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Total Portfolio Approach

An independent educational resource

See the whole portfolio. Test the next decision.

An investment can look attractive on its own and still be a poor fit for the portfolio. Explore how objectives, liquidity and decision-making change the picture.

From whole portfolio to one decisionA €100m fictional portfolio — equities 45, bonds 25, existing private assets 18, cash 12 — feeds into a single decision node, which is then tested under a positive and a stress scenario.OPENING NAV €100mListed equities€45mBonds€25mExisting private€18mCash€12mDECISIONPositiveStress
01 / Decision LabFictional case
  1. i.

    Understand the choices

    Why objectives, decision rights and competing uses of capital matter as much as the allocation itself.

  2. ii.

    Change the assumptions

    Move the investment size, the capital call and the market scenario, and watch the portfolio respond.

  3. iii.

    Inspect the reasoning

    Every number traces to a published formula and assumption table. Nothing is hidden or forecast.

Featured case

A commitment, a cash pile and a call that may come at the wrong time.

A fictional €100m fund can put up to €10m of cash into a new illiquid project today. An uncalled commitment to an existing private fund may then be called. Does the new investment still fit if markets fall first?

Work through the case
Starting holdings, €m · Fictional
Listed equities45.00
Bonds25.00
Cash12.00
Existing private assets18.00
Opening NAV100.00
Memo: uncalled commitment (not in NAV)8.00

TPA and SAA, briefly

A strategic asset allocation (SAA) sets target weights for asset classes and rebalances towards them. It is transparent, easy to govern and remains suitable for many funds — and it can already incorporate liabilities, liquidity buffers and tactical ranges.

A total portfolio approach (TPA) judges each decision by its contribution to the fund's overall objectives, with investments competing for the same capital across asset-class lines. It is as much about governance, accountability and culture as about any chart [CFA Institute, 2026]. Neither approach guarantees better results.