Quarterly Update
Portfolio Insights &
Return Methodology
A detailed look at how EWA portfolios are benchmarked and how your investment returns are calculated.
Portfolio Benchmarks
These are the custom benchmarks EWA uses to measure how each portfolio performs. Select a portfolio below to see what its benchmark is made of.
EWA 99/1 Benchmark
99% Equity / 1% Fixed Income
| Index | Weight |
|---|---|
S&P 500 Total Return ^SPXTR | 54% |
MSCI ACWI Ex USA Total Return ^MSACXUSTR | 22% |
S&P 400 Total Return ^SP400TR | 10% |
MSCI Emerging Markets Total Return ^MSEMTR | 8% |
S&P 600 Total Return ^SP6TR | 5% |
Cash $:CASH | 1% |
Allocation Breakdown
Total Allocation
Return Methodology
Understanding the difference between Time-Weighted and Dollar-Weighted returns is essential for interpreting your portfolio performance.
EWA Benchmarking Reports
Show portfolio performance against relevant indices over specific periods, assuming static start and end dates with no withdrawals or contributions. This uses a time-weighted return methodology.
Your Personal QPR Report
Found in eMoney, shows your account performance considering both cumulative returns and your specific withdrawals and contributions. This uses a dollar-weighted return methodology.
Time-Weighted Returns (TWR)
Time-Weighted Returns measure the compounded growth of $1 invested in a portfolio over a specified period, regardless of cash flows in or out of the portfolio. TWR breaks the investment period into sub-periods defined by when cash flows occur, calculates the return for each, and links them together.
Advantages
- Isolates the manager's investment skill by removing the effect of cash flow timing
- Ideal for comparing portfolio managers or strategies
Limitations
- Does not reflect the actual experience of an investor whose timing of contributions and withdrawals impacts returns
Example
Start with $100,000. Portfolio grows 10% in Year 1. In Year 2, an additional $50,000 is contributed and the portfolio grows 5%. TWR isolates each period's performance, showing a consistent return not influenced by the added $50,000.
Dollar-Weighted Returns (DWR)
Dollar-Weighted Returns, also known as the Internal Rate of Return (IRR), measure the return earned on all money invested, factoring in the timing and size of cash flows. DWR solves for the rate of return that equates the present value of cash inflows with outflows.
Advantages
- Reflects the investor's actual experience, including the impact of cash flow timing
- Essential for private investments, real estate, and illiquid asset classes
Limitations
- Can distort a manager's true performance if cash flows are poorly timed
- Difficult to compare across portfolios due to personalization
Example
Start with $100,000 and the portfolio grows 10%. You add $50,000 at the start of Year 2, and it grows 5%. DWR will show a lower return than TWR if the contribution timing doesn't align with optimal growth periods.
Key Differences
| Aspect | TWR | DWR |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Manager performance, ignoring cash flows | Investor performance, including cash flows |
| Cash Flows | Excluded from calculation | Explicitly incorporated |
| Best For | Comparing managers or strategies | Assessing your actual returns |
| Complexity | Easier to standardize and compare | Requires more data, harder to compare |
Why This Matters for You
Understanding these metrics clarifies whether perceived underperformance is due to the portfolio strategy (TWR) or investor behavior (DWR). EWA uses this dual approach to:
- Track manager effectiveness with TWR
- Demonstrate real-world results with DWR
- Educate clients on the impact of timing decisions
- Align behavior with long-term financial goals
About These Benchmarks
The blended benchmarks shown here are not official or third-party indices. They are reference allocations that EWA selects and applies consistently over time to approximate each portfolio's target stock/bond mix, giving clients a steady, like-for-like point of comparison from one quarter to the next. Because the weightings are chosen by EWA, they are intended as a representative gauge of relative performance rather than a standardized industry benchmark. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.