Understanding Investment Performance

For over 40 years, Fisher Investments has helped our clients navigate shifting market conditions across a variety of investment strategies.

business professional looking at charts on the computer with coworker

Established Performance History

No money manager gets it right all the time, including Fisher Investments, but we believe the lessons learned from managing investments through many market cycles provide us with valuable insight and experience you may not get with other money managers.

Two people chatting at a table

Portfolio, Performance and You

Our investment approach starts with you. We take the time to understand your unique needs, current financial situation and the goals you’d like to achieve with your money. With these in mind, we create a tailored investment strategy with what we believe provides the highest probability of accomplishing your personal objectives.

If you would like to know which investment strategy we’d recommend for you or discuss our performance history, please contact Fisher Investments at 888-823-9566. A regional representative will be happy to provide more information about our performance history and discuss investment strategies for your personal goals.

Woman looking at print outs of graphs spread out on desk while another woman points at a graph on a clipboard with a pen

Past Performance Isn't Everything

When evaluating a potential financial adviser or investment, you will likely be interested in their past performance. However, we caution investors against considering only past performance, since it may not tell the whole story. 

“Past performance is no guarantee of future results.” 

If you have ever looked at marketing materials for an adviser or a financial product, you have likely seen this disclosure. Here’s what it means: An investment may have been up or down in the past, but that past movement doesn’t give any hint as to what that investment will do in the future.

business professional doing a presentation in a conference room with others taking notes

A Higher Standard

Performance figures can be deceptive. Many methods exist for calculating and presenting investment returns. However, it can be difficult for advisers to show average results for a typical client since investors have different financial objectives, investment time horizons and comfort levels for risk.  

Of course, it’s easy for advisers to present their winners after the results are in. But, yesterday’s winners won’t necessarily be winners tomorrow. 

A piece of printed paper with a graph and year-to-date numbers

Our Measure

At Fisher Investments, we calculate performance based on the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®), a framework of rigorous measurement standards with some important features:

  • Performance represents the majority of a firm’s client portfolios, not just a select few.

  • Quoted performance numbers are those that client portfolios actually achieved—no hypothetical returns.

  • Investors can compare firms that claim GIPS® compliance on an “apples-to-apples” basis with other investment managers who claim GIPS® compliance.

GIPS® is a registered trademark owned by CFA Institute.
CFA Institute does not endorse or promote this organization, nor does it warrant the accuracy or quality of the content contained herein.



Three people having a meeting on a couch

Performance Benchmarks Help You Understand Your Returns

Fisher Investments believes the cornerstone of any valid performance measurement is a benchmark. Benchmarks act as a basis for portfolio creation and a reference point for measuring performance. 

Typically, the benchmark should be a broad, well-constructed index. Fisher Investments uses the MSCI World Index as the benchmark for most Fisher private clients’ stock portfolios. This index is designed to represent the performance of stocks across 23 developed international markets. 

woman and man looking over charts on an office desk

Why the MSCI World Index?

The benchmark for many Fisher private clients’ stock portfolios is the MSCI World Index, which is designed to represent the performance of stocks across 23 developed country markets. We believe this index is generally an appropriate equity benchmark for a number of reasons:

  • It reflects our view that well-diversified portfolios should invest globally.

  • It accurately reflects the global developed stock markets’ composition.

  • It is well-suited to help clients achieve their long-term financial goals

  • Its data go back to 1969, allowing us to scrutinize historic trends and inform our analysis.

A business man holds his pen above graphs being displayed on monitors in front of him

Long-Term Performance Means Staying Disciplined

In addition to achieving performance results, an effective investment adviser should also be a trusted coach, who helps you stay disciplined and avoid mistakes you might make on your own. Investing is difficult and can be emotional—especially when market volatility strikes and your nest egg is on the line.

When market performance falls, fear may cause you to exit the market at its lowest point and potentially miss the rebound, which can set you back substantially. When markets are rising, greed or the “fear of missing out” may unintentionally drive you to overconcentrate in outperforming sectors or pursue speculative investments (i.e., “chasing heat”). A financial adviser should help you remember your investment goals and stick to your investment strategy—a key factor in achieving long-term performance results.

Business professional smiling on the phone and taking notes at a desk.

Questions?

If you have questions about Fisher Investments' performance, or the current performance of your investments, contact us to request an evaluation. 

We can review your portfolio and discuss how our services may be able to help you reach your goals. 

Contact Us

Insights & Media

More