While an asset allocation plan can be a valuable tool to help reduce overall volatility, all investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. These models include funds and exchange traded funds or "ETFs", which engage in a variety of investment strategies involving certain risks. Therefore, the models are subject to those same risks. In addition, investors will bear the fees and expenses of the underlying funds included in the models. Alternatives investing involves special risks, such as potential illiquidity, and may not be suitable for all investors.
The investment allocations within each model may not achieve the stated objectives. Asset allocation and diversification do not ensure a profit or protect against loss. Model allocation strategies are not designed to maximize return or predict the highest-performing fund or group of funds within each class in the model.
This material is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument.
Composition of the models may change without notice. There can be no assurance that any or all of the funds included in any model will be available for investment and investment in any fund that appears in a model is subject to satisfaction of eligibility and applicable account opening requirements, for which we take no responsibility. The views, strategies or funds described may not be suitable for all investors or available for investment to all investors.
Model Portfolio Construction:
The Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions (FTIS) model portfolio construction process consists of an assessment of specific model parameters and goals, including allocation targets, volatility limits, income levels, and investable regions, as well as other objectives or constraints. Longer-term strategic asset allocation and shorter-term views provide an allocation framework for each model. Portfolio managers customize model allocations according to specific objectives including a wide range of targets for growth and income as well as risk expectations. Managers also consider fund recommendations from the FTIS manager research to find the right fit for each model. FTIS portfolio managers review models regularly, applying the team’s latest views to each model.
While FTIS takes an active approach to fund selection by comparing the attractiveness of in-house funds with third-party managers to support potential alpha creation, the model portfolios focus on, and often consist largely of Franklin Templeton proprietary funds. As part of the portfolio construction analysis, portfolio managers consider several key factors when selecting underlying investments. The criteria used may include, but are not limited to: dealer platform constraints, underlying currencies, volatility ranges, the mix of active and passive strategies and/or an allocation mix of Franklin Templeton and third-party funds. Considerations like investment objectives, competitive rankings and positioning, expense ratio cap, historical risk and returns, are additional factors that may be used for final fund recommendations and allocations.
Potential Conflicts Of Interest:
Franklin Templeton may not receive a fee for developing and updating these model portfolios, however, Franklin Templeton has a financial interest in the models as they include funds for which Franklin Templeton serves as investment advisor, and from which Franklin Templeton or its affiliates receives fees for investment management, shareholder servicing, and transfer agent services.
Suitability/Recommendations:
Any investment products or services named herein are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered an offer to buy or sell, or an investment recommendation for any specific security, strategy or investment product or service.
There can be no assurance that any or all funds included in the models will be available for investment. An investment in any fund that appears in a model is subject to satisfaction of eligibility and applicable account opening requirements, for which Franklin Templeton takes no responsibility. The model portfolios described may not be appropriate for all investors or available for investment to all investors.
Neither Franklin Templeton nor its affiliates conducts investor suitability analysis regarding the models or their underlying investments. Suitability determination is the responsibility of the financial advisor or sponsor firm.
Additional Information:
The Franklin Templeton Model Portfolios are provided on a non-discretionary basis to sponsor firms and Financial Advisors on whose platform the models are available. It is the sponsor firm/Financial Advisor that has investment authority and discretion over accounts on their platform. The Franklin Templeton Model Portfolios are not available as investable products through Franklin Distributors, LLC.
The Model Portfolios may be offered with different share classes and/or placed on trading platforms that require changes such as an allocation to cash and a pro rata allocation of the remainder according to the Model Portfolio(s). These modifications will change reported specifics such as performance, estimated portfolio yield, etc. Refer to the materials and terms of the offering and/or platform for additional information.
The composition of the models may change without notice. Investment allocations may not achieve model objectives and actual underlying fund allocations may vary over time as markets change. Any periodic rebalancing or allocation changes to the models are initiated by and at the discretion of FTIS.
Please note that allocation changes to the underlying funds for some of the models may also be made at the discretion of the sponsor firm or Financial Advisor.
This communication is general in nature and should not be considered or relied upon as legal, tax or investment advice or an investment recommendation, or as a substitute for legal or tax counsel. Franklin Templeton does not provide legal or tax advice.
Risks of the Underlying Investments:
All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. These models include funds which engage in a variety of investment strategies involving certain risks. The model’s risks are directly related to the risks of the underlying funds and may include, but is not limited to, the risks as described below. Model allocation strategies are not designed to maximize return or predict the highest performing fund or group of funds within each class in the model. There are expenses associated with the underlying funds in addition to any fees charged by the sponsor firm.
Equity: Equity securities are subject to price fluctuation and possible loss of principal. Securities may not increase in price as anticipated or may decline further in value.
Small and Mid Cap: Investments may be made in small- and mid-cap companies, which involve a higher degree of risk and volatility than investments in large-cap companies.
Fixed Income: Fixed income securities involve interest rate, credit, inflation and reinvestment risks. As interest rates rise, the value of fixed income securities falls.
Fixed income securities are also subject to illiquidity risk, which is the risk that securities may be difficult to sell at certain prices when no market participants are willing to purchase the securities at such prices.
High-yield bonds: High-yield bonds are subject to greater price volatility, illiquidity and possibility of default.
International: International investments are subject to special risks, including currency fluctuations and social, economic and political uncertainties, which could increase volatility. These risks are magnified in emerging markets.
ETFs: Investments may include ETFs representing U.S. securities markets, industry and market capitalization sectors, non-U.S. country and regional markets, and other types of non-U.S. markets and sectors. In addition, a client will bear a proportionate share of the separate fees and expensed incurred by any ETF in which the clients’ account is invested.
Derivatives: Derivatives, such as options and futures, can be illiquid, may disproportionately increase losses, and have a potentially large impact on Portfolio performance. Certain underlying strategies may use derivatives to a significant extent, which could result in substantial losses and greater volatility in the Portfolio’s net assets.
Short Selling: Short selling is a speculative strategy. Unlike the possible loss on a security that is purchased, there is no limit on the amount of loss on an appreciating security that is sold short.
REITs: Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are closely linked to the performance of the real estate markets. REITs are subject to illiquidity, credit and interest rate risks, and risks associated with small and mid-cap investments.
Asset and Mortgage backed: Asset-backed, mortgage-backed or mortgage-related securities are subject to prepayment and extension risks.
ADRs: Underlying mutual funds investments may also be made in ADRs and other securities of non-U.S. companies in developed and emerging markets, which involve risks in addition to those ordinarily associated with investing in domestic securities, including the potentially negative effects of currency fluctuation, political and economic developments, foreign taxation, and differences in auditing and other financial standards.
ESG: The managers’ environmental social and governance (ESG) investment strategies may limit the types and number of investment opportunities available and, as a result, may underperform strategies that are not subject to such criteria. Some underlying strategies may be classified as non-diversified, which means they may be permitted to invest a higher percentage of its assets in any one issuer than a diversified Portfolio, which may magnify the strategy’s losses from events affecting a particular issuer.
Diversification and Asset Allocation: Diversification and asset allocation does not guarantee a profit or protect against a loss.
Entities/Affiliates:
Franklin Distributors, LLC is the principal distributor of Franklin Templeton’s US-registered funds.
FTIS is a global investment management group dedicated to multi-strategy solutions. On October 1, 2020, QS Investors, LLC combined with Franklin Templeton Multi-Asset Solutions to form FTIS.
Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so they may lose value.
Franklin Distributors, LLC and Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions are Franklin Templeton affiliated companies.
Franklin Distributors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC.