RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Strategic Rebalancing JF The Journal of Portfolio Management FD Institutional Investor Journals SP 10 OP 31 DO 10.3905/jpm.2020.1.150 VO 46 IS 6 A1 Sandy Rattray A1 Nick Granger A1 Campbell R. Harvey A1 Otto Van Hemert YR 2020 UL https://pm-research.com/content/46/6/10.abstract AB A mechanical rebalancing strategy, such as a monthly or quarterly reallocation toward fixed portfolio weights, is an active strategy. Winning asset classes are sold, and losers are bought. During crises, when markets are often trending, this can lead to substantially larger drawdowns than a buy-and-hold strategy. This article shows that the negative convexity induced by rebalancing can be substantially mitigated, taking the popular 60–40 stock–bond portfolio as the use case. One alternative is an allocation to a trend-following strategy. The positive convexity of this overlay tends to counter the impact on drawdowns of the mechanical rebalancing strategy. The second alternative is called strategic rebalancing, which uses smart rebalancing timing based on trend-following signals—without a direct allocation to a trend-following strategy. For example, if the trend-following model suggests that stock markets are in a negative trend, rebalancing is delayed.TOPICS: Portfolio construction, style investingKey Findings• Many investors do not realize that calendar rebalancing of a portfolio is an active strategy that essentially buys losers and sells winners.• Calendar rebalancing induces negative convexity in portfolios and heightens drawdowns.• We explore popular solutions including partial rebalancing as well as less frequent calendar rebalancing. We also consider a direct allocation to trend strategies. • We present a dynamic “strategic rebalancing” based on trend information; notably, rebalancing is delayed if stock markets are in a negative trend.