Portfolio Management
In the latest edition of the In Practice series, Mark Harrison, CFA, and Phil Davis summarize recent research into whether buying US equities that are underpriced based on simple fundamental-to-price ratios yields better performance than investing in broad market indexes.
Economics for Independent Thinkers is useful to practitioners who make economic forecasts. Investment strategist Daniel Nevins, CFA, recounts becoming a skeptic about the application of quantitative methods to economics and about standard prediction methods, such as the lagging nature of consumer confidence surveys. He especially disdains economists who strive to make reality fit their models.
William Birdthistle provides a witty description of mutual fund design and categorizes its imperfections entertainingly, offering more palatable alternatives. This slender volume is a welcome addition to the library of the professional and retail investor alike.
Jason Voss, CFA, provides his choices for Weekend Reads for Investors. This edition features surprising facts about coffee consumption, global choke points in the food supply, graphics showing how cryptocurrencies are likely to affect finance, and more.
This comprehensive study of the structure, price dynamics, and valuation of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) addresses their current uses in various investment settings. It attributes the rapid growth of ETFs to factor-based investing and the rise of robo-advisers. The book is a fascinating deep dive into all categories of ETFs, including equity, fixed income, foreign currencies, and alternative investments, with a particular focus on issues of tracking and liquidity.
The "Future State of the Investment Profession" explores evolving states of trust and their interdependence with demonstrating and creating value. To get a better understanding of what it means for investment professionals to provide value and how that relates to building trust and improving investor outcomes, we discussed these topics with Anne Cabot-Alletzhauser.
Richard Thaler reviewed many of our behavioral frailties during his lively and engaging presentation at the 70th CFA Institute Annual Conference in Philadelphia. The key takeaway, according to Shreenivas Kunte, CFA: If only we could learn.
Leading posts from August include Preston McSwain's call for more honest and accurate fee disclosures and performance reporting; an examination of Sam Zell's take on the economy by Julie Hammond, CFA; tips on how to ace job interviews by Julia VanDeren; Will Ortel's exploration of what's in a hedge fund name; and an analysis of capital markets during times of war by Mark Armbruster, CFA.
A Man for All Markets is the autobiography of a man regarded by many as the father of quantitative finance. His story is one of a mathematician who moved from solving such casino games as blackjack to applying his skills to option pricing and statistical arbitrage. As he recounts his journey, he provides insights for all money managers on how to generate an edge and beat the markets through deep research.
The "Future State of the Investment Profession" study explores "Four States for the Relationship between Investment Management and Society." To better understand these potential future states, we interviewed Richard Brandweiner, CFA, focusing our discussion on the factors required for finance to move towards a more “Professional Industry” as well as other ways it could serve the greater good.