Words matter and must be regulated
Douglas Isles | Platinum Asset Management | 13 October 2021 | 0.50 CE
Regulation states that fund managers must not mislead clients. However, subtle nuances around word choice, connotations and links to performance can distort framing. While prescribed scales exist for risk, analysis shows inconsistent application. Gradable adjectives (e.g. strong) can be subjective. Examples like the Beaufort Wind Scale assign words to speeds. Analysis of market data shows the distribution of outcomes. The “Isles Scale” maps asset class returns to pre-defined words for given time periods for the purpose of investment communication. Prescribing universal implem...