Timeline's investment approach is built on eight evidence-based principles drawn from decades of academic research and real-world market data.
Rather than attempting to outsmart markets or chase short-term performance, we focus on diversification, disciplined asset allocation and keeping costs low - giving advisers a proposition they can defend with confidence and clients an outcome they can understand.
There is good risk and bad risk. Higher exposure to the right risk factors or premia leads to higher expected returns, but there is no guarantee of them. Risk is the premium investors pay for the expectation of a greater return.
Prices reflect the expectations of millions of investors. Markets are not perfect, but they are efficient. We aim to harness that power rather than fight it, keeping costs down and avoiding the drag of unnecessary active management.
The most important factor determining the level of risk and variability of return in a portfolio is asset allocation. Getting the structure right matters more than any individual fund or security choice.
Decades of data show that most active fund managers do not beat the market consistently. Economic uncertainties and random market movements mean it is extremely difficult for anyone, including professional fund managers, to outperform over the long term.
Costs reduce an investor's net return and represent a hurdle for a fund. Before a fund can outperform, it must first add enough value to cover its costs. High cost is a strong predictor of poor fund performance, which is why we keep charges low.
All too often, investors let their emotions get the better of them, with serious consequences for investment returns. We expect advisers working with Timeline to add significant value by helping clients maintain a disciplined approach, especially in extreme market conditions.
Diversification is the principle of spreading investment risk across thousands of shares, bonds and governments in many countries around the world. It helps reduce volatility and improve the consistency of returns over time.
Unnecessary rebalancing, often arbitrarily timed around client review meetings, damages investment returns. We believe rebalancing should be driven by market movements to ensure portfolios remain in line with risk parameters and return objectives.
Our investment professionals combine academic rigour with practical experience to build and maintain portfolios that advisers can rely on and clients can understand. Every decision is grounded in data, peer-reviewed research and decades of real market history.
A range of globally diversified model portfolios designed for advisers who want flexibility, platform optionality, and the ability to integrate investments seamlessly into their wider planning process.
A suite of multi-asset funds offering a straightforward, fund-based solution that is easy to understand and implement. It keeps tax implications simple, while maintaining diversification, discipline, and cost control.
