I often hear from those who serve the retail market that they are rarely asked for their rates of return; this seems a bit odd, as it would make sense for investors to want to inquire into a prospective manager's track record.An article in this past weekend's WSJ...
Performance Perspectives Blog
Thoughts on performance measurement from David Spaulding and other members of our team.
Why retail investors could care less about rates of return
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“Cool Words”
As grandparents of two boys (ages four and soon-to-be two), my wife and I have become acquainted with the television show "Yo Gabba Gabba." A regular feature is called "cool tricks," where a guest displays something they think is, well, cool! For example:I...
Insights & Perspectives
It recently occurred to me how these two words, insights and perspectives, play a non insignificant (i.e., significant) role in performance measurement. I often reference both when I teach, but thought it appropriate to share some views here with you.InsightsMy...
What about us?
Earlier this year, the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS(R)) Executive Committee published a draft guidance statement which expands the reach of GIPS into the asset owner world. I have commented briefly on it here before, and wrote an article for Pensions...
Should retail accounts be shown a benchmark?
Last week, during a talk I was giving to a group of operations folks, someone asked my thoughts on showing benchmarks to retail investors; specifically, those that are non-discretionary.It's important to realize that benchmarks serve two purposes: first, as a way to...
Overselling time-weighting
For some time it's been my view that time-weighting was oversold.That is, when nearly 50 years ago (1966, to be exact) Peter Dietz published his dissertation, promoting a return method to eliminate or reduce the impact of cash flows, his idea was so powerful and...
Combining time- and money-weighting
I am in Montana this week, conducting a session titled "Current Topics in Performance Measurement" for a conference of operations folks. One individual asked about combining time- and money-weighting into a single number. I think the idea lacks merit, as it takes away...
Revaluation vs. Repricing … there IS a difference
It is quite common today to find firms revalue their portfolios for large cash flows. But what do we mean by "revalue"? Is "repricing" enough?Think about this scenario: On January 31 the portfolio holds 20 different stocks, along with some cash.On February 15, a...
Tech Survey to be Expanded
TSG has been surveying the industry for 20 years on a variety of topics. This year we focus once again on performance and risk measurement technology, with two surveys:One for the usersOne for the suppliers.Until now the suppliers' survey has been sent only to...
Cash can be your friend or enemy
I was interviewed by Julie Steinberg of the WSJ for an article that appeared this week ("These Two Funds Picked a Really Bad Day to Debut," August 5, page R1) regarding the impact contributions can have on a mutual fund's performance. While time-weighted returns...