The theme of our 18th annual Sharing of Knowledge Learning Series (SOKLS) event was Conducting Your Portfolio Symphony.

As investment strategies continue to evolve in complexity amid a persistently low-yield environment, getting every ounce of risk-adjusted return is a challenge many institutional investors face.

The live broadcast provided insights about the key instruments needed to make important investment decisions - and how these instruments can perform together to construct a harmonious, well-tuned portfolio.

Featuring investment professionals from TDAM's Asset Allocation, Asset Liability Management, Public and Private Asset class teams, the broadcast explored how the four key steps in producing music are surprisingly similar to the four key steps in portfolio construction.

The first step in music is setting style and key, which corresponds to setting investment objectives and assumptions.

The second step in music is note progression and arrangement, which is equivalent to setting the asset mix and manager structure.

The third step is choosing skilled musicians, which refers to selecting an investment strategy and implementing it.

The last step in both music and investing is oversight and bringing it all together. In music, this responsibility falls to the conductor; in investing, this is equivalent to governance and day-to-day portfolio management.

The broadcast also included a live Q&A session which addressed impactful questions on issues that are currently on the minds of institutional investors.

This year's session was not only educational, but also entertaining. Special guest Matthew Loden, CEO of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, shared inspiring words about the advantage of restrictions - as well as a remarkable musical video which was produced while all members of his team were in isolation during one of the COVID-19 lockdowns.

A recap of the insights shared during the event is available here.