AQR, the research-heavy, quant-driven asset management firm led by Cliff Asness, has launched its first series of model portfolios—called the AQR Styles Model Portfolios.
The five models are designed to target an investor’s level of risk, from conservative to aggressive. The models are built with AQR’s mutual funds.
The firm believes the models will appeal to those advisors looking to integrate alternatives into their portfolios but who still want to outsource investment management in favor of financial planning. The firm sees the models as all-in-one solutions to help advisors diversify their portfolios with alternatives.
AQR is best known for its factor-based investment portfolios.
The five models are currently on the $500 billion Envestnet platform but will likely be added to others over time. Envestnet has just over 10% of the turnkey asset management program (TAMP) marketplace, according to Joel Bruckenstein’s 2019 Technology Survey of advisors.
Advisors outsourcing investment management to model portfolios is on the upswing. According to a recent survey by Broadridge, 85% of advisors currently use model portfolios, accounting for just over half of advised assets.