Investment Philosophy

Entrepreneurial success relies on passion, skill, focus and hard work.

We are convinced that investment success depends on the same principles. Meeting financial objectives and delivering market-beating results requires a passion for the work and full-time dedication to screening the investment universe, exploiting market opportunities and managing risk.

However, there is an additional element: sensitivity to the wealth owner. Whether you are an individual, family or entity, our investment approach is carefully tailored to your situation and balances the best practices of institutional investment with the unique needs of your family, company or organization.

The real risk is a permanent loss of capital

Individual Objectives and Preferences

Even with a sophisticated investment policy and an institutional approach to portfolio construction, family and institutional investments often reflect the personality and beliefs of the wealth owner. This individual’s investment views must be translated into guiding principles, such as concentration limits or the elimination of sectors that violate personal mores or ethical values.

Parkview’s process ensures that personal values are included when constructing portfolios or designing hedging overlays. We also work with clients to establish disciplined policies to prevent biased or emotional decision-making. Policies governing portfolio construction ensure consistency with legal requirements and personal values – without sacrificing stated investment objectives.

Evidence-Based Decision Making

Both for families and foundations, a structured decision-making process is crucial to reducing bias and avoiding sales pressure or influence by friends and other advisors.

Parkview typically recommends the establishment of an investment committee with clearly defined responsibilities across several critical functions. We seek data and analytics from a range of sources to reduce bias. Our investment teams in Europe and North America cultivate a broad network of economists, analysts and investment managers to help us develop and refine our own market views and tactical investment ideas.

Portfolio Optimization

Wealthy families and endowments often face unstructured time horizons that must be balanced with the need for current income. An effective approach will provide tactical exposure to a diversified set of asset classes, typically with a significant allocation to alternatives like private equity and absolute return strategies. Defining the portfolio and building its components are equally vital to this endeavor.

Parkview combines a well-defined market outlook with sophisticated analytical tools and a network of possible investment targets. We construct investment strategies that strive for the highest probability of meeting both short- and long-term investment objectives for a given level of risk exposure.

Multi-Manager Access

A skilled asset manager can create robust value and even outperform over a horizon of three to five years. However, no single manager can outperform in all areas at all times. To account for this, Parkview’s multi-manager investment approach combines top-tier expertise with a disciplined, risk-controlled decision-making framework.

We also take the view that sometimes it is better to wait than to rush. In market conditions where we believe outperformance is unlikely, or in which we cannot identify an active manager with high conviction, we prefer to recommend a passive or market-tracking approach. Our tactical flexibility provides clients with greater income predictability and, in our experience, improved performance over time. 

Consolidated Reporting, Control and Risk Management

Our clients typically have assets and liabilities distributed across many jurisdictions, asset managers and custodians. Consolidation, clarity and investment control are thus important prerequisites for sound decision-making. Without a clear view of the full picture, investment management at the family or organization level is simply impossible to optimize.

That clear view must be complemented by the effective identification and monitoring of risk. In typical asset management relationships, risk is often equated with volatility. However, the real risk facing wealthy families and institutional investors is a permanent loss of capital and the inability to meet financial goals. In a world in which low-probability, high-impact events are happening ever more frequently, the ability to see and respond to nuanced risk factors is essential.

Parkview offers both the technology and the wherewithal to integrate disparate assets and to quantify the performance, risks and opportunities facing the full portfolio.

Institutional Implementation and Pricing

Each investor faces a unique set of costs and needs based on relevant jurisdictions and financial goals. Parkview seeks to create a cost-effective investment program that minimizes expense across banks, brokers and asset managers in required jurisdictions. Economies of scale are pursued and savings passed on to the benefit of investors.

Tax Management

Many Parkview clients face myriad tax jurisdictions and operating structures depending on factors such as geography, business interests, the presence of a foundation and unique personal or corporate characteristics. For both taxable and tax-advantaged clients, successful investment across jurisdictions demands a thorough understanding of applicable rules, as mistakes can be both costly and embarrassing.

For clients with taxable investment returns, maximizing tax efficiency also requires an appreciation for the balance between tax exposure and other risks. For example, the sole prioritization of tax efficiency can lead to excess concentration and volatility – and thus to the weakening of after-tax returns. This can effectively defeat the purpose of an aggressive tax management strategy.

Parkview offers clients leadership and guidance in ensuring the appropriate balance is struck, improving tax-efficiency without sacrificing other investment objectives. Knowledge, experience and close partnership with the client’s tax advisors are essential.