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How did UST crash and tank the entire crypto market?

The collapse of TerraUSD (UST) sent shockwaves through the cryptocurrency market, highlighting the vulnerabilities of algorithmic stablecoins and the broader implications for crypto investors. Understanding the events leading up to the UST crash and its aftermath is crucial for anyone involved in cryptocurrency investments.

What do Venezuela and Terra have in common? Well, it turns out that printing money leads to massive inflation and a subsequent devaluation of the currency being printed. Who would’ve thought?

But to understand why this is relevant to Terra, let’s take a step back and first discuss what Terra even is. Terra is a crypto project founded in early 2018 by Do Kwon (currently CEO) and Daniel Shin (left in 2020). Terra is (or was?) an ecosystem of decentralized stablecoins, with its largest being TerraUSD, or UST for short. LUNA is Terra’s native cryptocurrency coin and is separate from UST.

What is a stablecoin?

Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies that are supposed to track the value of fiat currencies. Most stablecoins, such as Tether (or USDT for short), are pegged to the US dollar. This means that 1 USDT should, in theory, be worth 1 USD.

But how do stablecoins retain their value? USDT is backed by fiat held as collateral, similar to how the US dollar used to be backed by the gold standard. This means that Tether holds in its reserves USD (and similar assets such as US Treasuries) equivalent in value to all outstanding USDT. So in theory, 1 USDT should always be able to be exchanged for $1, providing a floor for USDT.

Algorithmic stablecoins: Good intentions with a bad outcome

Now that we know what a stablecoin is, what is UST (TerraUSD) and how is it different? UST is what’s known as an algorithmic stablecoin. Unlike normal stablecoins, which are backed by real reserves, algorithmic stablecoins are not backed by any sort of collateral.

So if normal stablecoins were doing so well, why experiment with algorithmic ones? Well, the main problem with fully-backed stablecoins is that there may not be enough collateral to meet demand. For a while, Terra successfully solved this problem and became the third largest stablecoin by market cap. However, as we all saw, this achievement was short-lived given fatal flaws in its underlying regulation mechanism.

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How does (or did?) UST work?

UST attempted to maintain its peg to USD through a supply regulation mechanism known as mint and burn. This is where LUNA comes in: 1 UST is worth $1 worth of LUNA. Keep this in mind as we look at two simple examples.

1. UST is trading above USD, i.e. 1 UST is worth more than $1

Let’s say for some reason 1 UST is trading at $1.05. When this happens, an arbitrage opportunity arises: Borrow $1 to buy $1 worth of LUNA → Give $1 worth of LUNA to the Terra system and get back 1 UST → Sell 1 UST on the open market for $1.05  → Pay back the borrowed $1, resulting a 5% profit. This increases the supply of UST in the open market, thereby pushing the price down until 1 UST once again equals $1.

What happens to the $1 worth of LUNA that was exchanged? It’s burned by the Terra system. This decreases the amount of LUNA in circulation, which increases its price. Keep this in mind for later.

2. UST is trading below USD, i.e. 1 UST is worth less than $1

In this example, let’s say 1 UST is trading at $0.95. Another arbitrage opportunity presents itself: Borrow $0.95 to buy 1 UST → Give 1 UST to the Terra system in exchange for $1 worth of LUNA → Sell $1 worth of LUNA for $1 on the open market → Pay back the borrowed $0.95, resulting in a 5% profit. This reduces the supply of UST in the open market, thereby increasing the price of UST until 1 UST equals $1.

In this example, where did the Terra system get the $1 worth of LUNA? It was minted. This increases the amount of LUNA in circulation and decreases its price.

So in summary, as UST goes above its peg, LUNA is bought and burned, which pushes LUNA’s price up. As UST goes below its peg, LUNA is minted and sold, pushing LUNA’s price down.

Everything is fine and dandy so long as there is demand for UST and LUNA. People buy UST → UST maintains its peg by getting exchanged for LUNA → LUNA is burned, leading to an increase in its value → LUNA’s increase in value leads to an increase in demand for UST → And the cycle is repeated. Everyone is making money. Everyone wins.

This all sounds great until we realize that LUNA, the anchor of the mint and burn mechanism, doesn’t have any intrinsic value. So what happens when $1 worth of LUNA is no longer worth $1? Well, the entire regulation mechanism breaks down and leads to a death spiral.

Terra’s Death Spiral

Let’s look at a third example. Assume that 1 UST is trading at $0.95, but $1 worth of LUNA is now also trading at $0.95. Here, there is no arbitrage opportunity and, therefore, no incentive to convert UST into LUNA. UST loses its peg to USD as the regulation mechanism breaks down. This is exactly what happened to Terra.

The Fed started increasing interest rates to fight inflation, which triggered a global sell-off of risky assets. In the stock market, this included high valuation stocks such as tech stocks. In crypto, it was virtually everything. There were some very large sales of both UST and LUNA, which some speculate was a deliberate attack while others believe was purely due to market events. In any case, the sell-offs happened and put significant downward pressure on LUNA and UST, which initiated a death spiral:

People sell UST → UST loses its peg → LUNA is minted and exchanged for UST in order to stabilize UST’s price → LUNA’s supply increases, which decreases LUNA’s value → UST holders lose faith in LUNA and sell UST → And the spiral continues.

We saw this death spiral play out the week of May 1st, 2022. At its high, LUNA was trading above $100. Within a matter of days, the amount of LUNA in circulation went from a few hundred thousand to 6.5 trillion, which caused its value to go to nearly $0 and UST to trade significantly below its intended $1 peg. At the time of writing, LUNA is trading at just $0.0001 and UST is trading at just $0.06. Yikes.

Terra’s Future

Although the future of Terra is uncertain, it seems likely that the Terra blockchain will be forked. Do Kwon proposed that the new chain will be called Terra (token: LUNA) and will not have algorithmic stablecoins. The old chain will continue to exist as Terra Classic (token: LUNC).

If everything goes according to plan, the new blockchain will be live by May 27th, 2022. According to Kwon, new LUNA tokens will be airdropped to LUNC stakers, holders, residual UST holders, and essential app developers of the Terra Classic blockchain. The drops will happen in a way that compensates holders before the crash more than speculative buyers post-crash.

Regardless of what happens, Terra’s downfall will serve as a painful but important lesson for the crypto community. I am hoping for the best outcome for all those who are affected.

What about alphaAI?

In any investment endeavor, the key to success lies in making informed decisions. Whether you're building a recession-resistant portfolio, diversifying your assets, or simply exploring new opportunities, your journey should be guided by knowledge and insight. At alphaAI, we are dedicated to helping you invest intelligently with AI-powered strategies. Our roboadvisor adapts to market shifts, offering dynamic wealth management tailored to your risk level and portfolio preferences. We're your trusted partner in the complex world of finance, working with you to make smarter investments and pursue your financial goals with confidence. Your journey to financial success begins here, with alphaAI by your side.

If you're new to investing or you've been investing for a while, you know diversification is a fundamental rule of investing that has stood the test of time. Just look at Warren Buffet. It's the idea that you should not put all your eggs in one basket. Instead, you spread your investments across various asset classes, sectors, and regions to reduce risk and enhance your long-term gains. While the concept is generally well-known, the real challenge lies in implementing it effectively.


The Importance of Diversification

Diversification is all about risk management. When you diversify your investment portfolio, you are essentially spreading your risk. Here's why it's crucial:

  • Risk Reduction: Different assets have different risk profiles. By diversifying, you reduce the impact of a poor-performing asset on your overall portfolio.
  • Enhanced Consistency: Diversification can smooth out the ups and downs in your portfolio's value over time, providing a more consistent investment experience.
  • Increased Opportunity: Diversifying across various asset classes allows you to tap into multiple opportunities for growth, not just relying on a single investment.
  • Protecting Against Market Volatility: Diversification helps you weather market volatility by balancing high-risk assets with lower-risk ones.

Challenges in Implementing Diversification

While the concept of diversification is straightforward, the execution can be complex. Many investors struggle with the following challenges:

  • Asset Selection: Which assets should you include in your portfolio? How much should you allocate to each?
  • Rebalancing: As asset values change, your portfolio's allocation can drift from your target. Regular rebalancing is necessary to maintain diversification.
  • Data Overload: With a multitude of assets to consider and vast amounts of data to analyze, the task of diversification can become overwhelming.

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How alphaAI Optimizes Diversification

alphaAI leverages the power of artificial intelligence to address these challenges and optimize diversification:

  • Advanced Algorithms: alphaAI's AI tools use sophisticated algorithms to analyze a vast array of historical and real-time data. This helps in selecting the right mix of assets for your portfolio.
  • Risk Assessment: The AI system assesses the risk associated with each asset, ensuring that your portfolio is aligned with your risk tolerance.
  • Continuous Monitoring: alphaAI continuously monitors the market, assessing changes in asset performance. It can automatically trigger rebalancing when needed, ensuring your portfolio remains diversified.
  • Personalization: Every investor is unique. alphaAI tailors diversification strategies to your specific financial goals and preferences.
  • Adaptability: Markets evolve, and so do investment opportunities. alphaAI adapts to changing market conditions and adjusts your portfolio accordingly.

Diversification is not just a buzzword in investing; it's a time-tested strategy for risk reduction and long-term growth. However, implementing diversification effectively can be challenging, especially in today's complex and data-rich financial landscape. alphaAI's AI tools are designed to make diversification easier and more efficient. By leveraging advanced algorithms and continuous monitoring, alphaAI helps investors create diversified portfolios that align with their unique goals and risk tolerances. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting, alphaAI can be a valuable partner in optimizing your investment portfolio for a brighter financial future.

What about alphaAI?

In any investment endeavor, the key to success lies in making informed decisions. Whether you're building a recession-resistant portfolio, diversifying your assets, or simply exploring new opportunities, your journey should be guided by knowledge and insight. At alphaAI, we are dedicated to helping you invest intelligently with AI-powered strategies. Our roboadvisor adapts to market shifts, offering dynamic wealth management tailored to your risk level and portfolio preferences. We're your trusted partner in the complex world of finance, working with you to make smarter investments and pursue your financial goals with confidence. Your journey to financial success begins here, with alphaAI by your side.

Disclaimer: Investing in the stock market involves risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. The information provided in this blog is for educational purposes and should not be considered financial advice. Please consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Hi there,

My name is Richard Sun, and I’m the Founder of alphaAI. Thanks for your interest in us! You’re probably wondering who we are, where we came from, and what we stand for. I’d love to answer those questions for you now.

Who am I?

I am the first generation in my family to be born in the United States. Like many others who have settled in this country, my parents immigrated here with hopes to achieve the American Dream.

Having come from humble beginnings, I have always had an interest in attaining financial independence. My parents believed the best way to do so was for me to be a doctor or a lawyer (something I’m sure at least a few of you can relate to), but life had other plans. By the time I was in college, I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I always had a natural affinity for math, so that’s what I majored in.

After graduating, I went into Finance. I started my career as an Investment Banker at Barclays where I got the chance to work on some high-profile deals, like the Dell acquisition of EMC. I learned a ton but ultimately found myself more passionate about investing in the stock market, so I left Barclays and joined a hedge fund in San Francisco. At the hedge fund, I learned a great deal about investing and got the chance to see first-hand how it’s done on Wall Street.

Most stock market trades are made by machines.

While working on Wall Street, I realized that more than 90% of stock market trades are done by machines. That’s because AI-driven trading offers numerous benefits over human-driven trading. Machines are simply better equipped to deal with numbers than humans are. Machines can process more data, faster. And they make emotionless decisions. When it comes to generating consistent, risk-adjusted returns over a long period of time, it’s extremely hard to beat systematic, AI-driven strategies.

Wall Street caught on, but Main Street was left in the dust. While the 1% were reaping the benefits of AI-driven investing, the average investor was encouraged to employ antiquated buy-and-hold strategies. Passive strategies are sub-optimal because they are at the mercy of the markets. The bear market of 2022 was a prime example of where buy-and-hold fails.

It was clear that traditional investing advice wasn’t working for everyone.

Every time someone found out I worked as a professional investor, I would inevitably always get the same questions: “What’s the market going to do? Which stocks should I buy? What should I do to prepare my portfolio for this upcoming event?”

Everyone had heard the same, tired advice: “Diversify your portfolio. Invest in ETFs. Invest for the long-term.” It’s good advice, but people still wanted something more sophisticated. They wanted to know how they could maximize their gains while also reducing their losses. They wanted a better way to manage their risk. These were things that were achievable, but not for the average person.

I saw a need to automate portfolio management.

I had considered recommending investment advisors and/or hedge funds, but their high minimums and fees meant they weren’t easily accessible to everyone. I felt that there must be a better way. That’s when I realized that, as a professional investor, my job could be broken down into a few key portfolio management functions: downside protection, risk management, diversification, and asset allocation.

So I set out to create a system that would automate all of these tasks. Doing so involved a lot of coding and a lot of math. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would actually have to use calculus again. I guess my math professors are getting the last laugh now.

I built everything from the ground up — just me, myself, and I. I lost track of how many prototypes I created. I spent years testing my systems on my own capital. I had the full entirety of my net worth being managed by these systems — I was all in. After three years of painstaking development, I was finally ready to show the world.

Join us in the future of investing!

In 2021, I founded alphaAI to make sure anyone and everyone could tap into the power of AI-driven investing. We have two simple goals: to help everyone achieve their investment objectives through automation and to do so at an accessible price. In finance, “alpha” is a measure of the active return on an investment. Higher alpha values are better than lower ones. The idea behind our name, alphaAI, is simple: use AI to generate alpha for our clients.

I believe that most of a traditional investment advisor’s job can be automated. Of course, there will always be a need for human touch, especially when it comes to more ambiguous strategies. But for 99% of people out there, automation can deliver results that are just as good, if not significantly better, and at just a fraction of the cost.

There are other services that provide automated passive investing, but passive investing only goes so far. As we saw in the bear market of 2022, active portfolio management, when done properly, can help significantly reduce losses and maximize gains. It’s time that these more sophisticated products and strategies were made available to everyone in a scalable and cost-effective way — and that’s where we come in.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading this far and for your continued interest in alphaAI. If my story speaks to you, then consider joining us in the future of investing. Many others have already signed on to be a part of our Founder’s Class, and we would love to have you onboard too!

Richard Sun

Founder @ alphaAI

LinkedIn

Tactical asset allocation (TAA) is an active investment strategy that seeks to exploit short-term market opportunities through the strategic repositioning of a portfolio's asset mix. TAA strategies are typically employed by sophisticated investors, such as institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals, who have the resources and expertise to execute these strategies effectively.


The goal of TAA is to generate returns that outperform a benchmark index, such as the S&P 500. TAA strategies can be used in a variety of portfolios, including retirement accounts and college savings plans.


The Benefits of Tactical Asset Allocation

There are several potential benefits of employing a TAA strategy, including:

  • The ability to generate alpha: TAA strategies seek to generate returns that exceed the market's return, known as alpha. While there is no guarantee that any investment strategy will outperform the market in the long run, TAA strategies have the potential to do so by taking advantage of short-term market opportunities.
  • Increased portfolio diversification: TAA strategies can help to diversify a portfolio by allowing investors to take positions in a variety of asset classes and sectors. This can potentially reduce the overall risk of the portfolio while still providing the opportunity for growth.
  • Enhanced risk-adjusted returns: By carefully selecting assets and rebalancing the portfolio on a regular basis, TAA strategies can potentially provide investors with higher risk-adjusted returns than a traditional buy-and-hold approach.

The Risks of Tactical Asset Allocation

TAA is not for everyone and you should only consider pursuing this strategy if you're comfortable with the level of risk involved.


Another risk to consider is the amount of time and effort required to successfully implement a TAA strategy. Because this strategy involves making frequent adjustments to your portfolio, it requires ongoing research and monitoring. If you're not willing to put in the time required, then TAA is not likely to be successful for you.


Tactical Asset Allocation Strategies

There are a variety of different TAA strategies that investors can employ, depending on their goals and objectives. Some common TAA strategies include:

  • Sector Rotation: This strategy involves investing in sectors that are expected to outperform the broader market. For example, an investor may rotate into defensive sectors like healthcare and utilities during periods of economic uncertainty or into cyclical sectors like industrials and materials when economic conditions are improving.
  • Market Timing: This strategy involves making decisions about when to enter and exit the market based on macroeconomic indicators. For example, an investor may choose to sell stocks and move into cash when they believe the market is overvalued or invest in stocks when they believe the market is undervalued.
  • Valuation Anomalies: This strategy seeks to exploit pricing discrepancies across different asset classes by investing in assets that are undervalued relative to their fundamental value. For example, an investor may invest in value stocks when they believe they are undervalued relative to growth stocks.

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How Can You Implement Tactical Asset Allocation?

If you're interested in employing TAA in your own investment portfolio, there are a few things you'll need to do. First, you'll need to have a clear understanding of your investment goals and objectives. Once you know what you're hoping to achieve, you can begin to develop a plan for how best to allocate your assets. Additionally, it's important to stay up-to-date on market conditions and be prepared to make changes to your portfolio as needed.


There are three common approaches to tactical asset allocation: top-down, bottom-up, and macroeconomic.


The top-down approach starts with an analysis of the overall economy and then makes predictions about which sectors will perform well in the future. This information is used to make decisions about asset allocation. For example, if a TAA manager believes that the economy will slow down in the next year, they may allocate more assets to defensive stocks, such as consumer staples or healthcare stocks, which tend to perform well in periods of economic uncertainty.


The bottom-up approach focuses on individual securities rather than on the overall economy. This approach involves analyzing companies and selecting those that appear undervalued by the market. Once these companies have been identified, decisions about asset allocation are made based on this research. For example, if a TAA manager believes that ABC Company is undervalued by the market, they may allocate more assets to ABC Company stock.


The macroeconomic approach combines elements of both the top-down and bottom-up approaches. With this approach, investors will take into account both the overall economic environment and individual security selection when making investment decisions.


How alphaAI Can Help

At alphaAI, we understand that it can be very difficult and time-consuming to implement TAA yourself. That’s why we have built a variety of strategies that automate the tactical asset allocation process — so you can spend less time worrying about your portfolio and more time enjoying your life. We automate key portfolio management functions, such as downside protection, risk management, diversification, asset allocation, and capital deployment. All of our strategies are designed to deliver better risk-adjusted returns than what would otherwise be achieved with traditional buy-and-hold strategies. Learn more about our strategies here.

In investing, there is no shortage of beliefs, theories, and strategies. Although there isn’t one single right answer, some methods do tend to work better than others. At alphaAI, our investment philosophy is based on tried-and-true principles that have been proven by many to work time and time again. But the spin is that we add automation to the process.

What are our investment goals?

When it comes to investing, we have one, simple goal: to consistently deliver better risk-adjusted returns than the market.

If the market is down, we want to be down less (or even up with certain types of strategies). If the market is up, we also want to be up. The concept seems deceptively simple, but, in reality, is incredibly difficult to execute. So how do we do it? Well, it all starts by optimizing our KPIs.

What are our KPIs?

KPIs, otherwise known as key performance indicators, are a set of quantifiable measurements we use to gauge our performance. All of our KPIs are measured against the “market,” which is typically the S&P 500. Think of the S&P 500 as the gold standard. If a strategy can consistently beat the S&P 500 over the long-term, then you know you’ve got something special on your hands.

These are the top KPIs that we track:

Sharpe Ratio: The Sharpe Ratio quantifies an investment’s risk-adjusted return. We are focused on maximizing Sharpe Ratio. We prefer the Sharpe Ratio over total return because total return doesn't tell the whole story. If a strategy had a high total return but took an excessive amount of risk to get there, is it really a good strategy? We don’t think so. The ideal strategy will deliver returns better than the amount of risk involved.

Alpha: Alpha, also known as the “holy grail” of investing, quantifies an investment strategy’s ability to beat the market. You can think of it as the additional value added by an investment strategy when compared to a similar buy-and-hold approach. For that reason, we are focused on maximizing alpha. Fun fact: alpha is actually the inspiration behind our name alphaAI.

Beta: You can think of beta as the sensitivity of an investment strategy to market movements. So for example, if a strategy has a beta of 1.0 and the market moves 1%, then the strategy can be expected to also move 1%. If a strategy has a high beta, then its returns are highly dependent on the market. The big risk here is that if the market performs poorly, the strategy will also perform poorly. For this reason, we are focused on minimizing beta.

R2: You can think of R2 (pronounced r-squared) as the correlation of an investment strategy with the market. So if a strategy has an R2 of 1, it is perfectly correlated with the market. Similar to beta, if a strategy has a high R2, then its returns are highly dependent on the market. We are focused on minimizing R2 because we want to deliver returns that are uncorrelated with the market.

Volatility: A strategy’s volatility is quantified by the standard deviation of returns. In general, higher volatility levels are associated with more risk. Going back to our Sharpe Ratio example, we always prefer a strategy that returns more than the risk involved. For this reason, we are focused on minimizing volatility.


We optimize our KPIs through risk management.

Now that we’ve defined our KPIs, how do we optimize them? This would typically be a job reserved for a portfolio manager. Through our time working as professional investors on Wall Street, we realized that portfolio management can be broken down into a few key functions. We are focused on automating these functions in order to optimize our KPIs.

Portfolio Construction: Based on your investor profile, we build a personalized portfolio that fits your goals and preferences. Your portfolio is fully customizable and can be adjusted at any time to ensure it continues to be the best fit.

Dynamic Portfolio Adjustments: We adjust your portfolio in response to the ebbs and flows of the market. Regardless of market conditions, our goal is to make sure your portfolio is optimized for your investment goals and preferences. Risk management and downside protection (described below) are two of the main ways we do this.

Risk Management: We adjust risk levels in response to market conditions. When conditions are uncertain, risk is reduced to minimize losses. In some strategies, we buy an inverse ETF to profit from market declines. When conditions are ideal, risk is increased to maximize gains.

Downside Protection: Market exposure refers to how much capital you have invested in the market. We manage market exposure to maximize returns during favorable conditions and reduce losses during periods of uncertainty.

Portfolio Diversification: We diversify our portfolios across a wide variety of sectors, industries, market-caps, and other factors. A well-diversified portfolio is more resilient and can better weather market volatility.

Asset Allocation: We allocate more capital to assets that have a higher probability to perform well and less to assets that have a higher probability to perform poorly.

By automating these key portfolio management functions, we aim to deliver better risk-adjusted returns than traditional buy-and-hold strategies.

Closing Thoughts

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of our investment philosophy. To summarize, our main goal is to consistently deliver better risk-adjusted returns than the market and comparable buy-and-hold strategies. We do this by using portfolio management automation to optimize our KPIs. Through automation, we are able to make strategies, that have typically only been available to sophisticated investors, available to everyone for a low fee.

alphaAI is a technology-focused company. We believe in making the best possible technology available to our clients. Most of our efforts are focused on technology research and development. Our strategies and solutions are powered by an innovative and proprietary AI system. That being said, there are many misconceptions out there about what AI is. In this piece, we will dispel some common myths and shed light on the topic.

BTW: This article is an intro to AI. If you already have a basic grasp of AI, dive deeper here. And for the highly technical readers, learn more about machine learning for stock trading in our depth series: Part 1 and Part 2.

What is AI?

At its core, AI is simply machine learning (ML). ML is a branch of mathematics focused on the development of models that can learn patterns from data. The idea is simple: models are first trained and then used to predict. During the training process, a model is fed some dataset where it learns patterns in the data. This learning usually occurs through the minimization of prediction error. The lower the prediction error, the better the model has learned patterns in the data. After the training process, the model is now ready for prediction. When fed new, unseen data, a trained model can make predictions on that data by drawing from the patterns it previously learned.

This may sound complicated, but have you ever heard of linear regression before? A linear regression model is a very simple and primitive type of ML model. That’s right, you may have unknowingly created an AI model in your statistics class! Hopefully, this helps illustrate that AI isn’t some black box, but rather a collection of mathematical methods that you may or may not have already worked with before.

How do we use AI?

Of course, modern-day ML models have improved significantly from linear regression, but the idea remains the same. At alphaAI, our proprietary models are based on industry-leading concepts but heavily modified to fit our use case. Our AI system is primarily comprised of two parts: predictive models and portfolio management systems.

Our predictive models are trained on multiple decades of data for over 10,000 global stocks. On average, each model is trained on more than 10 billion data points. Each model is trained to perform a unique predictive capability, and multiple models work together to make trading decisions. You can think of it as a team of investment professionals working together. Each individual has their own unique viewpoint and set of skills. As a whole, the collective experience of the entire team enables them to make better decisions than any single individual could. In the same way, each one of our models is unique in its predictive capabilities. The probability of making the best decisions greatly increases when multiple models are used together as they can cover each other’s weaknesses.

Our portfolio management systems use a rules-based approach to decide what to do with the predictions that our models generate. This includes making trades and managing risk. These systems also include numerous failsafe protocols to ensure that all the actions that are taken do not exceed the limits that we set.


Why use AI for investing?

You may be surprised to hear that more than 90% of stock market trades are currently being made by machines. That’s because AI-driven trading offers numerous benefits over human-driven trading. Machines are simply better equipped to deal with numbers than humans are. Machines can process more data, faster. And they make emotionless decisions. When it comes to generating consistent, risk-adjusted returns over a long period of time, it’s extremely hard to beat systematic, AI-driven strategies.

Closing Thoughts

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of what AI is and how we use it. Don't worry, AI doesn’t have sentience, and there is no chance of it going off and making its own decisions. AI is another word for machine learning, and machine learning simply consists of a collection of predictive methods and models that can learn patterns from data.

Investing during a recession can be daunting, especially with the constant buzz about economic downturns. However, recessions can present unique opportunities for savvy investors. At alphaAI, we believe in leveraging advanced AI-driven strategies to help you navigate these turbulent times and make the most of your investments. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore AlphaAI recession investment strategies, detailing how our approach can help you recession-proof your portfolio and capitalize on market opportunities.

Why Invest During a Recession?

Historical Market Performance

Historically, the S&P 500 has shown resilience, averaging more than a 15% gain in the year following a recession. This statistic underscores the importance of staying invested and not being sidelined when the market rebounds. Additionally, the stock market often bottoms out before the worst economic data is released, meaning that investors who wait for the "all clear" signal may miss significant recovery gains.

Asset Valuations

During recessions, asset valuations often become more attractive as prices drop. This presents a once-in-a-lifetime buying opportunity for investors who are prepared. Lower valuations mean you can acquire quality assets at a discount, setting the stage for substantial gains when the market recovers.

alphaAI's Recession Playbook

alphaAI's recession investment strategies are designed to help you make the most of your money during economic downturns. Here’s how you can recession-proof your portfolio with alphaAI:

1. Create and Fund an Investment Account

Due to financial regulations, it can take weeks to create and fund an investment account. Don’t wait until the market rebounds to get started. By setting up your account now, you ensure that you're ready to take advantage of buying opportunities as they arise.

2. Earn Interest on Uninvested Cash

With our brokerage partner, Interactive Brokers, you can earn up to 4.5% interest on uninvested cash. This ensures that your money is working for you, even when it's not actively invested in the market, helping to offset the effects of inflation.

3. Choose Recession-Proof Strategies

alphaAI offers a range of recession-proof strategies designed to mitigate risk and capitalize on market opportunities. Our long-short strategies, for example, use short positions to offset market declines and limit portfolio drawdowns. This balanced approach helps to stabilize your portfolio during volatile periods.

4. Maintain Cash Reserves

You don’t have to be 100% invested, alphaAI recommends investing anywhere from 20% to 80% of your funds and keeping the rest in cash. This strategy provides liquidity, allowing you to take advantage of buying opportunities when the market rebounds.

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What Are Recession-Proof Strategies?

You might be wondering how an investment strategy can be recession-proof. While no strategy is entirely immune to market fluctuations, alphaAI employs techniques that help to reduce risk and enhance returns during economic downturns.

Market Exposure Management

Market exposure management is a key component of our recession investment strategies. This involves adjusting the level of risk in your portfolio based on current market conditions. When market conditions are poor, we gain exposure to an inverse ETF to hedge against and profit from market declines. During uncertain times, we adopt a conservative risk profile to minimize losses. Under normal market conditions, we maintain a moderate, well-balanced risk profile. When conditions are ideal, we assume an aggressive risk profile to maximize gains.

Long-Short Positions

Long-short positions are another essential element of our recession-proof strategies. Long positions profit when the market goes up, while short positions profit when the market goes down. By balancing long and short positions, we can generate consistent returns regardless of market conditions. This approach also significantly reduces portfolio volatility and risk.

What about alphaAI?

In any investment endeavor, the key to success lies in making informed decisions. Whether you're building a recession-resistant portfolio, diversifying your assets, or simply exploring new opportunities, your journey should be guided by knowledge and insight. At alphaAI, we are dedicated to helping you invest intelligently with AI-powered strategies. Our roboadvisor adapts to market shifts, offering dynamic wealth management tailored to your risk level and portfolio preferences. We're your trusted partner in the complex world of finance, working with you to make smarter investments and pursue your financial goals with confidence. Your journey to financial success begins here, with alphaAI by your side.

How alphaAI Works

AI-Powered Investment Strategies

At alphaAI, we leverage the power of artificial intelligence to adapt to market shifts and optimize your investment portfolio. Our AI-driven strategies analyze vast amounts of data to identify trends and make informed investment decisions. This dynamic approach ensures that your portfolio is always aligned with current market conditions.

Personalized Wealth Management

AlphaAI offers personalized wealth management tailored to your risk level and portfolio preferences. Our roboadvisor adapts to your unique financial situation, providing customized investment strategies that align with your goals. Whether you're looking to build a recession-resistant portfolio, diversify your assets, or explore new opportunities, alphaAI is here to guide you every step of the way.

Setting Up and Managing Your alphaAI Account

Establishing Your Account

Setting up an alphaAI account is straightforward. Begin by adopting a written plan document outlining the terms of your investment strategy. This document does not need to be filed with the IRS but should be kept on record. Next, communicate with alphaAI to inform them about your investment goals, risk tolerance, and portfolio preferences.

Administration Best Practices

To ensure compliance and optimal performance, maintain accurate records of your contributions, eligible investments, and plan documents. Regularly update your information to reflect any changes in your financial situation or market conditions. Additionally, alphaAI provides educational resources on investment options to help you make informed decisions.

Takeaways

alphaAI's recession investment strategies offer a powerful tool for navigating economic downturns. By leveraging AI-driven techniques, market exposure management, and long-short positions, we help you reduce risk, enhance returns, and capitalize on market opportunities. Not only does alphaAI provide advanced investment strategies, but we also offer personalized wealth management to ensure that your portfolio aligns with your financial goals.

Your journey to financial success begins here, with alphaAI by your side. Don't wait to invest during a recession. With alphaAI, you can navigate economic downturns with confidence and make the most of your money in 2023 and beyond.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about alphaAI.

How does alphaAI work?

At alphaAI, every strategy has four modes: Surge, Steady, Cautious, and Defense. Our Investment AI will automatically switch between modes based on market conditions. 

The idea is simple: When the market looks good, we invest more to help you earn more. When the market seems risky, we invest less to help protect your money.

Learn more about our investment strategy modes.

How does alphaAI use AI?

We use AI to automate the entire investment process, from beginning to end.

At the core of our industry-leading AI system is a team of predictive machine learning models. These models are trained on decades of data from more than 10,000 global stocks, analyzing over 10 billion data points on average. Each model is built for a specific purpose, and together they work as a team to make smarter trading decisions.

Our portfolio management system then takes these predictions and uses a clear, rules-based process to decide how to act. This includes making trades and managing risk, all tailored to your unique investor profile. Plus, we’ve built in multiple safety measures to ensure that every decision stays within strict, pre-defined limits.

Read more about our technology.

Is it safe to let AI handle my money?

Yes, absolutely! There’s no chance our AI will take unexpected actions – and here’s why.

At its core, AI is simply machine learning (ML), which is a branch of math that uses models to find and learn from patterns in data. We use these predictive models alongside a clear, rules-based system to make trades and manage risk, all tailored to your unique investor profile. To add an extra layer of protection, we’ve built in multiple safety protocols to ensure every action stays within strict guidelines.

So, there’s no need to worry – AI isn’t sentient, and it can’t make its own decisions. It’s just a tool we use to process data and generate smart, reliable investment strategies.

Read more about our technology.

Are there any hidden fees? What’s the actual price?

At alphaAI, we don’t believe in the traditional management fee model. Why should your costs go up as your assets increase?

We charge a single, flat subscription fee. This is the only way we make money. We do not charge account opening fees, minimum account fees, withdrawal fees, or account closing fees.

At alphaAI, our mission is to make sophisticated investment strategies accessible to everyone! We pride ourselves in our affordable and transparent pricing.

Learn more about our pricing.

Is alphaAI really free up to $1,000?

Yes, alphaAI is 100% free up to $1,000! You worked hard for your money, and we want you to make the most informed decision on where to invest it. Try alphaAI out by starting off small. Get to know our platform and how our Investment AI works. Increase your capital if and when you feel comfortable. You pay only when the value of your account exceeds $1,000.

Learn more about our pricing.

What is the minimum account size?

Get started with as little as $100!

How is alphaAI different from other roboadvisors?

alphaAI is the only roboadvisor that adjusts your portfolio to the markets in real-time. Other roboadvisors use a purely passive investment approach, which leaves you unable to take advantage of market trends.

At alphaAI, we use responsive investment strategies to manage your risk. The idea is simple: When the market looks good, we invest more to help you earn more. When the market seems risky, we invest less to help protect your money.

Read more about the alphaAI difference.

What is alphaAI’s investment philosophy? How do you control risk and drawdowns?

Our goal is simple: deliver better risk-adjusted returns than the market. 

‍Our AI system adjusts your strategy to your unique investor profile and risk tolerance. We adapt your portfolio’s risk level to the markets in real time, helping keep your portfolio’s volatility and drawdowns within your defined acceptable range.

Read more about our investment philosophy.

Why does alphaAI focus on leveraged ETFs? Aren’t they highly risky?

We focus on leveraged ETFs because they have the potential for big returns. For example, TQQQ has delivered an average return of 41% per year since it started. That’s the kind of growth that gets us excited — and if it excites you too, you’re exactly the type of client we’re built for.  

But it’s important to understand both sides of the story. While TQQQ has delivered strong long-term results, it also lost 80% in 2022, which is completely unacceptable from an investment standpoint. That’s exactly the kind of risk we work hard to manage. Our main focus is protecting you from those big losses by using automated tools to adjust how much of your portfolio is invested based on market conditions and your personal risk tolerance.

To give you some perspective, the S&P 500 has an average annual volatility of 20% — think of volatility as a way to measure how much risk you’re taking. With our technology, you decide how much risk you’re comfortable with — less, more, or about the same as the S&P 500 — and our AI takes care of the rest to keep your portfolio on track, with the goal of delivering better returns than the level of risk taken on.

Learn about why loss minimization is the key to building wealth.

How hands-on or off is alphaAI?

alphaAI is completely hands-off – set it and forget it!

All you have to do is set your investor profile and customize your strategies. After that, we take care of everything for you. We automatically make trades and manage your portfolio’s risk in response to market conditions. Our leading-edge AI system stays on top of the market so you don’t have to. Rest easy knowing that regardless of what the market does, we are responding in the best way for you and your financial goals. 

Read more about how the alphaAI process works.

What assets can I invest in through alphaAI?

Our strategies are optimized for ETFs, including leveraged and inverse ETFs. We will be adding additional asset classes in the future.

Learn more about ETFs and how they could help you achieve your investment goals.

Still have questions?

Contact us for more information or assistance.

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