Challenges for Germany’s pension funds

Opportunities exist to improve portfolio efficiency among Germany’s pension funds, but it will create additional governance requirements. The conservatism of the portfolios is seemingly more difficult to move and reflects the higher degree of comfort required by German investors. Head of investments in Germany for Willis Towers Watson argues it is important to note that the short-term comfort this may provide may well come at a long-term cost.

Tough 2020 for Canadian funds: Aon

Now that we’re in the midst of 2020, it might be easy for investors to forget how big a turnaround 2019 actually was for financial markets. One way to look at it is through the Aon Median Solvency Ratio, a quarterly survey that gauges the financial health of an important slice of the institutional investor community, Canadian defined benefit pension plans. Erwan Pirou, Canada CIO for Aon asks whether markets – and, by extension, pension plan solvency – can stage a repeat performance in 2020.

Vinesh Jha: The craft of mining alternative data

I chat with Vinesh, ceo at ExtractAlpha, on the research behind alternative data, stock selection techniques and the expertise required to differentiate signal from noise.

Nothing on this podcast is to be considered investment advice or a recommendatio

Reaction to Coronavirus: Cambridge Assoc

The Wuhan coronavirus is still spreading, but according to Aaron Costello who is regional head, Asia, at Cambridge Associates, investors should stay calm. The virus remains less deadly and more contained than the SARS outbreak of 2002–03. Looking at other epidemics, history suggests that after an initial sharp hit, economies and markets typically recover quickly.

The importance of board education

Art Alfaro is executive director of the Texas Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems, , the largest provider of pension trustee training and continuing education for pension system trustees and administrators in Texas, beelieves the trustees and administrators behind Texas’s 93 retirement systems illustrate how board education pays off.