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Equity Risk Management Strategy

Tactical allocation strategy that seeks to adjust a portfolio’s equity exposure to potentially manage downside risk and volatility control.

Highlights

Protect Against Large Market Declines

  • The strategy seeks to reduce a portfolio’s exposure to equity markets during periods of enormous market stress when traditional risk management approach of asset class diversification alone is not sufficient.

Participate in Long-Term Wealth Creation

  • The Equity Risk Management Strategy seeks to capture broad market performance and is fully invested when market conditions are favorable. Since inception in 2009, the strategy has been fully exposed to equity markets 70% of the time.

Eliminate Emotionally Driven Decisions

  • Investment decisions, especially during volatile markets, can be compromised by emotions. This strategy has an unemotional, rules-based approach that seeks to systematically reduce equity exposure when there is evidence of market decline and restores it when conditions improve.

Portfolio Management

Timothy M. McCann

Senior Portfolio Manager

More about Tim
Christopher M. Mutascio

Senior Managing Director

More about Chris

Literature

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

All investments involve risks, including the risk of a possible loss of principal. Foreign investments are subject to risks not ordinarily associated with domestic investments, such as currency, economic and political risks, and different accounting standards. There are special considerations associated with international investing, including the risk of currency fluctuations and political and economic events. Investing in emerging markets may involve greater risk and volatility than investing in more developed countries. Small company stocks are typically more volatile and carry additional risks, since smaller companies generally are not as well established as larger companies. The market risk associated with small‐cap and mid‐cap stocks is generally greater than that associated with large‐cap stocks because small‐cap and mid‐cap stocks tend to experience sharper price fluctuations than large‐cap stocks, particularly during bear markets. Due to their narrow focus, sector‐based investments typically exhibit greater volatility and are generally associated with a high degree of risk. When investing in bonds, it is important to note that as interest rates rise, bond prices will fall. In addition, duration risk measures a debt security’s price sensitivity to interest rate changes. Bonds with higher duration carry more risks and have higher price volatility than bonds with lower duration. Therefore, if interest rates are very low at the time of purchase of the bonds, when interest rates eventually do rise, the price of such lower interest rate bonds will decrease and anyone needing to sell such bonds at that time, rather than holding them to maturity, could realize a loss. When investing in real estate, it is important to note that property values can fall due to environmental, economic, or other reasons, and changes in interest rates can negatively impact the performance of real estate companies.

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) represent a share of all stocks in a respective index. ETFs trade like stocks and are subject to market risk, including the potential for loss of principal, and may trade for less than their net asset value. The value of ETFs will fluctuate with the value of the underlying securities. Inverse ETFs are considered risky and are not suitable for all investors. Typically, these products have one‐day investment objectives, and investors should monitor such funds on a daily basis. Inverse ETFs are constructed by using various derivatives for the purpose of profiting from a decline in the value of an underlying benchmark. Investing in inverse ETFs is similar to holding various short positions, or using a combination of advanced investment strategies to profit from falling prices. Investors should review the prospectus and consider the ETF’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. Prospectuses are available through your Financial Advisor and include this and other important information. Rebalancing may have tax consequences, which should be discussed with your tax advisor. Diversification and/or asset allocation does not ensure a profit or protect against loss.

Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against loss. The portfolio risk management process includes an effort to monitor and manage risk, but does not imply low risk.

Changes in market conditions or a company’s financial condition may impact a company’s ability to continue to pay dividends. Companies may also choose to discontinue dividend payments. High-dividend paying stocks may carry elevated risks and companies may lower or discontinue dividends at any time.

All benchmark returns presented are provided to represent the investment environment existing during the time periods shown. Actual investment performance will vary due to fees and expenses. For comparison purposes, the benchmarks include the reinvestment of income. The benchmarks are unmanaged and unavailable for direct investment.

EquityCompass Investment Management, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary and affiliated SEC Registered Investment Adviser of Stifel Financial Corp.

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