Method and system for creating and operating an investable hedge fund index fund

• US 7,085,738 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2002
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: F Poszat Hu LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Protege Partners, LLC
• Inventors: Tarrant, Jeffrey G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, Alain L.
• Application Number:
  US10/091,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20030172026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,610 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35, 705/36
• US Class Current: 705/36.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis

Abstract

A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of creating and managing an index fund based on an index of funds of hedge funds, comprising steps of (a) identifying potential funds for an index of funds of hedge funds; (b) identifying which of the potential funds meet specific criteria selected so as to minimize biases comprising selection bias and survivorship bias; (c) creating an index by indexing funds identified as meeting the criteria; (d) acquiring a portfolio of funds in the index; and (e) allocating capital to funds in the portfolio.

The invention also comprises software to perform the steps of the method described above. In particular, the invention comprises software wherein data regarding potential funds is stored in a database according to object role modeling. A preferred database structure is described.

Claims

1. A system for creating and managing an index fund based on an index of funds of hedge funds, comprising:

a database storing potential funds for an index of funds of hedge funds; and

a processing unit in communication with said database, the processing unit operative to;

identify which of the potential funds meet specific criteria selected so as to minimize biases comprising selection bias and survivorship bias;

create an index by indexing funds identified as meeting the criteria;

construct a portfolio of funds in the index; and

allocate capital to funds in the portfolio.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the biases minimized comprise selection bias.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein the biases minimized comprise survivorship bias.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein the potential funds are identified by searching available commercial databases.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein the specific criteria comprise fund size.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein the specific criteria comprise fund diversification.

7. A system as in claim 1, wherein the specific criteria comprise fund track record.

8. A system as in claim 1, wherein the specific criteria comprise reasonableness of fees charged.

9. A system as in claim 1, wherein the specific criteria comprise length of fund history.

10. A system as in claim 1, wherein the specific criteria comprise concentration criteria.

11. A system as in claim 1, wherein the specific criteria comprise resemblance of a fund or group of funds to a closed fund.

12. A system as in claim 1, wherein capital is allocated to funds equally across funds.

13. A system as in claim 1, wherein capital is allocated to funds according to fund size.

14. A system as in claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further operative to rebalance the portfolio periodically.

15. A system as in claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further operative to negotiate fee discounts sufficient to enable a manager of the index fund to charge fees to investors that are at the same level as if the investors had invested in a fund of hedge funds.

16. A system as in claim 1, wherein data regarding potential funds is stored in the database according to object role modeling.