Robust Asset Allocation

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Wes Gray, the author of 'DIY Financial Advisor' and the mind behind Alpha Architect, introduces a resilient asset allocation strategy that amalgamates elements from both traditional Dual Momentum and Faber's GTAA strategies, while also emphasizing value and momentum factors. This strategy trades monthly.


Strategy current allocation

AssetAllocationChange
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Robust Asset Allocation Equity Curve


Robust Asset Allocation strategy statistics

Annualized Return9.6%
Annualized Volatility6.7%
Sharpe Ratio0.79
Maximum Drawdown-10.5% (02/2023)
Ulcer Performance Index2
Best Month Return6.4
Worst Month Return-10%
Average trades per year15.2


the trading rules for Robust Asset Allocation are:

  1. Allocate the portfolio across the following seven global asset classes: MTUM US Momentum 10% IWD US Large Cap Value 10% EFA International Equities 10% EFV International Value 10% VNQ US Real Estate 20% PDBC Commodities 20% IEF Int-Term US Treasuries 20%
  2. At the close on the last trading day of the month, compare the following for each asset class: (1) 12-month return versus the 12-month return of BIL (short-term US Treasuries), and (2) closing price versus the 12-month moving average.
  3. If both comparisons indicate a buy, allocate 100% of the portfolio's portion to that asset. If only one indicates a buy, allocate 50% to that asset, and if neither indicates a buy, keep that portion of the portfolio in cash. Maintain this allocation strategy until the end of the next month's last trading day.
  4. We assume all assets are rebalanced at the end of each month, regardless of whether there's a change in allocation.


Robust Asset Allocation returns

retididYearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberYear
1.3752919765,101,300,700,40-0,901,80-1,501,201,00-0,501,803,2014,30
1.3762919770,100,100,501,10-0,102,40-1,500,500,800,301,902,408,70
1.3772919780,100,904,702,002,10-1,004,302,701,40-2,90-0,201,8016,80
1.3782919793,300,802,601,40-1,603,800,506,201,30-6,303,901,9018,70
1.3792919805,100,80-8,701,302,504,203,201,702,303,701,90-2,3016,10
1.380291981-1,300,902,901,200,000,60-0,60-0,70-0,101,201,700,006,00
1.3812919820,600,101,101,201,00-0,201,502,202,104,402,102,4019,80
1.3822919831,301,503,004,80-0,201,80-1,50-0,200,70-0,301,402,2015,20
1.3832919842,200,102,700,00-1,70-0,30-2,301,601,701,501,101,308,10
1.3842919852,600,301,800,704,101,701,001,000,404,402,902,9026,40
1.3852919860,005,706,401,30-0,804,100,104,90-3,300,802,000,1023,10
1.3862919876,100,703,301,701,202,002,001,20-0,20-10,000,500,408,40
1.3872919881,401,102,401,200,000,300,70-1,500,702,101,202,4012,50
1.3882919892,600,501,702,500,301,503,800,001,80-1,201,501,9018,10
1.389291990-3,80-0,200,20-1,001,000,500,601,403,40-0,90-0,700,400,80
1.390291991-0,501,601,000,901,30-1,901,701,101,600,50-1,805,2010,90
1.391291992-0,20-0,60-0,900,401,60-0,502,10-0,201,20-0,201,301,505,50
1.3922919932,602,303,600,800,601,501,403,200,900,40-3,802,1016,50
1.3932919943,50-0,30-2,801,300,60-0,300,400,80-0,500,90-1,100,302,50
1.3942919950,300,501,002,401,700,201,600,101,90-0,402,103,8016,10
1.3952919960,401,101,801,700,201,10-1,502,902,901,104,002,1019,20
1.3962919970,40-1,00-0,700,802,102,803,30-2,804,40-2,101,201,5010,20
1.3972919980,302,202,50-0,10-0,301,10-0,40-4,801,500,701,802,106,80
1.3982919990,70-1,501,502,80-2,202,400,100,400,801,201,104,1011,70
1.399292000-0,802,301,00-2,201,103,40-1,302,70-0,20-1,400,101,305,90
1.4002920010,70-0,50-0,200,800,500,700,300,70-0,200,000,700,303,90
1.4012920020,200,700,60-0,200,400,40-0,701,70-0,20-1,100,001,403,40
1.4022920031,201,20-1,70-1,002,601,100,902,200,903,602,304,6019,20
1.4032920042,102,901,80-4,702,601,600,002,502,803,502,301,6020,70
1.404292005-1,303,70-0,20-0,801,503,203,501,301,00-3,301,902,2013,30
1.4052920065,20-0,602,802,10-2,100,901,601,000,102,503,00-0,1017,50
1.4062920071,80-0,500,501,600,90-2,30-1,300,603,703,30-1,001,008,50
1.407292008-0,802,500,100,801,400,90-1,70-0,90-2,00-2,601,601,000,00
1.408292009-0,80-0,100,70-0,50-0,40-0,201,101,101,60-0,703,801,106,80
1.409292010-4,702,904,702,30-6,40-2,004,00-1,002,703,20-1,604,808,30
1.4102920112,303,20-0,203,90-1,20-2,200,80-3,50-6,402,40-0,700,70-1,30
1.4112920121,600,301,300,60-1,401,400,900,400,50-1,100,701,506,90
1.4122920132,50-0,701,803,00-2,20-1,402,40-2,502,502,20-0,400,908,10
1.413292014-1,203,30-0,201,201,201,30-1,801,80-2,502,701,200,407,50
1.4142920151,80-0,200,20-1,300,30-1,801,20-3,200,100,80-0,100,10-2,30
1.415292016-0,800,200,00-0,500,702,800,80-0,800,30-2,00-0,502,002,20
1.4162920170,901,60-0,400,200,800,601,200,201,201,501,401,0010,50
1.4172920181,50-2,20-0,201,200,40-0,500,501,000,40-3,60-0,20-2,60-4,30
1.4182920190,200,101,600,50-0,701,200,401,200,400,800,401,007,50
1.419292020-1,30-4,10-2,400,100,700,400,901,00-1,00-0,901,102,20-3,40
1.4202920210,103,402,004,701,800,901,400,90-1,504,50-4,004,3019,60
1.421292022-1,40-0,102,80-1,500,60-2,60-0,30-0,10-1,200,800,50-1,00-3,60
1.4222920230,80-0,700,500,70-1,200,901,402,40