Abstract
The median is often a better measure than the mean in evaluating a portfolio's long-term value. The standard plug-in estimate of the median, however, is too optimistic. It has a substantial upward bias that can easily exceed a factor of 2. This article provides an unbiased forecast of the median of a portfolio's long-term value. It also provides an unbiased forecast of an arbitrary percentile of a portfolio's long-term value distribution, which enables the construction of the likely range of a portfolio's long-term value for any given confidence level. The article offers an unbiased forecast of the probability of a portfolio's long-term value falling within a given interval. The article's unbiased estimators give a more accurate assessment of a portfolio's long-term value than do traditional estimators and are useful for long-term planning and investment.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 68-77 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Financial Analysts Journal |
| Volume | 65 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 2009 |