What is an All Weather Fund?
An all weather fund is a mutual fund that performs well regardless of market conditions.
How Does an All Weather Fund Work?
The performance of an all weather fund is largely unaffected by market climate. The term unofficially describes funds with debt and equity allocations that have historically allowed their portfolios to retain value and experience gains regardless of a favorable or unfavorable market atmosphere.
While there is no official 'all weather fund' category, there are many well diversified funds with a variety of asset classes that deliver consistent performances throughout all economic conditions.
Why Does an All Weather Fund Matter?
Mutual funds that have historically qualified as all weather funds are an attractive choice for risk-averse investors interested in retaining value while seeing light-to-moderate gains. Investors should be aware that all weather funds should be used to hedge a portfolio's risk and should not necessarily be expected to yield large returns.