Wealth Management
Annuity sales hit a new record high in 2023 at $360 billion which exceeded last year’s record of $311 billion. Experts attributed this to a combination of anxiety about stocks and the economy paired with the high interest rates in decades.
Typically, annuity sales spike during periods of economic uncertainty. However, sales had been muted over the last decade due to the prevalence of ultra-low interest rates. This is evidenced by 2008 being the last year that annuity sales exceeded $250 billion prior to 2022.
Currently, the majority of annuity sales are fixed-rate deferred annuities which pay an average of 4.5%. Prior to the Fed’s tightening campaign, this annuity paid 1.5%. In contrast, sales of single premium indexed annuities and deferred indexed annuities were much lower.
These annuities are the simplest as the buyer hands over a lump sum in exchange for an income stream that lasts through their life. They are also the most effective in terms of hedging longevity risk for clients. However, there is a tradeoff in terms of liquidity and being unable to access the money once it’s put into the annuity. In contrast, fixed-rate deferred annuities do have more liquidity and offer higher rates but come with higher costs.
Finsum: Annuity sales hit a new record high in 2023 due to fears of a recession and inflation in addition to high interest rates.
For discerning investors seeking a personalized approach to wealth management, mutual funds are often just the tip of the iceberg of possible solutions. Mutual funds offer professional oversight and a level of diversification, but transparency and flexibility are not typically among their strengths. Enter Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs).
SMAs function like custom portfolios tailored to the account holder's unique risk tolerance, goals, and even ethical considerations. Want to prioritize tech stocks? Avoid fossil fuels? SMA customization lets investors and their advisors call the shots. And forget about waiting until the quarter or year-end to see the securities held by your fund - SMAs' full transparency of underlying investments provides crystal-clear clarity any time of the year.
Of course, with power comes responsibility. SMAs often require deeper engagement in the investment process, but the effort is often worth it for investors who want the added benefits.
While minimum account balances in the past for SMAs may have seemed intimidating, the tides are turning. Advancements in platforms and technology have lowered entry points, making customized wealth management more accessible than ever. For advisors seeking to cater to sophisticated clientele who value tailored solutions, SMAs deserve a closer look.
Finsum: Separately Managed Accounts offer an advantage over mutual funds for investors who desire greater transparency and flexibility in their accounts.
The cornerstone of modern portfolio theory rests on the principle of diversification – seeking uncorrelated assets to mitigate risk and enhance returns. Traditionally, stocks and bonds have been the primary players in this diversification game. However, crypto assets, often perceived as a volatile outlier, presents a curious proposition: could they hold the key to enhanced portfolio resilience?
Recent research suggests the possibilities. A study examining the correlation between Bitcoin and major market indices from early 2021 to mid-2023 revealed a noticeably low relationship. Compared to the S&P500 index, Bitcoin's 90-day correlation ranged from about 0.0 to 0.6. As compared to an aggregate bond index, Bitcoin's correlation ranged roughly between -0.3 and 0.3. Investors should consider all risks before adding an asset to their portfolio. Still, these results indicate that, in recent historical periods, Bitcoin has provided a diversification option for advisors and investors looking for ways to smooth their portfolio returns.
Of course, crypto's nascent nature and past volatility warrant caution. Unlike more traditional asset classes, crypto has yet to experience multiple economic cycles, leaving its long-term behavior yet to be seen. However, its recent low correlation with traditional assets presents an intriguing opportunity for portfolio optimization.
Finsum: Bitcoin’s recent correlation with traditional asset classes offers an intriguing proposition: can it help mitigate overall portfolio risk?
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A familiar mantra of financial advisors and tax planning experts is that it’s not what you earn; it’s what you get to keep that matters. This principle underscores the significance of effective tax management strategies within a taxable investment portfolio. An essential technique in optimizing after-tax returns is tax-loss harvesting, which involves selling investments at a loss to offset taxable gains in the same year.
A powerful tool for executing this strategy is direct indexing. Unlike product structures like mutual funds, direct indexing accounts allow investors or their advisors to buy and sell individual securities. This granular control enables them to recognize losses for tax purposes while maintaining their investment strategy.
However, timing is crucial. Establishing a direct indexing account early in the taxable year affords the account holder increased flexibility later. This positions them to maximize the opportunities for tax-loss harvesting as they accumulate over the year. By doing so, advisors can proactively manage the portfolio to leverage potential tax savings, which can be particularly beneficial when preparing for year-end financial discussions with clients.
Essentially, the sooner an advisor sets up a direct indexing account for their client, the more they can potentially benefit from tax-loss harvesting strategies during the year.
Finsum: Advisors can help their clients keep more of what they earn by utilizing direct indexing accounts to harvest tax losses throughout the year.
Over the next few years, it’s expected that alternative assets will become a larger part of client portfolios. Advisors will have to contend with a changing landscape especially as more products will be introduced that are more complicated in terms of taxes and reporting.
A looming challenge for advisors will be handling the increased workload as well as understanding these products in a comprehensive manner in order to explain it to their clients. It’s likely that asset managers will form partnerships with RIAs in order to help them navigate and simplify the process. Already, some asset managers have started to invest in efforts to educate advisors, but more will be necessary given the increase in the number of options.
According to Ernst & Young America's Financial Services, some advisors will increase allocation to alternatives to 10% or more. In the near-term, private credit products will see the strongest growth as they are seen as less risky while offering higher yields than fixed income.
In addition to private credit, most exposure to alternatives currently is through liquid alt mutual funds, liquid alt ETFs, and publicly-traded REITs. Over the next couple of years, areas forecast to have the highest growth in terms of assets are cryptocurrencies, digital assets, hedge funds, private equity, and private debt.
Finsum: The alternative assets space is expected to heat up in the coming years. One challenge for advisors will be to understand these products and handling an increased workload.
Natixis Investment Managers and CoreData Research conducted a survey of 11,000 investors. One of the most interesting results was that those who were invested in model portfolios were less stressed, had more confidence, and trust in their advisors relative to individuals not invested in a model portfolio.
11% of model portfolio clients felt stress while 23% of non-model portfolio investors were stressed. Similarly, 45% of model portfolio investors felt confident about their finances, compared to 24% of non-model investors. Further, 78% of model portfolio investors saw volatility as an opportunity. In contrast, only 47% of non-model portfolio clients felt the same way.
Only about half of the respondents were invested in a model portfolio despite the benefits. Currently, about 51% of wealth managers and RIAs offer third-party model portfolios. However, it does present an opportunity for advisors as it frees up more time for financial planning, client service, and prospecting.
Ronnie Colvin, the founder of Fractional Planner, said “Model portfolios make life easier for the advisor because the allocation percentages and the investments in the portfolio are predetermined. So the advisor doesn’t have to go and scour the market for various investments to fill a target allocation.” He added that model portfolios can help with managing risk while also leading to a more customized experience given that there are model portfolios optimized for tax efficiency, sustainability, income, and alternatives.
Finsum: Model portfolios offer certain advantages for clients and advisors according to a survey of investors. These include increased levels of confidence, less stress, and more trust in their advisors.