Paul Ilott: Helping clients understand the multi-asset journey

Headwinds and tailwinds

clock • 4 min read

Identifying long-term embedded biases in multi-asset funds can take advisers and their clients some way towards understanding - and even tolerating - periods of apparent underperformance, writes Paul Ilott

Multi-asset funds are sometimes described as ‘all-weather' investment solutions that ought to be able to perform well under all market conditions - yet the reality can be rather different. One of the key reasons for this - other than perhaps when an investment team makes poor decisions - is that most multi-asset funds include embedded biases. These can include: structural biases in their strategy and implementation; any manager preferences regarding the types of instrument used; style and capitalisation size of equity holdings; currency profile; asset allocation policy; and the parameter...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Multi-Asset

Multi-asset funds: A whole new ball game?

Multi-asset funds: A whole new ball game?

'The growing appetite for multi-asset funds underlines the attractions of being an all-rounder'

Sheldon MacDonald
clock 14 April 2025 • 4 min read
Marlborough broadens multi-asset fund range and lowers charges

Marlborough broadens multi-asset fund range and lowers charges

Group predicts multi-asset fund popularity return

Jenna Brown
clock 31 March 2025 • 2 min read
SJP gives £4.6bn multi-asset management mandate to Royal London

SJP gives £4.6bn multi-asset management mandate to Royal London

Follows Schroders picking up SRE fund from Impax

Jen Frost
clock 26 February 2025 • 2 min read