What Is Portfolio Runoff? Definition, How It Works, and Examples

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Adam Hayes
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Adam Hayes, Ph.D., CFA, is a financial writer with 15+ years Wall Street experience as a derivatives trader. Besides his extensive derivative trading expertise, Adam is an expert in economics and behavioral finance. Adam received his master's in economics from The New School for Social Research and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in sociology. He is a CFA charterholder as well as holding FINRA Series 7, 55 & 63 licenses. He currently researches and teaches economic sociology and the social studies of finance at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

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Updated April 27, 2022
Reviewed by
Charlene Rhinehart
Charlene Rhinehart
Reviewed by Charlene Rhinehart
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Charlene Rhinehart is a CPA , CFE, chair of an Illinois CPA Society committee, and has a degree in accounting and finance from DePaul University.

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What Is Portfolio Runoff?

Portfolio runoff means assets with a finite term are not replaced as they mature.

When the principal invested in a fixed-income security with a set maturity is repaid, the investor must decide whether to reinvest it. When the proceeds from matured bonds are not reinvested, a portfolio can be said to be in runoff.

Key Takeaways

  • Portfolio runoff describes a decline in fixed-term investment assets.
  • Portfolio runoff can occur when proceeds from maturing fixed-term securities are not reinvested.
  • Investment returns decline over time in a portfolio runoff as the asset base generating returns shrinks.
  • Portfolio runoff can allow the Federal Reserve to reduce its balance sheet without selling holdings.

Balance Sheet Runoff

For a bank or lender, portfolio runoff can occur if it can't make new loans quickly enough to replace the repaid ones it made previously. Runoff can also occur when early prepayments are allowed or as defaults occur.

Banks can experience runoff when individuals and businesses withdraw capital to invest in other higher-paying investments, thereby reducing the bank's total capital.

In an effort to reduce portfolio runoff, some loans specify prepayment penalties. These provide additional compensation for the lender if the borrower pays off a loan before the end of its term.

Runoff in Investment Portfolios

Fixed-income investments like asset-backed securities (ABS) and mortgage-backed securities (MBS), usually have a fixed maturity date. For MBS, it would be based on the term of mortgages bundled to make up the security.

If cash flow from mortgage-backed securities is not reinvested, the income the portfolio generates will decline.

Federal Reserve Actions

The Federal Reserve bought Treasury debt and mortgage-backed securities in quantitative easing (QE) programs adopted following the 2008 financial crisis.

To start reducing its balance sheet the Fed doesn't need to sell those securities; it can merely choose not to reinvest some or all of the proceeds as the debt matures and is repaid.

Insurance Portfolio Runoff

Just as a fixed-income investor may choose not to reinvest coupon payments or principal repayments, a reinsurer may choose not to write new policies while waiting for those it previously wrote to expire. Its portfolio would then be in runoff.

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