Why 2022 will suit an active approach to asset allocation | Pendal Group
Hi there! Welcome to the new look Pendal website... Take a two minute tour to see what we’ve changed.

Mainstream Online Web Portal

Investors can view their accounts online via a secure web portal. After registering, you can access your account balances, periodical statements, tax statements, transaction histories and distribution statements / details.
Advisers will also have access to view their clients’ accounts online via the secure web portal.

Why 2022 will suit an active approach to asset allocation

Rising inflation, full equity valuations and volatility will provide opportunities for active investment managers in 2022, says Pendal’s head of multi-asset, Michael Blayney.

  • Active investors should benefit in 2022
  • Volatility throws up opportunities
  • Conviction important as is ability to re-position.

CONDITIONS will suit active investment management in 2022 says Michael Blayney, head of Pendal’s Multi-Asset investment team.

“If your starting point is that inflation is rising, that tends to reduce the diversification benefits in a portfolio,” says Blayney.

“And 2022 is starting off with equity valuations being very full around the world. In these circumstances you don’t necessarily want to be a passive investor.”

Active investing looks even more attractive when you add the fact that volatility generally provides more opportunities.

“During the period of stimulus and easy monetary policy, it’s been okay to be a passive investor from an asset allocation and a stock perspective,” Blayney says.

“You have had asset classes that have had a steady trajectory upwards.

“When there’s been bouts of volatility, central banks have generally come to the rescue and people have been able to buy the dip.”

But what about the next five years, when interest rates are more likely to be rising, than falling?

“If we have a more volatile environment going forward — because central banks can’t be as accommodating due to higher inflation, and you start to see bonds and equities correlating positively — bonds won’t be as good at providing defensive qualities as in the past.

Find out about

Pendal Multi-Asset Funds

“That’s an environment where it will be more important to adopt an active approach to asset allocation.”

Volatility throws up opportunities for active asset allocators and active stock pickers.

“Active stock picking in Aussie equities has always been pretty fertile ground for local money managers.

“In Australian equities, the average manager has consistently been able to add value in the order of magnitude of 1% per annum.

“So Australia has been a pretty good place to be an active investor,” he says.

“Stock picking globally has been more challenging, in part because there’s been a handful of FAANG stocks that have dominated and become a larger part of the index.

“When you have a narrow part of the market running, it’s difficult for active investors to outperform.”

But when a period of excessive valuation in a narrow part of the market unwinds, that can be a great time for active management. 

Active investors globally outperformed significantly after the tech bubble burst in the early 2000s, Blayney points out.

Sustainable and 
Responsible Investments 

Fund Manager of the Year

“It was one of the best periods for active investing in global equities.

“Passive has been good strategy to ride the rising markets of the past decade. But rising inflation and a steady reduction in stimulus means we are now at a potential turning point where a more difficult market regime is likely to need a more active approach. 

“To be an active investor you need to have conviction and be willing to back yourself,” Blayney says. “But you also need to be able to re-visit your thinking when things change,” Blayney says.

An investment strategy that adapts as the facts change?

That recalls a famous quote often attributed to legendary economist John Maynard Keynes (though some say it was another economist, Paul Samuelson).

When accused by a rival of inconsistent views, Keynes is said to have replied: “when the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?”


About Pendal’s multi-asset capabilities

Pendal’s diversified funds provide investors with a variety of traditional and alternative asset classes and strategies.

These include Australian and international shares, property securities, fixed interest, cash investments and alternatives.

In March 2024, Perpetual Group brought together the Pendal and Perpetual multi-asset teams under the leadership of Michael O’Dea.

The newly expanded nine-strong team will manage more than $6 billion in AUM and create a platform with the scale and resources to deliver leading multi-asset solutions for clients.  

Michael is a highly experienced investor with more than 23 years industry experience, including almost a decade leading the team at Perpetual.

Find out more about Pendal’s multi asset funds

Contact a Pendal account manager here


This information has been prepared by Pendal Fund Services Limited (PFSL) ABN 13 161 249 332, AFSL No 431426 and is current as at December 8, 2021. PFSL is the responsible entity and issuer of units in the Pendal Multi-Asset Target Return Fund (Fund) ARSN: 623 987 968. A product disclosure statement (PDS) is available for the Fund and can be obtained by calling 1300 346 821 or visiting www.pendalgroup.com. The Target Market Determination (TMD) for the Fund is available at www.pendalgroup.com/ddo. You should obtain and consider the PDS and the TMD before deciding whether to acquire, continue to hold or dispose of units in the Fund. An investment in the Fund or any of the funds referred to in this web page is subject to investment risk, including possible delays in repayment of withdrawal proceeds and loss of income and principal invested. This information is for general purposes only, should not be considered as a comprehensive statement on any matter and should not be relied upon as such. It has been prepared without taking into account any recipient’s personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Because of this, recipients should, before acting on this information, consider its appropriateness having regard to their individual objectives, financial situation and needs. This information is not to be regarded as a securities recommendation. The information may contain material provided by third parties, is given in good faith and has been derived from sources believed to be accurate as at its issue date. While such material is published with necessary permission, and while all reasonable care has been taken to ensure that the information is complete and correct, to the maximum extent permitted by law neither PFSL nor any company in the Pendal group accepts any responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of this information. Performance figures are calculated in accordance with the Financial Services Council (FSC) standards. Performance data (post-fee) assumes reinvestment of distributions and is calculated using exit prices, net of management costs. Performance data (pre-fee) is calculated by adding back management costs to the post-fee performance. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Any projections are predictive only and should not be relied upon when making an investment decision or recommendation. Whilst we have used every effort to ensure that the assumptions on which the projections are based are reasonable, the projections may be based on incorrect assumptions or may not take into account known or unknown risks and uncertainties. The actual results may differ materially from these projections. For more information, please call Customer Relations on 1300 346 821 8am to 6pm (Sydney time) or visit our website www.pendalgroup.com

Keep updated
Sign up to receive the latest news and views