The pace of change in AI models poses a significant challenge to the due diligence frameworks employed by asset owners, whose own ability to adapt is being outstripped by the technological advancements they’re being asked to assess.
COVID-19 has exacerbated retirement insecurity and governments need to use this as an opportunity to examine their system inadequacies and make improvements according to David Knox, partner at Mercer and author of the annual Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension index which measures adequacy, sustainability and integrity of 39 retirement systems.
Two of the world’s largest pension funds, the $626 billion Dutch APG and the $660 billion National Pension Service of South Korea (NPS), have joined forces in a partnership to invest in private assets including infrastructure and private real estate.
Albourne Partners, an advocate for fee transparency and flexibility, shows that managers are being rewarded for fee innovation. In a podcast conversation with Amanda White, CEO John Claisse describes the 1 or 30 structure he worked on with Texas Teachers that has revolutionised the conversation around fees.
Pension funds need a generation of investment professionals that are willing to be brave and less conservative than their predecessors if they are to move to the systems level perspectives on investment that is required for better returns and societal outcomes.
Pension funds around the globe should be putting their high-risk capital towards supporting venture funds that have a track record of seeing value in people, according to Vivienne Ming, Silicon Valley technologist, entrepreneur and theoretical neuroscientist. Ming believes that AI can be used to solve poverty, mental health, inequality and even predict who will spread COVID-19. She says technology can make all of our lives better.
Michelle Ostermann, managing director of investments at the £30 billion Railpen discusses the pension fund's continued evolution including ongoing organisational change, more assets in-house, a new investment decision making framework, and an increased allocation to private assets.
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