I had a moment this week where I was utterly absorbed by how indulgent my job can be. I interviewed Tim Hodgson, head of the Thinking Ahead Group at Towers Watson. He gets paid to think, and I was getting paid to talk to him about thinking. Anyway, it’s had a knock-on effect and ever since I’ve been mulling the origination of ideas.
Idaho’s simplicity pays off
The best return in 25 years for the Public Employee System of Idaho is testament to its investment simplicity – a basic asset mix, strict rebalancing, few manager relationships and limited internal investment staff – and proof that the appropriate investment structure is very idiosyncratic.
Internal governance mechanisms and pension fund performance
This study provides new empirical evidence on the impact of board structure, as an internal governance mechanism, on defined-contribution pension fund performance. It shows the composition of the board and the motivation of the board members are important in explaining pension fund performance.
Colorado fund stokes fire of Congressional grilling of ratings agencies
Premature efforts to eliminate the use of credit ratings agencies without an adequate alternative would increase risk to investors, warned Gregory Smith, the chief operating officer of the Public Employee’ Retirement Association of Colorado (PERA).
Investors miss emerging opportunities post-crisis
The financial crisis and subsequent fiscal adjustments and deleveraging in developed markets has enhanced the case for emerging market investing, says global investment strategist and specialist in emerging markets at State Street Global Advisors, George Hoguet, but investors are not taking advantage of the complete opportunity set.
GIC cuts developed allocations as growth slows
The Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) will continue to increase its allocation to emerging economies and cut back on its exposure to developed markets because of concerns over slowing growth.
