The investment advisory industry is beset by two largely unacknowledged problems. First, the history and risks of both stock and bond portfolios far exceed what most investors and advisory practices can endure. Second, the approach that most advisors take to communicate about portfolios does virtually nothing to prevent investors from known biases and bad decision-making. In The Behavioral Portfolio, Phillip Toews guides advisors to build all-season portfolios designed to both invest optimistically and address the real-life contingencies of investing in a high-debt world. He begins by redefining foundational portfolio objectives such as gains with the market, low risk of extreme losses, and protection against high inflation. He then walks us through the process of quantifying and building these portfolios, illustrating that in so doing, advisors can improve probabilities of success. Then, he shares specific, proactive strategies that aim to train investors to both understand portfolio components and embrace the sometimes contrarian decision-making that not only helps avoid known biases, but poises investors to take advantage of the corrosive behavior of the crowds. The result of executing behavioral portfolios and communications is that advisors can provide investors with a return profile that matches their needs, and the communications tools necessary to keep investors on the right path regardless of market turbulence.
The Behavioral Portfolio : Managing Portfolios and Investor Behavior in a Complex Economy