Top1000Funds.com

Old Mutual SuperFund on COVID and ESG

Hugh Hacking from South Africa's Old Mutual SuperFund refects on the impact of the pandemic on the fund and the importance of ESG integration in its externally managed portfolio.

Sarah RundellFebruary 25, 2021

Cost disclosure distorts reality

The Global Pension Transparency Benchmark (GPTB) measured four factors in its assessment of transparency of pension fund disclosures, here Amanda White looks specifically at the level of cost transparency across pension funds globally.

Global Pension Transparency Benchmark

Much Ado About Transparency

Global Pension Transparency Benchmark advisory board member Lorelei Graye, says the benchmark combined with better data standards for incoming reporting will usher in more constructive transparency.

Global Pension Transparency Benchmark

GPTB: The funds that stood out

The Global Pension Transparency Benchmark revealed the need for much improved transparency among pension fund public disclosures across the globe. But there were some notable best practice examples among pension funds globally. So who were they?

Global Pension Transparency Benchmark

Benchmarking is a filter for excellence

Effective benchmarking separates the wheat from the chaff in pension management, according to Keith Ambachtsheer who argues the Top1000funds.com /CEM Benchmarking Global Pension Transparency Benchmark will help reduce the material ‘saying-doing’ gap in the global pension industry.

Governance

GPTB highlights transparency gaps

The Global Pension Transparency Benchmark has revealed the need for serious improvement in pension transparency across the globe.

Amanda WhiteFebruary 17, 2021

Governance

Benchmark will help build trust

Transparency is an important link in improving pension delivery, and the Global Pension Transparency Benchmark will help lift transparency standards and ultimately trust in pension institutions, according to its advisory board.

Amanda WhiteFebruary 17, 2021

Editorial

Remembering David Villa

David Villa, executive director and chief investment officer of the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, passed away on the weekend. Amanda White reflects on his legacy.

Amanda WhiteFebruary 16, 2021

Sustainability

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Sustainability

CalSTRS takes on ExxonMobil

The $255 billion Californian pension fund, CalSTRS, has embarked on a new era of “activist stewardship” which will see it take on large companies such as Exxon Mobil which have not responded to shareholder engagement.

Amanda WhiteFebruary 11, 2021

Sustainability

SWFs need to move on climate

Sovereign wealth funds need to take immediate action to mitigate the effects of climate change, according to a first of its kind survey of sovereign wealth funds.

Amanda WhiteFebruary 9, 2021

Sustainability

Behind OTPP’s net zero 2050 plan

Ontario Teachers' has launched its plan to reach net-zero portfolio emissions by 2050, the culmination of a decade of work by the fund in addressing climate change. Amanda White looks at the fund’s climate journey, which has significant lessons for other funds looking to move to net zero.

Amanda WhiteFebruary 9, 2021

Sustainability

A new era of ESG under Biden

Against all odds, there is an air of optimism in 2021. We have entered a new era in US politics, and the inauguration of the Biden-Harris administration brings renewed hope for sustainable investment, particularly climate policy. So what can investors expect?

Fiona ReynoldsFebruary 4, 2021

Top1000funds.com celebrates 1000 newsletters. This is what our readers had to say

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“Top1000funds.com is a breath of fresh air in terms circulating stories that encompass new ideas and original thinking to keep us all abreast of the ideas that matters to us in the asset management industry in general and asset allocation spheres. I thank you for that.”

Hareb Masood Al-Darmaki

deputy chair of investment committee; advisor to the managing director, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority

“Congratulations to Amanda and the team on this milestone. Your timely and relevant articles consistently offer thoughtful insights about the industry, and I look forward to seeing what the next era of investing will bring.”

Rebecca Fender

head of the Future of Finance Initiative, CFA Institute

“Accurate, authoritative, informative and readable. Top1000funds.com is everything a specialised industry publication should be. Congratulations on your 1000th issue.”

Fiona Reynolds

chief executive, PRI

“Top1000funds is the pre-eminent source for news and analysis on global issues of consequence to long-term investors. The focus is spot on. It is my go-to reference for what’s happening in our industry and what’s to come.”

Barbara Zvan

former chief risk and strategy officer, Ontario Teachers Pension Plan

“Top1000funds.com is one of the best on-line sources for learning what my peers around the world are thinking and doing to allocate capital. It’s essential reading!”

Mark Walker

CIO, Coal Pension Trustees (United Kingdom)

“I find Top1000funds.com to be a useful, must-read source of information regarding developments within the institutional investment industry. Its global reach provides a variety of perspectives which aids the practitioner to navigate the challenges faced when managing a portfolio.”

Mansco Perry

executive director and chief investment officer, Minnesota State Board of Investment (United States)

“The Top1000funds.com newsletter is an excellent read for CIOs. From my perspective, the newsletter provides important insights on how our global peers are innovating and changing the way they go about investing in order to drive better outcomes for stakeholders.”

Kristian Fok

chief investment officer, Cbus (Australia)

“Top1000funds.com always provides a thorough analysis of the best practices in the investment industry around the planet. This is a unique way to have such a perspective and there is always some insights we can all benefit from. The publication deserves a lot of credit for such work.”

Frederic Samama

head of responsible investment, Amundi (France)

“Top1000funds.com consistently provides thorough, reliable and insightful information about how global assets owners are navigating an increasingly complex investment landscape.”

Janine Guillot

chief executive, SASB (United States)

“Top1000funds.com provides a great mix of stories that are of interest to asset owners and those who work with them, covering both investment topics and organisational ones. While aimed at “the world’s largest institutional investors,” the articles are relevant to all kinds of asset owners, as well as professionals at other investment organisations.”

Tom Brakke

TJB Research (United States)

“The Top1000funds.com newsletter has become a very powerful source of information for the community of asset owners around the world. It is relevant and deep. I’ve known Amanda White for more than a decade now, she probably has the deepest understanding of the topics that are of interest to asset owners in the field globally.”

Jaap van Dam

principal director investment strategy, PGGM; and author of Achieving Investment Excellence (The Netherlands)

“I really enjoy reading Top1000funds.com articles for my reference in investment. I would describe it as a kind of lighthouse when I was lost in turbulent market situation.”

Dong Hun Jang

CIO, POBA (Korea)

“Top1000funds.com produces high quality and thoughtful journalism that frequently aids my thinking”

Tim Hodgson

co-head, Thinking Ahead Group

INVESTOR PROFILE

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Investor Profile

BpfBOUW: The importance of hedge funds

Hedge funds are getting a bad press again, but for Dutch fund BpfBOUW the latest skirmish simply underscores their importance in a portfolio as Erik Hulshof, trustee and chair of the investment committee explains.

Sarah RundellFebruary 15, 2021

Investor Profile

CalPERS: Lessons from CIO departure

Amanda WhiteFebruary 2, 2021

Investor Profile

Previ invests abroad as pandemic bites

Sarah RundellJanuary 28, 2021

Investor Profile

Alecta sees real estate opportunities

Sarah RundellJanuary 26, 2021

FIDUCIARY INVESTORS PODCAST SERIES

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Fiduciary Investors Series

In conversation with Simon Pilcher, USS

Amanda WhiteNovember 13, 2020

Fiduciary Investors Series

USS on a sustainable sustainability program

In this Fiduciary Investors Series podcast Amanda White speaks to Simon Pilcher the chief executive of USS Investment Management, which manages assets for USS, the largest private pension scheme in the UK about the complexity of a sustainable strategy – i

November 13, 2020

Fiduciary Investors Series

What it would take to actually make America great again

With only a few days before the US election Amanda White speaks with Stephen Kotkin, the John P Birkelund Professor in History and International Affairs at Princeton University, about what it would take to actually make America great again. Kotkin, an ex

October 30, 2020

Fiduciary Investors Series

Liability driven investing 2.0: How HOOPP is evolving its investment strategy

In this Fiduciary Investors Series podcast, Amanda White talks to Jeff Wendling, chief executive of HOOPP – the C$94 billion Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan. In 2007, HOOPP moved to a liability driven investing approach, which included a large allocation to bonds and internal management. In a very different interest rate environment it is now exploring if that is still a relevant approach.

Ghost Top1000October 27, 2020

SUSTAINABILITY 2020 DIGITAL EVENT: A PLANET IN TROUBLE

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articleSustainability Digital 2020

China ESG risk: the next unknown

One of the most important, upcoming challenges at CalSTRS is how the fund should evaluate Chinese investments from a human capital and environmental standpoint, says Chris Ailman, chief investment officer at the giant pension fund.

Sarah RundellSeptember 25, 2020

articleSustainability Digital 2020

AO talk manager selection and data gap

Discussing how they integrate sustainability across their portfolios investors at New York State Common Fund, PKA, and TCorp, highlight the importance of manager selection and the challenge of the data gap.

Sarah RundellSeptember 24, 2020

articleSustainability Digital 2020

PRI and the road ahead

The PRI will focus on a number of key areas in the years ahead including helping signatories invest in line with the SDGs and social issues, and pushing for more engagement. But it will also be asking for increased accountability amongst its signatories.

Sarah RundellSeptember 23, 2020

articleSustainability Digital 2020

Prepare portfolios for tipping point

Political and social systems, like physical landscapes, have non-linear dynamics that suddenly reach tipping points after which there is no going back. Investors should ready their portfolios, urges Professor Cameron Hepburn, Professor of Environmental Economics at the University of Oxford.

Sarah RundellSeptember 23, 2020

articleSustainability Digital 2020

CEOs: Don’t ignore sustainability

Unilever’s former CEO Paul Polman advises CEOs pushing sustainability to treat investors and the financial markets as allies – and ignore sustainability at their peril. "You will be voted out", he warns.

Sarah RundellSeptember 22, 2020

Asset Allocation

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Asset Allocation

USS takes advantage of dislocations

The largest single pension scheme in the United Kingdom, USS, took advantage of the dislocation due to COVID in 2020 and has bought credit assets and increased inflation and interest rate hedging.

Amanda WhiteJanuary 14, 2021

articleAsset allocation

OTPP, SSGA and USS reflect on the future

Three investors reflect on the what lies ahead highlighting a buoyant 2021 but challenges beyond. Their suggestions include allocations to real assets and diversifying out of traditional fixed income as they navigate portfolio construction considerations in a new investment paradigm.

Sarah RundellDecember 16, 2020

articleMacro-economic outlook

NZ Super debates currency risk

NZ Super's recent five-year reference portfolio review saw much debate over currency risk, with the discussion elevating to the board - an unusual situation for the fund whose internal IC usually makes recommendations to the board.

Amanda WhiteNovember 25, 2020

articleAsset allocation

Students show how to integrate impact

As impact investing gains momentum, the winning entries of a McGill University international investment challenge have shown the pension industry a thing or two about how to holistically tackle a triple mandate that includes impact.

Amanda WhiteNovember 10, 2020