Rational Funds

Rational Funds open-end and exchange-traded products are more expensive than similarly distributed funds at other highly-rated asset managers, on average in the most expensive quintile of category peers. The higher expense profile contributes negatively to the firm's overall stewardship rating and creates a larger performance hurdle. Only five years of average asset-weighted tenure among Rational Funds's longest-tenured managers gives us pause. In isolation, seasoned teams tend to have more experience to draw upon should they need to navigate turbulent market conditions. Portfolio management turnover at Rational Funds is higher than at peer firms, detracting from the overall assessment of the firm's stewardship. Turnover in the portfolio-management ranks can happen for a number of reasons, including mergers and liquidations, portfolio managers moving into other roles, or portfolio managers leaving the firm. In some cases, such change may not signal a serious or immediate problem at the firm, but can still be disruptive for investors, hinder the effectiveness of a firm’s investment processes, or suggest a weaker investment culture.