The Optimizer Ribbon

The NFA ribbon, labelled Optimizer, stretches across the top of each worksheet, providing tools for each step of the optimization process from loading to interpreting the results.

Application Section

• About (NFA Icon) accesses the Application Information Window which provides version information.

• Preferences accesses the Preferences Window.

• Update License Key opens the Key Updater in the Toolbox.

File Section

• New launches a separate, blank session of the Optimizer.

• Undo reverts the Optimizer to the last saved state.  The full state of the Optimizer is stored in a temporary file whenever you load, import, drift, optimize, post-optimize, or rebalance.  Undo loads that saved file, which includes all inputs, options, and settings. Additional Undo or Redo commands will load the previous or subsequent saved state.

• Redo reverts the Optimizer to prior to an Undo.

• Load initiates:

• loading saved files,

• importing expense ratios and yields from online sources,

• and loading relative variance tables for rebalancing.

• Use Save As to save cases, portfolios, or relative variance tables for the rebalance test.

Optimize Section

• Store Results stores the current efficient frontier for future comparison.

• Optimize initiates optimization.

• Forecast Confidence refers to the forecast confidence level.  Toggle the drop down menu to change your forecast confidence.

• Simulations displays the number of simulations to be run during optimization.  Toggle the drop down menu to change the number of requested simulations.

Rebalance Section

• Rebalance calculates the rebalance probability for all portfolios, freshly recomputing the lookup table for the test.

• Rebalance Portfolios uses the stored or loaded relative variance table to evaluate the rebalance probabilities for the portfolios, bypassing the recomputation of the table and saving time. The settings for rebalance are found in the drop down menu.

Wizards Section

• Drift launches the Drift Portfolios Window.

• Assets launches the Asset Wizard, which manages the asset universe.  

• Reference Portfolios shows you the current number of reference portfolios and allows you to add or change reference portfolios.

Trade Section

• This section appears in the ribbon when the Trade Worksheet is selected. The options in this section set up the Trade Advisor.

Edit Menu

• Copy copies an entire case to the clipboard.

• Paste pastes the entire case from the clipboard into an open Optimizer session.

Post-Optimize

• Post-Optimize initiates post-optimization.

Case Settings Section

• The Constraints Menu provides tools for working with constraints and enabling additional constraint types.

• The Options Menu provides several ways to alter the investment problem.

• The Taxes Menu provides options for tax optimization.

Workbook Section

• The Display Menu shows and hides worksheets, charts, and information that are used less frequently.

• Launch other NFA applications through the Launch Menu.  The Optimizer offers three options for what appears when you launch LifeCycle: a blank LifeCycle case with the efficient frontier from the open Optimizer case, a sample LifeCycle case, or a case that you select from a folder. The Launch Optimizer Option opens a second Optimizer window.  

Report Designer constructs reports that contain Optimizer results.

Help opens this help manual.