The Paradox of Diversification: The 60-40 Portfolio’s Future

Harry Markowitz, the legendary economist and father of modern portfolio theory, has been credited with saying that diversification is the only free lunch in investing. However, his work on the efficient frontier shows that investors give up expected returns to lower expected risk. This may make diversification even more compelling. With uncertainty becoming a prevailing theme in financial markets and the global economy, focusing on the benefits on diversification could prove valuable for investors. The 60-40 portfolio may have lost its luster in the broad market selloff of 2022, but allocating across a diverse mix of assets is crucial in the long run.

This episode of The Outthinking Investor dives into the topic of asset allocation and the role of stocks, bonds and alternatives in a diversified portfolio. Our guests are Antti Ilmanen, Global Co-Head of the Portfolio Solutions Group at AQR Capital Management and author of “Investing Amid Low Expected Returns: Making the Most When Markets Offer the Least”; Scott Cederburg, associate professor of finance at the University of Arizona and co-author of a research paper titled “Status Quo: A Critical Assessment of Lifecycle Investment Advice”; and Lorne Johnson, Head of Multi-Asset Portfolio Design at PGIM Quantitative Solutions.

To hear more from PGIM, tune into our new podcast, Speaking of Alternatives, hosted by Eric Adler, President and CEO of PGIM Private Alternatives. Speaking of Alternatives is available on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music, and other podcast platforms.