by David Spaulding | Aug 9, 2017 | cash flow timing, cash flows, Investment Performance Guy, performance measurement
Can’t decide? Why not “split the difference,” and go with a midday cash flow? Occasionally, we hear from firms who just can’t decide whether to employ a start- or end-of-day cash flow policy. As you’re probably aware, for quite...
by David Spaulding | Jul 31, 2017 | pension funds, asset owners, GIPS, Global Investment Performance Standards, Investment Performance Guy, IRR, money-weighted return, performance measurement, time-weighted return, time-weighting
This is the time of year when many pension funds report their returns for the prior fiscal year. And often, the reported returns were calculated using a time-weighted method. But, is this appropriate? Or, perhaps, is more needed? In my way of thinking, pension...
by David Spaulding | Jul 12, 2017 | performance measurement, Investment Performance Guy
I have frequently encountered things that have been implemented, that just seemed like SUCH good ideas at one time. However, often we later discover that what may have, indeed, seemed like a good idea isn’t, in reality. This post will focus on a few of...
by David Spaulding | Jun 28, 2017 | precision, GIPS, Global Investment Performance Standards, Investment Performance Guy, performance measurement, Returns, risk
How much precision do we need? I’m a rounder: I confess. I’m fine rounding numbers. When I was mayor of the Township of North Brunswick (NJ) (2000-2003), our finance officer would deliver reports to me with precision to the penny; I told him just to...
by David Spaulding | Jun 12, 2017 | mutual funds, bond rating, Investment Performance Guy, past performance, peer group, performance measurement, risk
When I learned of the recent Barron’s article touting the success of an Eaton Vance municipal bond fund, based on the ratings given by two mutual fund peer group providers, a thought immediately occurred to me: it sounded exactly like the problem that...
by David Spaulding | Jun 3, 2017 | performance charts, annualization, annualized returns, Investment Performance Guy, performance measurement
This post is about performance charts; it just so happens that I’m using one that just appeared on Twitter by Charles Schwab. As the saying goes, “credit where credit is due,” so I’m obligated to acknowledge my source. But, I’m not really...
