Investment Management is a very important part of our business here at Sharkey, Howes & Javer. Designing a custom investment portfolio is integral in helping our clients achieve their financial goals. Below is an outline of the investment process at SH&J, and an overview on how we choose investment portfolios for clients.
We first take a macro level view of the global economy and work to identify trends and how they could potentially impact clients’ portfolios. Macro economic research, as well as insights from various mutual fund managers and investment professionals, is used to determine what asset classes may add value to portfolios during various economic conditions.
The biggest driver of investment returns is the stock and bond exposure of a portfolio. The more stocks in a portfolio, the greater the long-term rate of return is expected to be. Portfolios can range from 100% stocks, which are the most aggressive, to portfolios that may have over 60% in bonds, which are more conservative by nature. We then discuss how much international stock and bond exposure is appropriate, and also evaluate if there are opportunities in alternative asset classes, such as real estate or commodities, for additional diversification.
Once the asset class allocation is outlined, the individual mutual fund or exchange traded fund (ETF) position for each asset class needs to be chosen. Third party investment research tools aid in scanning the entire fund universe. Many factors are considered in selecting each holding. Such as how long a fund manager has been managing a particular fund, what the fund’s underlying expense ratio is, how much risk the fund is taking compared to the benchmark, and if the fund has had consistent 3, 5, and 10-year performance numbers.
The economic conditions around the globe are fluctuating every single day. And, what’s also changing is the number of mutual fund and ETF options available for people to invest in. It is important to stay up-to-date on your investment portfolio and make adjustments as needed. If you would like to discuss your current investment portfolio or discuss our strategies, please contact Sharkey, Howes & Javer today to speak with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™.
The economic conditions around the globe are fluctuating every single day. And, what’s also changing is the number of mutual fund and ETF options available for people to invest in. It is important to stay up-to-date on your investment portfolio and make adjustments as needed. If you would like to discuss your current investment portfolio or discuss our strategies, please contact Sharkey, Howes & Javer today to speak with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™.
