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A Multi-Dimensional Investment Product

By JD Steinhilber

Most physicians and their financial advisors and/or Certified Medical Planners™ [CMP™] believe that effective diversification is most readily achieved by combining poorly correlated asset classes within an investment portfolio.

And, when combined with low costs, a winning combination may be achieved for most any physician-investor’s wealth achievement and management goals.

Diversification Impact

One of the most basic examples of proper diversification is two poorly correlated assets like stocks and bonds. Over time, the returns of these two asset classes have a very low level of correlation. Over shorter time periods, the degree of correlation between stocks and bonds can vary widely.

From January 1999 to November 2002, for example, stocks and bonds had a negative, or inverse, correlation. Real Estate Investment Trusts [REITS] and international stocks are examples of other asset classes that tend to be poorly correlated with US stocks. And, volatility is expected to increase beyond 2008.

Because exchange-traded funds replicate the performance of entire asset classes, which themselves are diversified among numerous securities, it is possible to construct well-diversified, high-performing portfolios with only 5-10 ETFs. Accordingly, ETFs provide a highly efficient means of diversification.

Reduction of “Style Drift”

Mutual funds also facilitate diversification, but actively managed mutual funds are susceptible to “style drift” and their portfolio holdings at any particular time are unknown. This presents a challenge to diversification efforts.

In contrast, ETFs offer asset class purity, meaning their holdings are totally transparent, disclosed daily and not subject to style drift. Actively managed mutual funds are also more expensive and less tax-efficient than ETFs.

Cost Impact

Exchange-traded funds have some of the lowest expense ratios of any registered investment product. In fact, ETFs have a cost advantage, on average, in excess of 100 basis points relative to actively managed mutual funds. This can have a significant impact on a portfolio’s performance over time.

For example, assume that investor A and investor B each invest $10,000 and earn the same gross annualized return over a 20 year time frame. After expenses, assume that investor A earns a net return of 10% and investor B earns a net return of 9%. After 20 years, investor A would have $67,275, while investor B would have $56,044, representing a difference of $11,231.

Trading Cautions

It is important to point out that physician-investors have to pay commissions when they buy or sell ETFs.As a result, the cost advantages of ETFs relative to mutual funds diminish the more actively an ETF portfolio is traded. ETFs are therefore not appropriate vehicles for active traders; they are more suitable for investors.

Of course, physicians and all investors tend to be more conscious of investment costs when portfolio returns are low or negative.Given that costs are among the few controllable variables in a portfolio’s returns, investors and advisors should always be evaluating portfolio costs relative to the benefits received.

Assessment: 

Exchange-traded funds may provide an opportunity to enhance net returns by reducing investment expenses and increasing returns through improved diversification.

Conclusion

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Filed under: CMP Program, Investing | Tagged: CMP, ETFs, Investing Basics |