When evaluating the return vs. risk equation, Perennial prioritizes short-term risk. Perennial leverages one of the world's most sophisticated risk analytics tools (ALADDIN©) to understand exposures and seeks to mitigate risk and position portfolios accordingly. This tool monitors over 2,000 risk factors daily, such as interest rates and currencies, and performs thousands of portfolio stress tests and option-adjusted calculations each week. This helps risk managers like us to anticipate, interpret, and respond to changes in the market, ensuring effective risk management and informed decision-making, all while keeping costs low—trades 4-6 times a year.

In simple terms, Perennial takes short-term risks seriously and uses a super-smart tool called ALADDIN^© to monitor over 2,000 risk factors daily. By running thousands of tests weekly, Perennial attempts to stay ahead of market changes and manage the inevitable risks life presents—all while keeping trading minimal and costs low.

All-Weather focuses on markets' cyclicality. The portfolios attempt to adapt by emphasizing growth opportunities in favorable conditions and stressing capital protection in challenging ones. Tactical portfolio moves are performed when positive fundamentals/technicals/valuations of an opportunity align to improve portfolio risk/return profiles. Fundamentals are the basic qualitative and quantitative information contributing to a company's financial or economic well-being, such as management experience, profitability, revenue, assets, liabilities, and growth potential. Technical analysis uses statistical trends to identify trading and investment opportunities by analyzing past trading activity and price changes to forecast future price movements—trades 3-10 times a year.

Simply put, All-Weather knows markets have mood swings, so it attempts to be forward-thinking- capture growth when things are good and play it safe when they're not. It makes tactical moves when everything lines up, trading 3-10 times a year to keep things balanced.

Benchmark seeks to provide a consistent, globally diversified asset allocation built on the tenets of Modern Portfolio Theory. Modern Portfolio theory is a mathematical framework for assembling a portfolio such that the expected return is maximized for a given level of risk. An asset’s risk and return are assessed based on how it contributes to a portfolio’s overall risk and return. It utilizes low-cost passive investments and a buy-and-hold strategy to keep you invested long-term. Tax-aware versions are also available, keeping more in your pocket and less in Uncle Sam’s. Trades once a year.

Simply put, Benchmark sticks to the basics: diversify globally, keep costs low, and let Modern Portfolio Theory do its thing. With a buy-and-hold strategy and just one trade a year, Benchmark aims to keep your money growing—while helping you give less to Uncle Sam.

Long Horizon utilizes active management to outperform passive benchmarks over longer periods. While we recognize that beating low-cost passive indexes is difficult, studies have shown that certain traits of active managers coincide with outperformance:

• Low fees
• Manager ownership (how much portfolio managers invest in their own funds alongside shareholders)
• Strong relative performance in down markets

We created a model filled with active managers that meet all three criteria. Additionally, these managers are compensated based on investment results over longer timeframes to align with clients' long-term objectives, hence the name Long Horizon. Most managers are compensated for results within the 1–3-year time frame. These managers’ compensation is heavily weighted in their 6–8-year performance trends.

Recently, the costs associated with active management have decreased enough to potentially deliver market-beating returns over the long term. Since the active managers make trades within the underlying holdings, this model will only rebalance once a year. However, the overall allocations will shift under the surface, as determined by the skilled active managers we’ve enlisted.

In summary, Long Horizon focuses on active managers from companies with long track records of delivering market-beating returns. By keeping overall fees low and focusing on companies that “eat their own cooking,” we believe that the Long Horizon models can deliver competitive, diversified returns.

Contrarian is an investment strategy designed with the goal of capturing long-term total returns by focusing on investments priced at a great value. While Contrarian portfolios will participate in market-like volatility, we believe there is a distinct difference between volatility and risk. Life expectancy is now nearly 80 years, meaning if you retire at age 60 you should plan on making your assets last at least 20 years. In that case, the risk is not market volatility or economic recessions. The TRUE risk is running out of money. By allowing a portion of your retirement assets to have a longer-term view, you can take advantage of the power of compounding returns and the market's general tendency for positive returns over longer timeframes. Trades twice a year.

Contrarian plays the long game by snagging investments at great prices, riding out market ups and downs. The real risk isn't market swings—it's outliving your money, so we aim to keep your nest egg growing for the long haul with just two trades a year.

Many portfolios consist of two main investments: stocks and bonds. The theory behind holding both is that while one zigs, the other usually zags. This zig-zag tendency refers to correlation. With the Alternative strategy, we add a third investment bucket to portfolios with a low correlation to stocks and bonds. Examples of alternative investments include private equity, real estate, commodities, collectibles, carbon credits, etc. We believe pairing the Alternative strategy with other strategies in our lineup can strive to produce lower portfolio risk while boosting returns over time. Trades once a year.

Most portfolios rely on the classic zig-zag combo of stocks and bonds, but the Alternative strategy adds a third wild card to the mix. By tossing in things like real estate or commodities, we aim to smooth out the ride if too much volatility makes your stomach twist and turn.

Technical Equity seeks capital growth by employing a quantitative approach using technical analysis. Its goal is to capture upside appreciation while mitigating downside capture in a variety of market environments through multiple technical analysis approaches (relative strength, accumulation/distribution, etc.) This portfolio depends on market environments with generally consistent equity market leadership (strong uptrends or downtrends) independent of market direction to achieve its goals.

Technical Equity aims to grow your money by using fancy math and charts to ride the market’s ups while dodging the downs. Its bread and butter are markets with clear trends; whether they’re soaring or sinking, it focuses on the patterns.

Our Equity models are designed to give exposure to individual companies with the hope of outperforming the broad market over time.

Our Equity models are designed to give exposure to individual companies with the hope of outperforming the broad market over time.

The Income Focused model seeks to provide a yield premium relative to other diversified models without sacrificing excess return potential. To achieve their goals, these portfolios tend to depend on credit-sensitive fixed-income sectors outperforming U.S. Treasuries and equity market leadership by dividend-paying value stocks. This is a nice portfolio compliment for the investor who remembers “the good ole days” where you could clip your coupon and cash your dividend check. While it has growth limitations, it’s prudent for retirees focused on income over capital appreciation.