Optimal Asset Location and Allocation with Taxable and Tax-Deferred Investing

Abstract

We investigate the optimal intertemporal asset allocation and location decisions for an investor with both taxable and tax-deferred investment opportunities. With unrestricted borrowing opportunities, the investor optimally allocates his entire tax-deferred wealth to taxable bonds and combines either borrowing or lending with investment in equity in the taxable account to achieve his optimal overall risk exposure. When the investor is prohibited from borrowing, the optimal asset allocation in his tax-deferred account may consist of both bonds and stocks, but only if the wealth in his taxable account is allocated entirely to equity. The preference for holding taxable bonds in the tax-deferred account and equity in the taxable account reflects the higher ordinary income on bonds and the tax avoidance strategies available on equity. The effect of liquidity shocks on the optimal asset location policy is also examined. Our results are in striking contrast to the asset location choices observed in practice.