This research examines the extent to which decision-making by pension fund trustees is affected by behavioural biases, by using a vignette-method field experiment among Dutch trustees. It finds that trustees display choices that accord with the phenomenon of loss aversion and allow their choices to be affected by the forces of social comparison: the reserve position of their fund compared to the position of others has siginificant influence in choosing a pension fund policy mix.

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The $16.3 billion Yale endowment has increased its long-term allocation to private equity from 21 to 26 per cent, and increased the real assets exposure from 29 to 37 per cent.

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The Yale endowment has a substantial and growing exposure to green investments with allocations in timberland, emerging markets and venture capital including more than $100 million in cleantech.

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Bringing externally managed funds under the guidance of the internal investment team is a key component of OMERS’ growth plans, with the fund moving to having more direct control over its investments, according to new chief investment officer, Michael Latimer.

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The benefits of risk parity portfolios are largely an illusion and contain hidden risks such as confusing volatility with risk and including asset classes that have significant negative skew, which combined with leverage could be painful for investors, according to director of asset allocation at GMO, Ben Inker.

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Non-executive directors’ pay should consist solely of a combination of a cash retainer and equity-based remuneration, according to the International Corporate Governance Network’s new guidelines for non-executive director pay crafted over the past several years in consultation with, and on behalf of, many of the largest global shareowners.

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