Spending rules for endowment funds: A dynamic model with subsistence levels

Authors: Bajeux-Besnainou, Isabelle¹; Ogunc, Kurtay²

Source: Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Volume 27, Number 1, August 2006 , pp. 93-107(15)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Endowment fund managers face an asset allocation problem with several particularities: they are more interested in spending for current and future beneficiaries than growing value, although the trade-off between these two alternatives needs to be understood; they have to consider longest-term investment, typically an infinite horizon. We do address these allocation constraints in a dynamic framework where minimum subsistence levels (introducing the idea that a minimum spending amount needs to be made at every time period) are introduced in the objective function. We derive explicit formulas for the optimal spending stream, endowment value, spending rate and portfolio strategy in a simple Black/Scholes type economy. We analyze the effects of parameter changes on asset allocation decisions and provide simulations on bearish, median and bullish paths.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11156-006-8544-6

Affiliations: 1: Email: bajeux@gwu.edu 2: Email: kurtay@stowbridge.com

Publication date: 2006-08-01