Fairfax County Employees’ Retirement System says its allocation to digital assets has become the best-performing investment in the fund’s history. The $6.3 billion pension plan first invested in blockchain infrastructure and digital assets through venture funds in 2019, and early distributions are now beginning to arrive.
The largest pension fund in the United States, the $469 billion CalPERS, is in the middle of an asset liability modelling exercise to set a new asset allocation by June 2022. Chief executive Marcie Frost says it’s the most significant decision the board makes with regard to the investment portfolio and that achieving a return target of 6.8 per will require “pushing everyone’s risk appetite”.
In the first story of an exclusive series examining investment portfolio innovation at CalPERS, Amanda White looks at the global equities portfolio where the universe of stocks was recently halved.
APG, the biggest pension provider in Europe, is positioning itself as a digital pioneer with investment in the large-scale use of data, workflow automation and digital analytical platforms. A leader in funds management, most notably sustainability, it is once again a frontrunner by embracing technology.
Indiana PRS’ five-year asset liability study has resulted in a newly approved target rate of return that CIO Scott Davis dubs one of the most realistic in the country, and a radically different asset allocation. Next on the agenda is a research project examining the fund’s sources of alpha which could have big implications for how it works with managers.
The Florida State Board of Administration’s (SBA) commitment to venture capital over many decades has been a contributor to the fund's performance. Last year the team had 340 meetings and calls, reviewed 109 funds, carried out due diligence on 26 and invested in three. Successful IPOs and SPACs, plus realisations from investments made in 2013/14, have led to a standout performance.
The £9.2 billion portfolio managed for the Church Commissioners for England has returned 9.7 per cent over 10 years through a focus on sustainability and a willingness to try things early, such as forestry and venture capital. Amanda White spoke to CIO Tom Joy about where the fund looks for alpha and the need for a non-traditional allocation.
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