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INSIGHTS

Mikhail Samonov
October 21, 2019
Dynamic Asset Allocation

Dynamic Asset Allocation Papers

Mikhail Samonov
October 21, 2019
Dynamic Asset Allocation
Dynamic Asset Allocation Papers

Comprehensive list of dynamic asset allocation academic papers

Mikhail Samonov
October 14, 2019
Active Investing

17 “Self-Help” Books for Quant Investors

Mikhail Samonov
October 14, 2019
Active Investing
17 “Self-Help” Books for Quant Investors

Non-finance books that help me grow as a quant investor. It’s an eclectic list, not in the order of importance.

Mikhail Samonov
October 7, 2019
Active Investing

9 Things That Get Me Fired Up About Being a Quant Investor Today

Mikhail Samonov
October 7, 2019
Active Investing
9 Things That Get Me Fired Up About Being a Quant Investor Today

A Golden Age for Quant.

Mikhail Samonov
September 30, 2019
Dynamic Asset Allocation

Are You Ready For The Next Recession?

Mikhail Samonov
September 30, 2019
Dynamic Asset Allocation
Are You Ready For The Next Recession?

The one thing that ALL investors agree on is that another recession is coming…someday.

Guest Writer: Gertjan Verdickt
September 23, 2019
Dynamic Asset Allocation

Inverted Yield Curve: Belgium 1840 - 2018

Guest Writer: Gertjan Verdickt
September 23, 2019
Dynamic Asset Allocation
Inverted Yield Curve: Belgium 1840 - 2018

We focus on the Belgian Yield Inversions from 1840 to 2018.

Mikhail Samonov
September 16, 2019
Dynamic Asset Allocation

Risk Parity Part II: The Long-Run View

Mikhail Samonov
September 16, 2019
Dynamic Asset Allocation
Risk Parity Part II: The Long-Run View

Over the long-run, since 1877, Risk Parity’s performance looks very similar to a 60/40. However, the eye can easily miss the ‘wild swings of dispersion’ along the way.

Mikhail Samonov
September 9, 2019
Dynamic Asset Allocation

Gambling or Investing?

Mikhail Samonov
September 9, 2019
Dynamic Asset Allocation
Gambling or Investing?

The stock market can be a casino to some, and a solid investment to others.

Mikhail Samonov
September 2, 2019
Active Investing

What Quants Can Learn from Marketing

Mikhail Samonov
September 2, 2019
Active Investing
What Quants Can Learn from Marketing
  • How You Ask the Question Affects the Answer

  • A spreadsheet leaves no room for miracles.

Comment
Mikhail Samonov
August 19, 2019
Dynamic Asset Allocation

Risk Parity Part I: Chasing Diversifiers

Mikhail Samonov
August 19, 2019
Dynamic Asset Allocation
Risk Parity Part I: Chasing Diversifiers

The rise and fall (?) of Risk Parity is a great case study of the frameworks I have been writing about so far. We start with the concept of “Chasing Diversifiers.”

Mikhail Samonov
August 12, 2019
Factor Investing

Value and Momentum in a Cone

Mikhail Samonov
August 12, 2019
Factor Investing
Value and Momentum in a Cone

So what is the Cone Chart telling us about Value and Momentum?

  • Do not give up on them yet!

  • Use a longer history to set expectations

Mikhail Samonov
August 5, 2019
Dynamic Asset Allocation

Many Ways to Under-perform a 60/40 - And How to Get Better

Mikhail Samonov
August 5, 2019
Dynamic Asset Allocation
Many Ways to Under-perform a 60/40 - And How to Get Better

Nothing sounds simpler than earning the return of a simple 60/40 strategy, right? Just buy two ETFs at Vanguard, Global Stock and Global Bonds, for a combined 14 basis points fee, re-balance quarterly and you are done, right? The reality for most investors could not be further from this.

Mikhail Samonov
July 29, 2019
Active Investing

Tips for an Aspiring “Creative Quant”

Mikhail Samonov
July 29, 2019
Active Investing
Tips for an Aspiring “Creative Quant”

Several younger quants have asked this question: “The culture of our quant group is very skeptical about new ideas. They are terrified of data-mining, and random factors. How can we innovate in such environment?”

Mikhail Samonov
July 22, 2019
Factor Investing

The Two Sides of Factor Investing

Mikhail Samonov
July 22, 2019
Factor Investing
The Two Sides of Factor Investing

Today’s quantitative investors seem split between innovation on the one hand and engineering on the other. This blog is about how we got here.

Mikhail Samonov
July 15, 2019
Factor Investing

Follow up to last week's “Factors Don't Exist”

Mikhail Samonov
July 15, 2019
Factor Investing
Follow up to last week's “Factors Don't Exist”

In last week’s post, I made a strong assertion that has caused some great feedback and comments. When I first heard Mark Kritzman make a similar point at a UBS conference a few years ago, I had a similar reaction: “Hey, I’m a quant and I love my factors. They are definitely real!”.

Mikhail Samonov
July 8, 2019
Factor Investing

Thoughts on Factor Investing

Mikhail Samonov
July 8, 2019
Factor Investing
Thoughts on Factor Investing

The question I get asked the most during the past twelve months is “Why are factors not working?” Here are my top 12 personal thoughts on the topic—informed by 15+ years of successfully “factor investing”.  

Mikhail Samonov
June 27, 2019
Dynamic Asset Allocation

12 Reasons Why Traditional Asset Allocation Doesn’t Work

Mikhail Samonov
June 27, 2019
Dynamic Asset Allocation
12 Reasons Why Traditional Asset Allocation Doesn’t Work

1.       Crashes and Low Returns (link)

2.       Low Conviction (link)

3.       Mis-Definition of “Risk” (link)

Mikhail Samonov
June 24, 2019
Dynamic Asset Allocation

You Can't Throw Darts at Asset Classes

Mikhail Samonov
June 24, 2019
Dynamic Asset Allocation
You Can't Throw Darts at Asset Classes

There are two kinds of randomness, one that is harmless and one that can hurt. 

Knowing which one your investments contain is important. 

Mikhail Samonov
June 17, 2019
Active Investing

What Return to Expect From a Fairly Valued Stock?

Mikhail Samonov
June 17, 2019
Active Investing
What Return to Expect From a Fairly Valued Stock?

What is the expected future return of a fairly-valued dividend paying stock?

Mikhail Samonov
June 10, 2019
Dynamic Asset Allocation

Strategy Risk vs Asset Risk

Mikhail Samonov
June 10, 2019
Dynamic Asset Allocation
Strategy Risk vs Asset Risk

A black-box ‘go-anywhere’ hedge fund = Strategy Risk

Buy and hold S&P500 for the long-run = Asset Risk

Mikhail Samonov
June 3, 2019
Active Investing

Quantamental Investing - A Century of Inventions

Mikhail Samonov
June 3, 2019
Active Investing
Quantamental Investing - A Century of Inventions

I am inspired by this list, especially if I imagine the investing world without this knowledge.

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