Investing isn’t just about picking the right assets—it’s about keeping them in the right balance over time. That’s where rebalancing comes in. Without it, your portfolio can drift away from your intended risk and return profile, potentially exposing you to more risk than you signed up for.

Why Does Your Portfolio Drift?

Over time, different asset classes grow at different rates. If equities perform well, they may end up taking a larger share of your portfolio than intended, increasing your exposure to market volatility. Conversely, if bonds have a strong period, they might dominate your allocation, reducing your growth potential. Rebalancing helps you systematically bring your portfolio back to its target mix, ensuring it aligns with your long-term goals.

The Airplane Analogy: A Few Degrees Can Change Everything

Imagine you’re on a flight from Singapore to London, but the plane’s navigation is just a few degrees off. At first, it seems like a minor deviation, but over thousands of kilometres, that small misalignment could land you in Oslo or Barcelona instead of your intended destination.

That wouldn’t be so bad—except you packed for London’s cool, rainy weather (can you tell I miss it!?). Now you’re either shivering in Oslo’s freezing cold without a winter coat or sweating through Barcelona’s summer heat in a trench coat and boots!

Similarly, if you don’t rebalance your portfolio, small shifts in asset allocation can compound over time, taking you far from your intended investment goals. Regular rebalancing ensures you stay on course—just like a pilot making mid-flight corrections so you (and your wardrobe) arrive exactly where you planned.

The Case for Rebalancing

• Manages Risk: Prevents your portfolio from becoming too concentrated in one asset class.
• Locks in Gains: Helps you systematically sell high and buy low by trimming outperformers and reinvesting in undervalued assets.
• Maintains Discipline: Keeps your investment strategy aligned with your financial plan rather than market noise.
  

How Rebalancing Impacts Your Portfolio

Left unchecked, a traditional 60/40 portfolio (60% equities, 40% bonds) can drift significantly over time. As equities grow faster than bonds, your portfolio could take on more risk than intended—just like a plane veering off course.

The chart below illustrates how an unmanaged 60/40 portfolio can deviate from its target allocation. Notably, during major downturns like 2020 (COVID) and 2022 (rate hikes & inflation shocks), the rebalanced portfolio not only maintained its risk-return balance but also outperformed, experiencing shallower declines compared to the unmanaged version.

By systematically realigning allocations, rebalancing helps investors limit downside risk and stay resilient through market volatility—ensuring your portfolio doesn’t drift too far from your intended investment path.

Rebalancing in Volatile Markets

Recent market volatility has highlighted just how important it is to stay disciplined. When markets swing, portfolios can deviate significantly from their target allocations, increasing risk exposure. Rebalancing ensures that your investments remain aligned with your goals, helping you navigate uncertain conditions with confidence.

The Syfe Core Advantage

With Syfe Core Portfolios, rebalancing isn’t something you have to worry about—we handle it for you. Our automated approach, ensures that your portfolio remains aligned with its target allocation, adapting to market changes while optimising for long-term returns. Whether markets rally or decline, your investments stay on track, just like a well-guided flight reaching its destination.

Rebalancing might not always feel urgent, but it’s one of the most powerful tools to keep your investments working as intended. Because when it comes to reaching your financial goals, staying on course makes all the difference.

Start investing today or increase your allocation to stay ahead of market trends. If you’d like to hear more about other topics or have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].