Role in portfolio: LACERA expects assets in this category to provide moderate amounts of current income by generating a modest level of return while also reducing total fund risks, in part by preserving capital in the event of a downturn in equity markets.
LACERA anticipates that assets in this category will have a low level of volatility and a low correlation to growth assets, thereby providing downside protection. In the event of a market correction, these assets could also provide a source of liquidity for benefit payments.
Asset Classes
- Investment Grade Bonds
- Diversified Hedge Fund Portfolio
- Cash
Investment Approach
The category is composed of investment grade bonds, diversified hedge funds, and cash. Cash is the least volatile asset class, as well as the most liquid; the flexibility it provides during periods of market decline helps to mitigate risk. Investment grade bonds comprise a mix of U.S. Treasuries, corporate debt, and other bonds of high quality, typically rated “BBB” or above by rating agencies. High quality bonds would be expected to protect the total fund by retaining or increasing their value during a market correction. Diversified hedge funds comprise a variety of hedged investments, such as relative value, arbitrage, and long/short strategies within a diversified portfolio. They would be expected to produce returns at or above high-grade bond portfolios, with equal or lower volatility, and be largely uncorrelated with other portfolio assets.
Risk Factors
The primary risk factor for risk reduction and mitigation assets is that they will fail to provide the anticipated level of protection during market downturns. Assets in this category are also subject to additional risks. For example, investment grade bonds are sensitive to fluctuations in interest rates and have some risk of default. Specific hedge fund investments are subject to a variety of risk factors, including equity risk, credit risk, interest rate risk, and leverage risk. Cash can include short-term instruments and vehicles where there is a low probability of loss of principal.