Asset Allocation for Hospital Executives: Embracing Equities

Hospital Executives face the dual challenge of managing complex organizations and planning for their own financial futures. Adopting an equity allocation can provide a powerful strategy for long-term wealth growth.

Equities are particularly important given the potential for extended careers and longer retirement periods necessitated by modern healthcare advances.

The Case for Equities

1. Long-term Growth Superiority

Equities consistently outperform other asset classes in the long term. The robust growth potential of equities is historically unmatched in its ability to outpace inflation and substantially increase capital.

2. Addressing Inflation Risk

With inflation eroding the value of your purchasing power, a portfolio comprised of equities positions hospital executives to not only keep pace with inflation but to exceed it, enhancing their financial well-being in retirement.

3. Simplifying Asset Allocation

Opting for a equity portfolio streamlines the investment process, focusing on building a global asset-class portfolio. Fixed Income, Alternatives, Real Estate? Probably just unnecessary noise.

Scenarios

• Early Career: Meet Sarah. She's a 35-year-old Director of Operations. She invests entirely in equities. Sure, she has a little home-bias but is still broadly diversified. Oh and guess what, she loves the volatility. Really loves it. She backs up the truck when markets are ugly and buys all the more. Her long investment horizon allows her to take advantage. She remembers: Volatility is not a good definition of risk. Not retiring when she wants to is.

• Mid-Career: Michael. He's a 50-year-old Chief Financial Officer. He maintains his equity stance but limits the home bias. He's a believer in the global enconomy. Bravo Michael. He believes there are benefits to the increased diversification. Does the volatility stress him out? Sure. But that's why he has an advisor to give him a hug when we needs it.

• Pre-Retirement: Now on to Helen. She's a 60-year-old Chief Executive Officer. She plans to retire at 62. She too keeps her investments fully in equities, focusing on well-established companies with a history of stable dividends and steady growth. Now, she does have a couple years of cash off to the side. If things get hairy during retirement she can pause her portfolio withdrawals. She loves her portfolio... She wants to be able to buy that $9 box of Cheerios in 25 years and would love to leave her kids and grandkids an sizeable inheritance.

Benefits and Risk Management

Adopting an equity investment approach does involve higher volatility, which can be managed through:

• Global Diversification: Investing across U.S. and global markets to mitigate individual market risks.
• Mutual Funds and/or ETFs: Work with a quality fund company to build very broadly diversified portfolios, i.e. don’t have all your eggs in one stock or even 30. More like 9000.
• Rebalancing: Regularly rebalance the portfolio to keep the asset classes in line. This will ensure you are always buying low and selling high. Pick a method. Quarterly, Annually, 25/5. They all have their merits. Just do it.

Are there reasons to hold fixed income investments? Of course. I suppose I could elaborate another time.

Are equities for everybody? Ultimately the best portfolio for you in one you will stick with through thick and thin. Holding you to your plan is probably 80% of your advisors value.

For hospital executives, an equity investment strategy represents a strategic choice that aligns with both the challenges and opportunities of their roles. This approach, focusing on long-term growth and proactive risk management, ensures that their investments are as dynamic and forward-looking as their careers.