Question
John Mesa, CFA, is a portfolio manager in the Trust Department of PNC. Mesa has been asked to review the investment portfolios of Robert and
John Mesa, CFA, is a portfolio manager in the Trust Department of PNC. Mesa has been asked to review the investment portfolios of Robert and Mary Smith, a retired couple and potential clients. Previously, the Smiths had been working with another financial adviser, Wells Fargo. To assist Mesa, the Smiths have provided the following background information:
Family: We live alone. Our only daughter and granddaughter are financially secure and independent.
Health: We are both 65 years of age and in good health. Our medical costs are covered by insurance.
Housing: Our house needs a major renovation. The work will be completed within the next six months, at an estimated cost of $200,000.
Expenses: Our annual after-tax living costs are expected to be $150,000 for this year and are rising with inflation, which is expected to continue at 3% annually.
Income: In addition to income from the Gift Fund and the Family Portfolio (described below), we receive a fixed annual pension payment of $65,000 after taxes, which continues for both of our lifetimes.
Financial Goals: Our primary objective is to maintain our financial security and support our current lifestyle. A secondary objective is to leave $1 million to our grandchild and $1 million to our local college. We recently completed the $1 million gift to the college by creating a Gift Fund. Preserving the remaining assets for our granddaughter is important to us.
Taxes: Our investment income, including bond interest and stock dividends, is taxed at 30%. Our investment returns from price appreciation (capital gains) are taxed at 15%, at the time of sale. We have no other tax considerations.
General Comments: We needed someone like Wells Fargo to develop a comprehensive plan for us to follow. We can follow such a plan once it is prepared for us. We invest only in companies with which we are familiar. We will not sell a security for less than we paid for it. Given our need for income, we invest only in dividend-paying stocks.
Investments: We benefit from two investment accounts:
The Smith Family Portfolios primary focus is the production of current income, with
long-term capital appreciation a secondary consideration. The need for dependable income stream precludes investment vehicles with even modest likelihood of losses. Liquidity needs reinforce the need to emphasize minimum risk investments. Extensive use of short-term investment grade investments is entirely justified by the expectation that a low inflation environment will exist indefinitely into the future. For these reasons, investments will emphasize U.S. Treasury bills and notes, intermediate term investment grade corporate debt, and select blue chip stocks with assured dividend distributions and minimal price fluctuations.
To assist in a discussion of investment policy, Mesa presents four model portfolios used by PNC, and applies the banks long-term forecasts for asset class returns to each portfolio.
Recommend a portfolio from one of PNCs models for the Family Portfolio. Justify your recommendation with specific reference to:
1. 3 portfolio characteristics other than expected yield or return
2. The Smiths return objectives. Show your calculations.
Asset Class | Total Return | Yield |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| A | B | C | D |
U.S. Large cap stocks | 13.0% | 3.0% | 0% | 35% | 45% | 0% |
U.S. Small cap stocks | 15.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 0 |
Non-U.S. stocks | 14.0 | 1.5 | 0 | 10 | 15 | 10 |
U.S. corp. bonds (AA) | 6.5 | 6.5 | 80 | 20 | 0 | 30 |
U.S. Treasury notes | 6.0 | 6.0 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 20 |
Non-U.S. govt bonds | 6.5 | 6.5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Municipal bonds (AA)* | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Venture Capital | 20.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 25 |
U.S. Treasury bills | 4.0 | 4.0 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Total |
|
| 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
A/T expected return |
|
| 4.2% | 7.5% | 13.0% | 6.4% |
Sharpe Ratio |
|
| 0.35 | 0.50 | 0.45 | 0.45 |
A/T yield |
|
| 4.2% | 2.9% | 1.9% | 3.3% |
Expected Inflation: 3% |
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*tax-exempt
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