Clearly defined quantitative decision models

We believe that the best way to generate steady, above-average positive returns with low volatility and downside exposure, is to employ an investment methodology that has the potential to recognize and measure consistent and repeating behavioral patterns in the financial markets. 

With that goal in mind, we have developed clearly defined quantitative decision models that strive to minimize subjectivity in the decision making process. 

Foundational Principles

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Recognition that investor psychology plays a major role in shaping the character of a market in determining how price action unfolds.

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Model components are purposely designed with either a buy or sell side bias.

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Signals are based upon a modular convergence of multiple combinations of set ups and triggers.

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Emphasis is placed on the need to avoid reliance on the standard and popular indicators in the lexicon of technical analysis in order to gain advantage over the universe of technically driven investment methods.

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Isolation of price events that repeat with sufficient frequency to warrant actionable responses, but are typically not obvious to the larger universe of investors.

Investor Psychology

It’s important to recognize the impact of human nature on investment / trading decisions. We make the underlying assumption that investor decisions are not always based on a rational and thoroughly reasoned premise. Even when that is the case, basing expectations of future price behavior on present observations and conclusions, no matter how accurate, introduces a high level of uncertainty in the outcome. Thus, the stage is set for three human emotions to play an over-riding role in investor behavior – fear, greed and complacency:

  • Fear unfolds in a different way when compared to greed. Investor psychology is quicker to react to losing money than making money. Fear is much more contagious than greed and often builds rapidly to a crescendo of selling.
  • Greed builds slowly and gradually, rarely evolving to bubble proportions.
  • Complacency lulls investors into a false sense of confidence and interferes with their ability to recognize changing market dynamics.

The declining phase of the price cycle tends to be shorter in duration than the advancing phase. That’s because of the forceful emotional intensity of fear. It requires much less time for the collective psyche to reach an exhaustion point of selling than it does to reach an exhaustion point of buying. We believe a key ingredient for the formulation of optimum entry and exit criteria is to first identify when buying and selling pressures are at or near an exhaustion point. This is a precursor condition before a major reversal in price trend is likely.

Entry and Exit Parameters are Differentiated

The influence of investor psychology on the behavior of markets explains why entry and exit criteria must usually be different from one another. As a consequence, indicators with a given set of parameters that can be used to identify an oversold market will probably require modification in formulation and require a different set of parameters to identify an overbought market.

An Ensemble of Systematic Trading Models

The concept of overbought or oversold is an example of a precondition for a possible entry or exit point. Additional indicators are necessary to trigger and confirm the actual entry or exit signal. We strive to attain a balance that requires a sufficient number of indicators to reliably achieve this goal, without introducing too much complexity. The indicators must attack the problem from different perspectives, while being careful to minimize redundancy. The following is a sample of indicators that exhibit a few of the key analytical techniques that are incorporated into the models:
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Reliance on proprietary smoothing techniques to help clarify the trend and further reduce the probability of false signals.

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The identification of a minimum percent swing in price from a low or high to indicate a statistical probability of a tradable change in trend.

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Momentum divergence. The momentum of price movement tends to lead actual price. The failure of momentum to confirm a new high or new low in price is usually a precursor to a change in trend.

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A crossing of price below a proprietary trailing stop calculation to validate a sell signal. The reliability of this indicator is enhanced by incorporating a volatility component, thereby helping to allow room for random and “noisy” price movement in order to minimize false signals and overtrading.

None of the above indicators can standalone as a definitive trigger for entry or exit. There must be an adequate degree of consensus by different indicators before a tradable signal is rendered. This is not intended to present a complete analysis and may therefore oversimplify the actual construction of the indicators in order to protect their proprietary nature. One should keep in mind that a key principal is to construct indicators using non-standard methods or with a proprietary interpretation of the mathematical formulation of standard indicators. The objective is to gain market advantage over competing model-driven methods.

Systematic Trading Models

A distinctive attribute of Kensington's methodology is the reliance upon an ensemble of systematic trading models, each incorporating a blend of proprietary trend and counter-trend technical indicators. Although this adds a level of complexity to the decision-making process, it serves to improve the robustness and risk management of final trading decisions. We believe this methodology is unique to overcoming the challenge of trying to navigate and recognize market conditions that, on their surface and to most observers, appear to exhibit a great degree of chaotic variability from one timeframe to another. These market conditions are repetitions of similar market dynamics and therefore, recognizable as conditions to which model criteria can be applied with recurring confidence.

Our Offerings

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Managed Income Strategy

Flagship Strategy With 30-Year Track Record Of Providing Compelling Risk-Adjusted Returns In Varying Cycles

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Dynamic Growth Strategy

Tactical Allocation Strategy Designed To Alternate Between a Risk-On and Risk-Off State During Times of Market Strength and Weakness.

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Active Advantage Strategy

Tactical Exposure To Both Equity And Fixed Income Markets With The Aim Of Reducing Drawdown And Downside Volatility.

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Managed Income Fund

Strives to provide investors the potential to participate in risk markets, while avoiding times of market decline and/or volatility.

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Dynamic Growth Fund

Seeks participation in rising equity markets, while striving to reduce correlation to equity markets in times of market decline and / or volatility.

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Active Advantage Fund

Strives to provide long-term total return through a combination of capital appreciation and income while limiting downside risk.

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Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

This website is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell, or to invest in any investment product or strategy. Investing in securities markets involves risk and the degree of risk varies by the type of investment or strategy. For a complete list of the risks associated with each of our Strategies, please review the Strategy Brochure and Factsheet. Materials such as blog posts, newsletters or commentary may contain information deemed to be correct and appropriate at a given time but may not reflect our current views or opinions due to changing market conditions. No information provided on this website should be viewed as, or used as a substitute for individualized investment advice.

Advisory services offered through Kensington Asset Management, LLC.

Kensington Asset Management, LLC is the Adviser to the Managed Income Fund, the Dynamic Growth Fund, the Active Advantage Fund, the Defender Fund and Kensington Hedged Premium Income ETF are distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Kensington Asset Management, LLC is not affiliated with Quasar.

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