Activity 4

Short answer questions: Investment Fundamentals

Questions

1. a.Describe a 'debt security' and name two (2) issuers of debt securities.

1. a.Explain how an investor could invest funds into the property market, both directly and indirectly.

1. a.Explain how returns can be generated from investing into shares.

Background

You are provided with the following 3 portfolios:

Asset Class Investment portfolio 1 Investment porfolio 2 . invesment portfolio 3

Cash 60% 5% 5%

Fixed interest 25% 30% 0%

Shares 15% 35% 75%

Property 0% . 30% 20%

Total 100% 100% . 100%

When deciding on what is an appropriate asset allocation, investors often consider the following:

• ability to deal with short term volatility
• liquidity
• concern about effects of inflation
• potential tax effectiveness
• capital growth
• capital stability

1. a.Which of the six investor considerations listed above do you believe would be very important for an investor who chooses to invest in Investment Portfolio 1?

1. a.Which of the six investor considerations listed above do you believe would be very important for an investor who chooses to invest in Investment Portfolio 2?

1. a.Which of the six investor considerations listed above do you believe would be very important for an investor who chooses to invest in Investment Portfolio 3?

Background

Emilio and Jasmine Mackintosh are married. Emilio is 65 and Jasmine is 60. They have both just retired. They have $1,200,000 funds in a combination of superannuation and non-superannuation investments (excluding their home).

They own their home which they intend to continue living in throughout their retirement years. They do not have any debt. They plan to spend $75,000 p.a. in retirement and do not have any further planned annual or lump sum expenses.

They have two daughters to whom they would like to eventually leave their home and remaining investment assets upon their deaths.

Emilio and Jasmine are able to tolerate some investment fluctuations, although they would be very concerned if their investments fell by 40% in any year. Throughout most of their working life, they invested their funds in growth investment options comprising 25% defensive investments (cash and fixed interest) and 75% in growth investments (shares and property). However, they want to change their asset allocation now that they are both retired.

Emilio and Jasmine are both healthy and they are each expected to live approximately 20-25 more years.

1. a.Explain as though you are their financial adviser, the trade-off between income-oriented investments and growth-oriented investments.

1. a.Assume that Emilio and Jasmine have each completed a risk profile and you have ascertained that they are balanced investors, having attained scores towards the high end of this profile. Which of the three investment portfolios provided in the background info would be most suitable? Explain your answer.

1. a.Explain how the portfolio you selected would perform in the event of a bear market compared to a bull market.

1. a.Explain as though you are their financial adviser, how Emilio and Jasmine will be able to finance their cost of living requirements in the event that the value of their investment drops by 25% in a single year.