Since the emergence of “Modern Portfolio Theory” and the “Capital Asset Pricing Model” in the late 1960s, institutional investors have taken a quantitatively driven approach to portfolio construction, looking to create portfolio diversification and obtain better risk-adjusted returns by balancing their asset-class exposures. This journey has seen several important advancements in thinking about how to optimally achieve desired results.
Funds that want to take the total portfolio approach first need to get the total portfolio view. To do that they not only need data – and lots of it – but a rock-solid understanding of exactly how they’re going to use it.
Adviser Profile: Matthew Scholten
Matthew Scholten is the executive chair of Scholten Collins McKissock in Melbourne. He is a Certified Financial Planner and has qualifications from the Australian Insurance Institute (AIA), the SMSF Association and the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA).
Scholten became a member of the Inside Network in May 2020, seeking to create better outcomes for investors.
Members of the IN are thought leaders and decision-makers in the financial advice sector who control the allocation of retail capital.
They include independent financial advisers, family office executives, analysts and investment committee members. They share a commitment to continuous improvement and a willingness to both engage with and learn from like-minded professionals.
He is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST) and trustee director of Prime Super.
Scholten has over 30 years’ experience as a financial planner and currently has over $500 million under management.
Get to know Matthew.
Favourite weekend activity in COVID-19 lockdown?
Gardening and watching the races with some industry icons on a Saturday afternoon via Zoom.
What was your favourite holiday destination pre-COVID 19?
UK, NZ, Broome and The Whitsundays.
What is the first thing you will be doing post-COVID 19 lockdown?
Lunch with friends and domestic travel.
Online shopping or bricks & mortar?
I’m not great at either.
What are you most optimistic about as an Australian?
Great management of the virus, strong leadership from the prime minister and we are in wonderful shape versus other Western countries.
Four dream dinner guests – historical or current?
Greg Norman, Xi Jinping, Jimmy Barnes, Princess Di and Elton John (sorry 5).
Explain your personal investment policy in 50 words or less.
One word…quality.
What is your preferred investment vehicle? Funds, stocks, exchange traded funds or managed accounts?
These all have a place depending on the client.
What is the best investment decision/recommendation you have made?
Quality assets and the power of compounding.
What is the worst investment decision/recommendation you have made?
Some unlisted property pre-GFC.
Financial Armageddon, gold bullion, cryptocurrency or USD?
Gold.
What is your biggest concern for investors today?
Lower portfolio returns due to the return profile of defensive assets.
Will President Trump be re-elected in 2020?
Yes.
You can only buy one Australian company for the next 10 years – what is it and why?
Commonwealth Bank.
You can only buy one global company for the next 10 years – what is it and why?
Amazon.
Do you have a preferred research house?
Evergreen, but take research from multiple research houses.
Do you have a preferred investment platform?
No, agnostic.
Do you have a preferred broking platform?
As above.
