Tax Efficiency

Equity investments are subject to market risk, which means that the value of the securities in which it invests may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies, particular sectors and/or general economic conditions. Different investment styles (e.g., “growth” and “value”) tend to shift in and out of favor, and, at times, the strategy may underperform other strategies that invest in similar asset classes. The market capitalization of a company may also involve greater risks (e.g. "small" or "mid" cap companies) than those associated with larger, more established companies and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements, in addition to lower liquidity.

Investments in fixed income securities are subject to the risks associated with debt securities generally, including credit, liquidity, interest rate, prepayment and extension risk. Bond prices fluctuate inversely to changes in interest rates. Therefore, a general rise in interest rates can result in the decline in the bond’s price.  The value of securities with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than securities with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate securities may decline in value if interest rates do not move as expected. Conversely, variable and floating rate securities will not generally rise in value if market interest rates decline. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer will default on payments of interest and principal. Credit risk is higher when investing in high yield bonds, also known as junk bonds. Prepayment risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may pay off principal more quickly than originally anticipated. Extension risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may pay off principal more slowly than originally anticipated. All fixed income investments may be worth less than their original cost upon redemption or maturity.

Municipal securities are subject to credit/default risk and interest rate risk and may be more sensitive to adverse economic, business, political, environmental, or other developments if it invests a substantial portion of its assets in the bonds of similar projects or in particular types of municipal securities. While interest earned on municipal securities is generally not subject to federal tax, any interest earned on taxable municipal securities is fully taxable at the federal level and may be subject to tax at the state level.

Tax Considerations

The strategy may result in adverse tax consequences for the client including, but not limited to, wash sales. Under the wash sale rules, a loss from the sale of shares of stock or securities is disallowed if the taxpayer acquires, or enters into a contract or option to acquire, “substantially identical” stock or securities within 30 days before or after the sale. GSAM may intentionally engage in wash sales when it believes that the trades are beneficial for the client to do so. In addition, GSAM may be unable to avoid wash sales in certain circumstances given uncertainty around the “substantially identical” standard. For example, there is considerable uncertainty around applying a “substantial overlap test” to evaluate whether certain mutual funds or equity baskets are “substantially identical” to each other, the treatment of unrelated issuers engaged in a merger or acquisition, the treatment of convertible preferred equity and/or the treatment of contracts or options to acquire stock or securities. In addition, data used for portfolio management may be incomplete, will be limited to information regarding the strategy account, and will not include information regarding positions held or transactions executed outside of the strategy account including other accounts managed by Goldman Sachs or its affiliates. Transactions in two or more accounts that are deemed to be related under the relevant tax rules and regulations (“related accounts”) may be subject to the wash sales rules that disallow or defer the recognition of losses. GSAM will generally only consider positions and transactions in your Account on a standalone basis when executing the strategy. If you instruct us to treat certain accounts as related for tax purposes, GSAM may take this instruction into account in its investment management process in order to reduce wash sales across the related accounts. GSAM relies on the information provided by clients or their advisers with respect to a client’s related accounts in order to limit the likelihood of wash sales from trades executed in the strategy account and related accounts. As a result, portfolio management decisions may be based on incomplete information. To the extent that one or more accounts are managed as related for tax purposes, GSAM may limit trading across those accounts to avoid wash sales which may result in less loss harvesting for the accounts. The US tax code allows capital losses to be carried forward indefinitely until portfolio is bequeathed. The cost basis of a tax loss harvesting portfolio is driven down due to the realization of capital losses, creating a contingent tax liability. For investors who will eventually bequest their tax loss harvesting portfolio to charity or to their heirs upon death, taxes on the unrealized gains are generally avoided. However, if the tax loss harvesting portfolio is liquidated, the investor will pay taxes on the realized gains upon liquidation.

It is the responsibility of the custodian, administrator or such other third party appointed by the client, to obtain accurate and reliable information concerning the valuation of any securities which are comprised in the portfolio. Broker tax reporting to clients may not identify all transactions that could be viewed as a wash sales. It is the responsibility of the client’s independent tax advisor to identify wash sales in the client’s portfolio. All clients are strongly urged to discuss the tax implications of any transactions, including any potential wash sales, with their independent tax adviser.

Goldman Sachs does not provide legal, tax or accounting advice, unless explicitly agreed between you and Goldman Sachs (generally through certain services offered only to clients of Private Wealth Management). Any statement contained in this presentation concerning U.S. tax matters is not intended to be used and may not be used for the purpose of avoiding penalties imposed on the relevant taxpayer. Investors should be aware that a determination of the tax consequences to them should take into account their specific circumstances and that the tax law is subject to change in the future or retroactively and investors are strongly urged to consult with their own tax advisor regarding any potential strategy, investment or transaction.

By funding an account with a security in-kind (a “In-Kind Security”), unless a client has directed GSAM otherwise in writing, GSAM assumes (i) an In-Kind Security is not subject to any restrictions on sale and (ii) the client is not subject to Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with respect to an In-Kind Security. Client is responsible for keeping GSAM informed of any changes to such information.

THIS MATERIAL DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT WOULD BE UNAUTHORIZED OR UNLAWFUL TO DO SO.

Prospective investors should inform themselves as to any applicable legal requirements and taxation and exchange control regulations in the countries of their citizenship, residence or domicile which might be relevant.

This material is provided for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities. This material is not intended to be used as a general guide to investing, or as a source of any specific investment recommendations, and makes no implied or express recommendations concerning the manner in which any client’s account should or would be handled, as appropriate investment strategies depend upon the client’s investment objectives.

Past performance does not guarantee future results, which may vary. The value of investments and the income derived from investments will fluctuate and can go down as well as up. A loss of principal may occur. 

The portfolio risk management process includes an effort to monitor and manage risk, but does not imply low risk.

Goldman Sachs does not provide legal, tax or accounting advice, unless explicitly agreed between you and Goldman Sachs (generally through certain services offered only to clients of Private Wealth Management). Any statement contained in this presentation concerning U.S. tax matters is not intended or written to be used and cannot be used for the purpose of avoiding penalties imposed on the relevant taxpayer. Notwithstanding anything in this document to the contrary, and except as required to enable compliance with applicable securities law, you may disclose to any person the US federal and state income tax treatment and tax structure of the transaction and all materials of any kind (including tax opinions and other tax analyses) that are provided to you relating to such tax treatment and tax structure, without Goldman Sachs imposing any limitation of any kind. Investors should be aware that a determination of the tax consequences to them should take into account their specific circumstances and that the tax law is subject to change in the future or retroactively and investors are strongly urged to consult with their own tax advisor regarding any potential strategy, investment or transaction.

Views and opinions expressed are for informational purposes only and do not constitute a recommendation by Goldman Sachs Asset Management to buy, sell, or hold any security. Views and opinions are current as of the date of this publication and may be subject to change, they should not be construed as investment advice.

There is no guarantee that objectives will be met.

Diversification does not protect an investor from market risk and does not ensure a profit.