The first step in constructing a well-diversified portfolio is to establish a base Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA). The SAA provides a recommended asset mix that balances an expected return at an expected level of risk. The SAA provides the “bogey” portfolio that can then be tactically shifted based on shorter-term trends and the market outlook. Building a range of SAA portfolios necessitates formulating long-term assumptions about asset class returns, risk, and correlation characteristics as well as key economic and capital market variables. RBC Global Asset Management’s (RBC GAM) process for handling this complex task is described here.