building-capital-markets
THEME: CAPITAL MARKETS
28 August 2024 Financial Analysts Journal Volume 80, Issue 4

The Importance of Joining Lifecycle Models with Mean-Variance Optimization

  1. Paul D. Kaplan, CFA
  2. Thomas M Idzorek, CFA
For almost three quarters of a century, lifecycle finance models and mean–variance optimization remained separate, but recent breakthroughs have produced combined models that answer critical financial planning questions linked to portfolio choice.
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Abstract

For nearly three-quarters of a century, there has been a large separation between lifecycle finance models stemming from numerous Nobel laureates and the single-period mean-variance optimization-oriented models starting with Markowitz. Recent advances allow for a new class of models that combine both lifecycle models and mean-variance models. This new class of models uses lifecycle models to answer key financial planning questions and then mean-variance optimization models to answer investment questions. Goals-based models are often silent on many financial planning questions addressed by lifecycle finance and should thus be joined with lifecycle models.

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