RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Portfolio Implications of Triple Net Returns
JF The Journal of Wealth Management
FD Institutional Investor Journals
SP 51
OP 59
DO 10.3905/jwm.2011.13.4.051
VO 13
IS 4
A1 Peter Mladina
YR 2011
UL https://pm-research.com/content/13/4/51.abstract
AB The author develops a methodology to estimate forward-looking long-term active and passive investment returns for major publicly traded asset classes from the perspective of a taxable investor who consumes triple net returns—after all expenses, taxes, and inflation. The author compares active and passive strategies by gauging triple-net-alpha, which is the amount of gross alpha necessary for an active manager to claw back all additional expenses and taxes to achieve a breakeven triple net return relative to a passive, investable alternative. The author then investigates through unconstrained mean-variance-optimization, adjusted for triple net returns, which asset classes are worth inclusion in portfolios across the risk spectrum. The findings suggest that taxable investors should own primarily low-cost, passively managed equities and municipal bonds. The author finds similar results for tax-exempt investors when considering double net returns—after all expenses and inflation.TOPICS: Portfolio construction, performance measurement