The financial crisis has placed defined contribution (DC) pension provision firmly under the spotlight. The dramatic falls in fund values observed for most members during 2008 have been drawing attention to the risks inherent in DC pension provision and focusing attention on how employees, employers and plan fiduciaries can better manage their DC pension plans.
America’s two largest pension funds both lost around a quarter of their market value in the fiscal year ended June 30, in what was the biggest ever single year decline for CalPERS.
In his testimony to the US Senate on the regulation of hedge fund and private equity managers, Joe Dear, CIO of CalPERS, said that all managers of US assets should be subject to SEC oversight, and that alternatives should not bear the brunt of blame for the crash, as regulatory shortcomings are now also evident.
The five New York City pension funds selling shares worth $10.8 million in two companies with business ties to Iran have been asked to adopt resolutions for the phased divestment of holdings in eight more companies with ties to the country which, in total, have a market value of more than $141 million.
Investment skill is rare, but it does exist, however investment professionals are neglecting their responsibility to improve and cultivate that skill by lacking the tools to self analyse and improve. Amanda White spoke to Rick Di Mascio, chief executive and founder of Inalytics, about the process of improvement.
The board of CalSTRS, the second biggest fund in the US, has three broad research initiatives for the investment team this year: rethinking active versus passive and the mix of internal and external management; commodities; and liability – driven investments. Chief investment officer, Chris Ailman, spoke to Amanda White.
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