Back to the future: investors concerns in 2008 resonate today

This issue marks the 400th edition of conexust1f.flywheelstaging.com,  which looks at the strategies and views of the world’s largest asset owners. So what were the concerns and opportunities of investors six years ago, and what are they now?   Since its launch in 2008, the journalists at conexust1f.flywheelstaging.com have written more than 2,000 stories on … Read more

CalPERS grapples with new allocation targets

Implementing the asset allocation changes of a very large portfolio, particularly in private markets, is a conundrum CalPERS is dealing with as it moves its asset allocation and decides how to fill new private market allocations.   In February this year the $283 billion CalPERS investment committee approved a new strategic asset allocation which will … Read more

Smart beta versus smart alpha

With the advent of smart beta it was only a matter of time before the appropriate use of “smart” was analysed and questioned. A paper to be published in the forthcoming summer 2014 issue of The Journal of Portfolio Management looks at the active choices of smart beta strategies and how and when they can … Read more

US funds need paradigm asset allocation shift

US public pension funds are ignoring their liabilities in managing their pension assets, a situation that needs a paradigm shift in thinking and asset allocation to ensure benefits can be paid to beneficiaries. The dialogue about the US public pension funds’ underfunding position continued at the CFA Institute’s annual conference this week, with Ronald Ryan … Read more

Qsuper’s permanent revolution

The evolution of the $43 billion QSuper’s offer to all members is definitely not at an end. In fact, Rosemary Vilgan, chief executive of QSuper, sitting in the board room of QSuper’s on the top floor of its Brisbane office, archly states: “I keep saying to people you should not work here if you do … Read more

International reaction to QSuper’s innovation

Australian fund, QSuper’s creation of eight different investment cohorts for its 440,000 default fund members this month has sparked curiosity and admiration from defined contribution experts in the US, the UK and New Zealand. The investment strategies for each group will be focussed on an estimated retirement outcome for that segment, taking into account the … Read more