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Case Study

Case Study: Rejuvenating Tax Management

Unlock expanded tax‑loss harvesting potential in mature portfolios through a long/short approach designed to support ongoing equity exposure and enhance after‑tax outcomes across changing market environments.

CLIENT CHALLENGE

 

Many taxable equity portfolios become ossified over time, accumulating unrealized gains that limit the effectiveness of traditional long only tax loss harvesting. As portfolios mature, opportunities to realize losses may decline, particularly in rising markets reducing an investor’s ability to actively manage after tax outcomes.

 

CLIENT PROFILE

 

  • Hold taxable equity portfolios with significant embedded gains
  • Continue to have a need for use of losses from gains generated from other investments
  • Seek to reinvigorate tax loss harvesting while maintaining equity exposure
  • Can tolerate leverage and short exposure
  • Prioritize after tax efficiency as a complement to long term growth objectives

 

Common use cases include older SMAs or direct indexing portfolios and all cash funded accounts seeking expanded tax flexibility.

NORTHERN TRUST ASSET MANAGEMENT (NTAM) INVESTMENT PROCESS

 

NTAM extends a traditional equity portfolio to 130% long and 30% (or higher levels), increasing total gross exposure while targeting market like net exposure to support tax‑loss harvesting and the potential for improved pre‑ and after‑tax outcomes.

 

  • Systematic security selection using proprietary quantitative signals
  • High conviction long positions paired with lower conviction shorts
  • Active tax management across both long and short positions, with disciplined risk controls
  • Ongoing monitoring to balance tax outcomes, tracking error, and portfolio integrity
  • Employs an active stock picking component

 

The result is a portfolio with a higher gross equity exposure, expanding the opportunity set for loss harvesting.

CLIENT BENEFITS

 

  • Expanded loss harvesting potential through increased gross exposure
  • Tax flexibility across market cycles, including both rising and declining markets
  • Continued equity participation with a net exposure aligned to long term objectives
  • Integrated investment and tax discipline within a single, systematic framework

 

Outcomes will vary by investor circumstance, but the strategy is designed to enhance the tools available for ongoing tax management.

Learn more about our
tax-advantaged long/short strategies

Contact us or your NTAM senior market leader.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The case studies presented are intended to illustrate products and services available at Northern Trust. They do not necessarily represent experiences of other clients. Unless apparent from the context, all statements herein represent NTAM’s opinions. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Individual results may vary.

This content may not be edited, altered, revised, paraphrased, or otherwise modified without the prior written permission of Northern Trust Asset Management (NTAM). The information contained herein is intended for use with current or prospective clients of Northern Trust Investments, Inc (NTI) or its affiliates. The information is not intended for distribution or use by any person in any jurisdiction where such distribution would be contrary to local law or regulation. NTAM and its affiliates may have positions in and may effect transactions in the markets, contracts and related investments different than described in this information. This information is obtained from sources believed to be reliable, its accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed, and is subject to change. Information does not constitute a recommendation of any investment strategy, is not intended as investment advice and does not take into account all the circumstances of each investor.

This report is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, an offer, solicitation or recommendation with respect to any transaction and should not be treated as legal advice, investment advice or tax advice. Recipients should not rely upon this information as a substitute for obtaining specific legal or tax advice from their own professional legal or tax advisors. References to specific securities and their issuers are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended and should not be interpreted as recommendations to purchase or sell such securities. Indices and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Information is subject to change based on market or other conditions.

All securities investing and trading activities risk the loss of capital. Each portfolio is subject to substantial risks including market risks, strategy risks, advisor risk, and risks with respect to its investment in other structures. There can be no assurance that any portfolio investment objectives will be achieved, or that any investment will achieve profits or avoid incurring substantial losses. No investment strategy or risk management technique can guarantee returns or eliminate risk in any market environment. Risk controls and models do not promise any level of performance or guarantee against loss of principal. Any discussion of risk management is intended to describe NTAM’s efforts to monitor and manage risk but does not imply low risk.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Performance returns and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate. Performance returns contained herein are subject to revision by NTAM. Comparative indices shown are provided as an indication of the performance of a particular segment of the capital markets and/or alternative strategies in general. Index performance returns do not reflect any management fees, transaction costs or expenses. It is not possible to invest directly in any index. Net performance returns are reduced by investment management fees and other expenses relating to the management of the account. Gross performance returns contained herein include reinvestment of dividends and other earnings, transaction costs, and all fees and expenses other than investment management fees, unless indicated otherwise. For U.S. NTI prospects or clients, please refer to Part 2a of the Form ADV or consult an NTI representative for additional information on fees.

This information is intended for purposes of NTI and/or its affiliates marketing as providers of the products and services described herein and not to provide any fiduciary investment advice within the meaning of Section 3(21) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA). NTI and/or its affiliates are not undertaking to provide a recommendation or give investment advice in a fiduciary capacity to the recipient of these materials, which are for marketing purposes and are not intended to serve as a primary basis for investment decisions. NTI and/or its affiliates may receive fees and other compensation in connection with the products and services described herein as well as for custody, fund administration, transfer agent, investment operations outsourcing, and other services rendered to various proprietary and third-party investment products and firms that may be the subject of or become associated with the services described herein.

Northern Trust Asset Management is composed of Northern Trust Investments, Inc., Northern Trust Global Investments Limited, Northern Trust Fund Managers (Ireland) Limited, Northern Trust Global Investments Japan, K.K., NT Global Advisors, Inc., 50 South Capital Advisors, LLC, Northern Trust Asset Management Australia Pty Ltd, and investment personnel of The Northern Trust Company of Hong Kong Limited and The Northern Trust Company.

Not FDIC insured | May lose value | No bank guarantee 

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