Investment Committee Overview

The Natixis Investment Managers Solutions Investment Committee was established in 2015 to provide asset allocation guidance for our portfolio consultation clients. The Committee also develops capital market views and allocation recommendations for the firm's tactical model portfolios, and uses its assumptions to manage the proprietary Clarity Partners Global Moderate Portfolio.

The ten members of the Investment Committee average 15 years of investment industry experience. They have wide-ranging expertise in multi-asset allocation and hold a variety of financial credentials including CFA®, CAIA, CIPM and FRM®. Many are consultants and analysts whose opinions may reflect insights gained from their interactions with financial advisors. Others bring experience with institutional and high net worth clients, as well as investment strategy research and portfolio management.

Investment Committee members hold credentials including CFA®, CAIA, CIPM and FRM®.

The Committee's diversity of backgrounds assures lively and well-informed discussions related to the economic, market, and corporate environment. Members review data from multiple angles, gleaning various insights and challenging consensus views. Equity and Fixed Income subcommittees meet weekly, evaluating macro, fundamental, and valuation data to establish their recommended allocations. The full Committee meets weekly and votes monthly, with the highest conviction views submitted to the model portfolio management teams.

Active Allocation Recommendations
The Investment Committee's objective is to produce stronger risk-adjusted returns than the average professionally managed moderate risk profile portfolio over both strategic and tactical time horizons. Strategic assumptions cover a 12–18 month horizon and form the foundation of our hybrid model portfolio series. Shorter-term tactical recommendations use a three- to six-month outlook reflected in the portfolios' tactical tilts.

Themes and Examples: Tactical Tilt
In model portfolios with a tactical tilt component, Investment Committee views are generally implemented using ETFs. This example from February 2022 focuses on actions taken as inflation surged following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Macro Backdrop
  • A Covid-related spike in inflation was exacerbated after Russia invaded Ukraine.
  • Commodities and interest rates responded by surging higher.
  • Expectations for the US Federal Reserve to hike interest rates increased dramatically.
Investment Implications
  • What had worked post-Covid – high growth stocks and longer duration fixed income – was now at a severe disadvantage.
  • High cash flow companies with low valuations should be favored, along with exposure to real assets.
  • Exposure to shorter-duration assets vs. the benchmark would benefit in a rising rate environment.
Risks to This View
  • Russia and Ukraine resolve differences and commodity flows face minimal disruption.
  • US Federal Reserve does not need to tighten aggressively and longer-duration assets benefit.
Action
  • Reduce exposure to growth equities in favor of high-cash-flow companies with lower valuations. This included energy and materials stocks.
Outcome
  • As inflation broadened globally, rates and commodities rose while equities sold off.
  • Value-focused and real asset strategies benefited, outperforming in the first half of the year.
In the context of portfolio construction, the Investment Committee's tactical asset class views complement the suite of Natixis active Managers. The portfolio management team prefers high conviction active managers with strong fundamental investment processes. Tactical portfolio views are expressed through the use of ETFs, while strategic views are expressed through active managers. This combination gives Natixis model portfolios the opportunity to outperform over both short and long time horizons through tactical positioning and fundamental security selection.

Natixis Model Portfolio Program
The Natixis Investment Managers Solutions team has nearly two decades of success creating and managing multi-asset model portfolios, providing institutional-quality investments for retail clients. Explore the breadth of our model offering on the Natixis Model Portfolio Program page.

This information is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice.

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by the CFA Institute.

All investing involves risk, including the risk of loss. Investment risk exists with equity, fixed income and alternative investments. There is no assurance that any investment will meet its performance objectives or that losses will be avoided.

Indexes are not investments, do not incur fees and expenses and are not professionally managed. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

Unlike passive investments, there are no indexes that an active investment attempts to track or replicate. Thus, the ability of an active investment to achieve its objectives will depend on the effectiveness of the investment manager.

Asset allocation models are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation or investment advice, as the allocations provided do not take into account the investment objectives, risk tolerance, restrictions, liquidity needs or other characteristics of any one particular investor.

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