Single-asset simplification is how a strategy that holds exactly one instrument skips allocation altogether: with a single holding there is nothing to weight against, so all of the strategy's invested capital goes to that one instrument. Allocation only becomes a real choice once there are two or more things to split capital between.
Also seen as: trivial allocation, "nothing to allocate"
How does Fincanva handle it?
- With exactly one instrument and no Risk-Off split, the allocation method picker and the per-method weighting controls are not shown — the weight is fixed at 100% of the invested capital — see invested portion for what that share is and what stays in cash.
- Adding a second instrument, or enabling a Risk-Off split, restores the full allocation surface.
- Sizing stays available in the one-instrument case: leverage scales the position, it does not weight it against anything. In Step by step, a Single instrument strategy's Allocation chapter is that sizing on one page, titled "How much leverage do you use?", with no goal and no method to choose.
Why does a one-instrument strategy skip allocation?
An allocation method answers "how much of each?", and with one instrument the answer is fixed before you start. The app says so directly: where the method picker would be, the Allocation surface shows "Nothing to allocate yet", explained as "With one instrument and no Risk-Off split, 100% of capital goes to that instrument. Add more instruments or enable a Risk-Off split to make allocation meaningful." The Single instrument strategy type takes the same shortcut in Step by step, which requires only Asset selection and Summary — see Strategy type.
When does allocation matter again for one instrument?
Two things bring it back. Enabling a Risk-Off split makes allocation meaningful even with a single holding, because Risk-On and Risk-Off are separate profiles and the Risk-Off profile needs a method of its own — see risk conditions. Separately, sizing is never skipped: the Leverage control ("Multiplier on position sizes. 1.00 = no leverage. Range 0.00 – 3.00.") still applies, because how much exposure to take is a different question from how to split it.
What does it look like in practice?
You build a Single instrument strategy on one equity ETP. Step by step never requires a weighting method, and the editor shows "Nothing to allocate yet" where the picker would be — the instrument holds 100% of the invested capital by construction, and weight drift has nothing to drift against. You then add a second ETP: the method picker appears, and the strategy now needs a rule to decide the split. Nothing about the first version was incomplete — there was only ever one possible answer.