This article has been written by expert contributor Vanguard Australia
There are many misconceptions surrounding this tried-and-true investment standby. Here, we set the record straight.
“The misconceptions seem to fall into three broad themes,” says Todd Schlanger, a Senior Investment Strategist at Vanguard. “Two of them deal with execution, but one is fundamental—basically defining what 60/40 is.”
60/40 is a proxy for the typical balanced portfolio, not one-size-fits-all
“The 60/40 is that middle-of-the-road portfolio that reflects the typical investor’s asset allocation, so it’s often used as an example in industry research,” Schlanger says. “It’s a good proxy because many institutions have historically used this allocation to meet their objectives.
“Further, if you look at the most popular products for individual investors, the average asset allocation is right around 60/40. So it’s a good proxy for individual investors as well.
“But that’s not to say that 60/40 is any better than a 40/60 or 90/10 portfolio for investors who need a more conservative or more aggressive portfolio for their goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance.
“In other words, 60/40 is not the best choice for the average 20-something with a 60- or 70-year time horizon. They would likely benefit from more equities to grow their portfolio over the long run. It’s a good starting place, but an investor will need to tailor a portfolio to their needs.”
There is more than one way to implement 60/40
The strategy has evolved over time to include additional asset classes.
“The average 60/40 portfolio used to be just U.S. stocks and bonds, but non-U.S. assets have become commonplace over time as access and costs for investing in them have come down,” Schlanger says.
And there’s ample room for customisation in such a portfolio.
“A case can be made that alternative investments—commodities, private equity, and so on—can enhance a portfolio’s risk-return profile,” Schlanger says. “But they are not for everyone, and you have to weigh the potential benefits against the typically higher costs, complexity, and illiquidity associated with some of those assets.
“If you invest the bulk of your retirement money in core asset classes and modestly overweight certain sectors or actively managed funds that you believe can add value over the long term, that approach is valid.”
60/40 is not “set and forget”
The simplest way to implement a 60/40 portfolio is through a single fund option because you won’t need to rebalance it over time—that’s done by the fund’s portfolio manager.
But you may have opted for multiple funds in a model portfolio. Or, even if you’re in only one fund, the asset allocation may no longer be appropriate as time passes. In either case, Schlanger says, you should periodically revisit the portfolio to:
- Reassess your situation to determine whether the asset allocation is still right for you, and if it no longer is, move to a new allocation.
- When appropriate, rebalance the portfolio back to its target allocation.
On the first point, Schlanger says: “Life happens, things change. Your financial situation and goals may have evolved since you first selected that target asset allocation years or decades ago. There’s nothing wrong with changing your investment strategy, as long as it’s driven by careful consideration, not by market noise.”
On the second point, without rebalancing, equities tend to become a larger share of the portfolio over time. Rebalancing reduces overall portfolio volatility by keeping your allocation to equities and other risky assets constant. There are multiple approaches for when to rebalance—calendar-based, threshold-based, or a combination of the two. Vanguard’s research on this subject suggests that, for most investors, rebalancing on an annual basis is adequate.
“Whether it’s 60/40 or another asset allocation, rebalancing will help make sure your portfolio is consistent with your risk tolerance,” Schlanger says.
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The above material has been republished with the permission of Vanguard Investments Australia Ltd.