hen creating a policy statement, it is important to consider an
investor's constraints. There are five types of constraints that
need to be considered when creating a policy statement. They are as
follows:
- Liquidity Constraints - Liquidity constraints identify
an investor's need for liquidity, or cash. For example, within the
next year, an investor needs $50,000 for the purchase of a new
home. The $50,000 would be considered a liquidity constraint
because it needs to be set aside (be liquid) for the investor.
- Time Horizon - A time horizon constraint develops a
timeline of an investor's various financial needs. The time horizon
also affects an investor's ability to accept risk. If an investor
has a long time horizon, the investor may have a greater ability to
accept risk because he would have a longer time period to recoup
any losses. This is unlike an investor with a shorter time horizon
whose ability to accept risk may be lower because he would not have
the ability to recoup any losses.
- Tax Concerns - After-tax returns are the returns
investors are focused on when creating an investment portfolio. If
an investor is currently in a high tax bracket as a result of his
income, it may be important to focus on investments that would not
make the investor's situation worse, like investing more heavily in
tax-deferred investments.
- Legal and Regulatory - Legal and regulatory factors
can act as an investment constraint and must be considered. An
example of this would occur in a trust. A trust could require that
no more than 10% of the trust be distributed each year. Legal and
regulatoryconstraints such as this one often can't be changed and
must not be overlooked.
- Unique Circumstances - Any special needs or
constraints not recognized in any of the constraints listed above
would fall in this category. An example of a unique circumstance
would be the constraint an investor might place on investing in any
company that is not socially responsible, such as a tobacco
company.