destroy SHV. A sensitivity analysis shows that a misspecification of demographic risk has severe consequences for both the insurer and the insured. This result highlights the importance of further research in the field of demographic risk. [source] Florida's Pension Election: From DB to DC and BackJOURNAL OF RISK AND INSURANCE, Issue 3 2004Moshe A. Milevsky During the year 2002, the State of Florida's 600,000 public employees were given the choice of converting their traditional defined benefit (DB) pension plan into an individual-account defined contribution (DC) plan with full control over asset allocation and investment decisions. To mitigate some of the risk and uncertainty in the decision, the State granted each employee electing the DC plan an additional option to switch back (i.e., change their mind once) at any point prior to retirement. This option has been labeled the 2nd election by the State and the cost of reentry is fixed at the accumulated benefit obligation of their pension entitlement, which is the present value of the life annuity. Our article presents some original analytic insights relating to the optimal time and financial value of this unique 2nd election. Although our model is deterministic in nature, we believe that it provides a number of intuitive insights that are quite robust. Our results can be contrasted with Lachance, Mitchell, and Smetters (2003). We estimate that the increase in retirement wealth that arises from having the 2nd election is equivalent to at most 30 percent in future value, and only when utilized optimally. Furthermore, for most State employees above the age of 45, the 2nd election has little economic value because the DB plan dominates the DC plan from day one. Of course, it remains to be seen what percent of Florida's 600,000 employees will elect to behave rationally with their newfound pension autonomy. [source] The informational content of the shape of utility functions: financial strategic behaviorMANAGERIAL AND DECISION ECONOMICS, Issue 2 2009Joost M.E. Pennings Recently, Pennings and Smidts (2003) showed a relationship between organizational behavior and the global shape of the utility function. Their results suggest that the shape of the utility function may be related to ,higher-order' decisions. This research examines the relationship between financial strategic decisions and the global shape of the utility function of real decision makers. We assess the shape of utility functions of portfolio managers and show that the global shape is related to their strategic asset allocation. The findings demonstrate the informational content of the shape of utility functions in the context of financial strategic behavior. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Optimal Asset Location and Allocation with Taxable and Tax-Deferred InvestingTHE JOURNAL OF FINANCE, Issue 3 2004Robert M. Dammon We investigate optimal intertemporal asset allocation and location decisions for investors making taxable and tax-deferred investments. We show a strong preference for holding taxable bonds in the tax-deferred account and equity in the taxable account, reflecting the higher tax burden on taxable bonds relative to equity. For most investors, the optimal asset location policy is robust to the introduction of tax-exempt bonds and liquidity shocks. Numerical results illustrate optimal portfolio decisions as a function of age and tax-deferred wealth. Interestingly, the proportion of total wealth allocated to equity is inversely related to the fraction of total wealth in tax-deferred accounts. [source] Heterogeneity, Efficiency and Asset Allocation with Endogenous Labor Supply: The Static CaseTHE MANCHESTER SCHOOL, Issue 3 2001Marcelo Bianconi We study the implications of consumption and labor allocations with ex ante efficiency and possibly ex post inefficiency on international/interregional portfolio diversification. The answers we obtain depend crucially on the market regime relative to unemployment insurance. If there are complete markets for unemployment insurance, changes in asset allocation are small in the presence of ex post inefficiency, but if there are incomplete markets for unemployment insurance, changes in asset allocation can be large. The direction of the asset movement is towards more diversification. [source] Risk Measurement and Investment Myopia in Hedge Fund Management,ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF FINANCIAL STUDIES, Issue 1 2009Xun Li Abstract Lo (2001) surveys the literature on risk management for hedge funds, and recommends a dynamic and transparent risk measurement for the evolutionary hedge fund industry by citing Albert Einstein's comments. This study is to explore the feasibility and advantages of adopting a dynamic absolute-deviation risk measurement in hedge fund management. It does not only provide an optimal asset allocation strategy both analytically and numerically in a dynamic mean-absolute deviation (DMAD) setting for hedge fund managers, but also contributes to mitigation of potential investment myopia problems in their risk-taking behaviors. It sheds light on risk management and investor-fund manager agency conflicts in the hedge fund industry and adds to the literature on portfolio selection and optimal asset allocation. [source] How Much Investment Choice is Enough for Members?AUSTRALIAN ACCOUNTING REVIEW, Issue 40 2006PAUL GERRANS In recent years Australians have been given increased responsibility in making investment strategy decisions for their superannuation contributions. The investment choices superannuation funds typically offer include ready-made options with a strategic asset allocation or a "do-it-yourself option where the members choose their own asset allocation. This paper examines a sample of choices by members of a large industry fund which allows members any combination of six ready-made pools and eight asset classes. About one-quarter of these decisions involve choices which suggest a possibly naïve view of diversification unless members are conscious of resulting asset allocations. [source] AN INVESTIGATION OF HOME BIAS IN SUPERANNUATION INVESTMENT CHOICESECONOMIC PAPERS: A JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECONOMICS AND POLICY, Issue 1 2006PAUL GERRANS Australian superannuation funds have increased investment choices available for their members. Fund members can typically choose from a range of ready-made options or select their own asset allocations. Evidence suggests that individuals may display a home bias in these allocations by favouring domestic assets at the expense of international assets. Such a bias may produce a sub-optimal investment. This paper investigates the asset allocations of members of the Government Employees Superannuation Board (GESB), the superannuation fund for Western Australian public sector employees. Asset allocations appear to be in line with a normal allocation to international equity, especially at the time of their first choice. Subsequent choices however appear to be driven more by historical performance of the asset classes offered, rather than by a home bias. [source] How Much Investment Choice is Enough for Members?AUSTRALIAN ACCOUNTING REVIEW, Issue 40 2006PAUL GERRANS In recent years Australians have been given increased responsibility in making investment strategy decisions for their superannuation contributions. The investment choices superannuation funds typically offer include ready-made options with a strategic asset allocation or a "do-it-yourself option where the members choose their own asset allocation. This paper examines a sample of choices by members of a large industry fund which allows members any combination of six ready-made pools and eight asset classes. About one-quarter of these decisions involve choices which suggest a possibly naïve view of diversification unless members are conscious of resulting asset allocations. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||