January 25, 2023
Why does income diversification matter?
Many plan members want to grow their capital and achieve steady streams of income in retirement. There’s a solution.
The retirement income challenge
With today’s volatility, inflation and interest rate concerns, it’s not easy to balance risk and reward. This has prompted many income-seeking investors to take on more risk to achieve higher income in both bond and equity markets. Today’s income challenge is complex, with many factors to consider:
Assessing all the risks and opportunities takes time and one can quickly become overwhelmed. Historically, income seekers may have been able to invest in bonds to secure enough yield to fulfill their annual income needs; but that’s unlikely to be true today.
Fixed income alone may not be enough in retirement
Today’s muted yields and fixed income returns are unlikely to support the longevity needs of many income-seeking Canadians, who are now living longer lives.
Source: Morningstar Direct. All data as of June 30, 2022. You cannot invest directly in an index. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
As you can see, the chart above illustrates the returns and risk of various Canadian fixed income asset classes over the last ten years. For example, the FTSE Canada Universe Bond Index – the over-arching benchmark for Canadian bonds – only returned 1.7% over the decade (before inflation).
If we look past the chart, in addition to muted returns, investors have also taken on duration risk. Currently, the FTSE Canada Universe Bond Index has a duration of 7.39 years and an average yield of 3.92% (Source: Morningstar Direct as of June 30, 2022).
With the index’s duration relatively high and risk rising, an active management approach with more differentiated fixed income asset classes may be required.
In response, many Canadians have looked outside our borders for more yield, returns or lower correlation from their bonds. This may be good from a diversification standpoint, but it leaves many trying to determine the best place to invest.
DURATION:
Duration measures a bond’s price sensitivity to interest rate changes. In general, the higher the duration, the more a bond’s price will drop as interest rates rise.
Equities alone may be too volatile
If history teaches anything, investors tend to take on too much equity risk at the wrong time.
Looking at the U.S. S&P 500 Index as a proxy for equities, volatility has increased substantially from 2021. In the first six months of 2022, we have endured more negative days with losses greater than 1% and 2% compared to all of 2021.
| 2021 | 2022 (YTD) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of days index lost more than 1% | No. of days index lost more than 2% | No. of days index lost more than 1% | No. of days index lost more than 2% | |
| S & P 500 TR Index | 21 days | 5 days | 35 days | 14 days |
Source: Morningstar Direct. Data as of June 30, 2022. All data shown is in U.S. dollars. You cannot invest directly in an index. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
In retirement, plan members need to find ways to benefit from the longevity advantages of equities while also minimizing annual volatility (which can have a detrimental impact on retirement assets).
If fixed income can’t fund most of a plan member’s retirement, and if equities alone might be too volatile, what should they do?
Combine asset classes
One strategy to consider is to optimize exposure to income-generating asset classes.
For example, these income-generating asset classes show low correlation between them, demonstrating a clear opportunity to blend them together in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlations | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Global dividend-paying equities | 1.00 | |||||
| 2 Canadian dividend-paying equities | 0.61 | 1.00 | ||||
| 3 Global real estate investment trusts (REITs) | 0.81 | 0.58 | 1.00 | |||
| 4 Canadian corporate bonds | 0.33 | 0.34 | 0.45 | 1.00 | ||
| 5 U.S. high yield bonds | 0.45 | 0.17 | 0.55 | 0.48 | 1.00 | |
| 6 Emerging markets debt | 0.34 | 0.03 | 0.45 | 0.58 | 0.76 | 1.00 |
Source: Morningstar Direct. Data as of June 30, 2022. All returns are in Canadian dollars. Asset classes are represented by the following indexes: Global dividend paying equities – MSCI ACWI High Dividend Yield Index; Canadian dividend paying equities – S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index; Global REITs – FTSE/EPRA Nareit Developed Index; Canadian corporate bonds – FTSE Canada All Corporate Bond Index; U.S. High Yield bonds – Bloomberg U.S. High Yield 2% Issuer Capped Index, Emerging markets debt – JPMorgan EMBI Global Diversified Index.
CORRELATION:
A statistic that measures the degree to which two securities move in relation to each other. Correlation is measured on a scale of -1 (perfect negative) to +1 (perfect positive). Choosing assets with low correlation with each other can help to reduce portfolio risk.
Looking at returns and volatility, we also see a potential benefit from blending and optimizing the allocations in these asset classes. For those seeking income it could be winning combination that balances growth to keep up with inflation, and the need for longevity of returns.
Source: Morningstar Direct. Data as of June 30, 2022. All returns are in Canadian dollars. Asset classes are represented by the following indexes: Global dividend paying equities – MSCI ACWI High Dividend Yield Index; Canadian dividend paying equities – S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index; Global REITs – FTSE/EPRA Nareit Developed Index; Canadian bonds – FTSE Canada All Corporate Bond Index; U.S. High Yield bonds – Bloomberg U.S. High Yield 2% Issuer Capped Index, Emerging Markets Debt – JPMorgan EMBI Global Diversified Index.
*Diversified Income Portfolio is represented by: 30% MSCI ACWI High Dividend Yield Index, 10% S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index, 15% FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed Index, 17.5% FTSE Canada All Corporate Bond Index, 17.5% Bloomberg U.S. High Yield 2% Issuer Capped Index, 10% JPMorgan EMBI Global Diversified Index. You cannot invest directly in an index. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Optimize asset classes for enhanced yield potential
Source: Morningstar Direct. Data as of June 30, 2022. All returns are in Canadian dollars. *Diversified Income Portfolio is represented by: 30% MSCI ACWI High Dividend Yield Index, 10% S&P/ TSX Capped Composite Index, 15% FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed Index, 17.5% FTSE Canada All Corporate Bond Index, 17.5% Bloomberg U.S. High Yield 2% Issuer Capped Index, 10% JPMorgan EMBI Global Diversified Index. You cannot invest directly in an index. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Here you can see the current yield on income-generating equity and bond assets. The chart shows that by mixing and optimizing these asset classes, you can generate an attractive level of potential yield.
This can be especially attractive for retirees who need a steady income, coupled with a balanced degree of equity exposure to help fight inflation and longevity risk.
Help smooth annual returns over time
Asset class performance changes every year, so trying to time the market by concentrating on a certain asset class can be a losing proposition.
In the graphic below, you can see returns were steadier by optimizing allocations in the Blended (balanced) portfolio. The Blended portfolio benefits from the asset classes that are doing the best, while not being over-allocated to the asset classes that are doing the worst. The result is a more balanced, smoother return pattern over time.
Calendar year asset class returns
Source: Morningstar Direct. Data as of December 31, 2021. Calendar year returns in Canadian dollars.
Asset classes are represented by the following indexes: Global dividend paying equities – MSCI ACWI High Dividend Yield Index; Canadian equities – S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index; Global REITs – FTSE/EPRA Nareit Developed Index; Canadian corporate bonds – FTSE Canada All Corporate Bond Index; U.S. High Yield bonds – Bloomberg U.S. High Yield 2% Issuer Capped Index; Emerging markets debt – JPMorgan EMBI Global Diversified Index.*Blended portfolio is represented by: 30% MSCI ACWI High Dividend Yield Index, 10% S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index, 15% FTSE/EPRA Nareit Developed Index, 17.5% FTSE Canada All Corporate Bond Index, 17.5% Bloomberg U.S. High Yield 2% Issuer Capped Index, 10% JPMorgan EMBI Global Diversified Index. You cannot invest directly in an index. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
To achieve their objectives, retirement-focused funds should offer a mix of broad asset classes, capital appreciation, income and volatility mitigation.
Canadian plan members can now benefit from a solution that optimizes these income asset classes while also adding a disciplined, incremental approach to tactical asset allocation (which can also help add additional growth potential) – Sun Life MFS Diversified Income Fund, sub-advised by MFS Investment Management (MFS).
Who is behind this asset mix?
Since 1924, MFS has created long-term value for investors by allocating capital responsibly. Through all these years, they have leveraged what they consider their greatest strengths and the most important contributors to long-term returns: security selection, in-depth research and global collaboration.
MFS Investment Management: Global Research
107Fundamental research analysts 23 U.S. Equity Analysts35 Non-U.S. Equity Analysts 46 Credit Analysts 3 Dedicated ESG Research Analysts; backed by 34 Research/ Investment Associates |
8Global sector teams Organized by region and sectors |
11Analyst managed strategies Global, regional and country- specific strategies with security selection driven by dedicated sector teams on the ground, globally |
102Portfolio managers with significant industry experience in value, core, growth, quantitative and fixed income investing |
12Quantitative research analysts12 Quantitative analysts; backed by 13 Quantitative research associates |
Through their powerful global investment research platform, MFS uncovers what they believe are the best investment opportunities in both fixed income and equity markets using a time-tested three pillar process:
By fully leveraging their world-wide research capabilities to source ideas and trusting the collective expertise of their investment professionals, MFS has carefully selected six distinct income-generating asset classes, fully optimizing them to maximize return potential while minimizing volatility. They have combined them into a single mandate – Sun Life MFS Diversified Income Fund.
Looking for more? Sign in to view the investment profile
This document is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to provide specific individual financial, investment, tax or legal advice. Views expressed regarding a particular company, security, industry or market sector should not be considered an indication of trading intent of any mutual funds managed by SLGI Asset Management Inc. or any of the sub-advisors to those funds. These views are not to be considered as investment advice nor should they be considered a recommendation to buy or sell.
Information contained in this document has been compiled from sources believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made with respect to its timeliness or accuracy. This document may contain forward-looking statements about the economy, and markets; their future performance, strategies or prospects. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are speculative in nature and cannot be relied upon.
All investment solutions are offered as segregated funds for group retirement plans exclusively by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, through Sun Life Group Retirement Services, a member of the Sun Life group of companies.
Sun Life Global Investments is a trade name of SLGI Asset Management Inc., Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, and Sun Life Financial Trust Inc.
SLGI Asset Management Inc. is the investment manager of the Sun Life Mutual Funds, Sun Life Granite Managed Solutions and Sun Life Private Investment Pools.
© SLGI Asset Management Inc. and its licensors, 2023. SLGI Asset Management Inc. is a member of the Sun Life group of companies. All rights reserved.