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The 4% strategy revisited: a pre-commitment mean-variance optimal approach to wealth management

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  • Duy-Minh Dang
  • P. A. Forsyth
  • K. R. Vetzal

Abstract

In contrast to single-period mean-variance (MV) portfolio allocation, multi-period MV optimal portfolio allocation can be modified slightly to be effectively a down-side risk measure. With this in mind, we consider multi-period MV optimal portfolio allocation in the presence of periodic withdrawals. The investment portfolio can be allocated between a risk-free investment and a risky asset, the price of which is assumed to follow a jump diffusion process. We consider two wealth management applications: optimal de-accumulation rates for a defined contribution pension plan and sustainable withdrawal rates for an endowment. Several numerical illustrations are provided, with some interesting implications. In the pension de-accumulation context, Bengen (1994)’s [J. Financial Planning, 1994, 7, 171–180], historical analysis indicated that a retiree could safely withdraw 4% of her initial retirement savings annually (in real terms), provided that her portfolio maintained an even balance between diversified equities and U.S. Treasury bonds. Our analysis does support 4% as a sustainable withdrawal rate in the pension de-accumulation context (and a somewhat lower rate for an endowment), but only if the investor follows an MV optimal portfolio allocation, not a fixed proportion strategy. Compared with a constant proportion strategy, the MV optimal policy achieves the same expected wealth at the end of the investment horizon, while significantly reducing the standard deviation of wealth and the probability of shortfall. We also explore the effects of suppressing jumps so as to have a pure diffusion process, but assuming a correspondingly larger volatility for the latter process. Surprisingly, it turns out that the MV optimal strategy is more effective when there are large downward jumps compared to having a high volatility diffusion process. Finally, tests based on historical data demonstrate that the MV optimal policy is quite robust to uncertainty about parameter estimates.

Suggested Citation

  • Duy-Minh Dang & P. A. Forsyth & K. R. Vetzal, 2017. "The 4% strategy revisited: a pre-commitment mean-variance optimal approach to wealth management," Quantitative Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(3), pages 335-351, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:quantf:v:17:y:2017:i:3:p:335-351
    DOI: 10.1080/14697688.2016.1205211
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dang, D.M. & Forsyth, P.A., 2016. "Better than pre-commitment mean-variance portfolio allocation strategies: A semi-self-financing Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation approach," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 250(3), pages 827-841.
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    Cited by:

    1. Peter A. Forsyth & Kenneth R. Vetzal & Graham Westmacott, 2021. "Optimal control of the decumulation of a retirement portfolio with variable spending and dynamic asset allocation," Papers 2101.02760, arXiv.org.
    2. van Staden, Pieter M. & Dang, Duy-Minh & Forsyth, Peter A., 2021. "The surprising robustness of dynamic Mean-Variance portfolio optimization to model misspecification errors," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 289(2), pages 774-792.
    3. Rongju Zhang & Nicolas Langrené & Yu Tian & Zili Zhu & Fima Klebaner & Kais Hamza, 2019. "Skewed target range strategy for multiperiod portfolio optimization using a two-stage least squares Monte Carlo method," Post-Print hal-02909342, HAL.
    4. Peter A. Forsyth & Kenneth R. Vetzal, 2019. "Defined Contribution Pension Plans: Who Has Seen the Risk?," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-27, April.

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