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The cost of bad asset allocation

A study of 300 US pension funds by CEM Benchmarking reinforces the importance of asset allocation, highlighting the performance of asset classes, as well as new evidence on correlations between asset classes. Alex Beath, author of the study, discusses the implications for asset allocation with Amanda White. A CEM Benchmarking study “Asset Allocation and Fund […]
Amanda WhiteOctober 15, 2014
Investor Profile

NEST’s defined contribution lessons

At the end of last year, 47 per cent of global pension assets were in defined contribution structures. As the trend towards defined contribution continues, one of the newest DC funds, the UK’s NEST, has some clear messages on what makes a defined contribution fund work. Chief executive, Tim Jones speaks with Amanda White.   […]
Amanda WhiteSeptember 9, 2014
Investor Profile

PPF looks to hybrids

The Pension Protection Fund was set up nearly a decade ago to protect members of UK defined benefit pension where the sponsor became insolvent.More insurance provider than pension fund it’s risk tolerance is low and its investments conservative. But chief investment officer, Barry Kenneth, says the portfolio is evolving, including a new allocation to hybrids […]
Amanda WhiteJuly 23, 2014
Research

Cost shifting and the freezing of corporate pension plans

This paper, which examines the impact of the trend in the US of corporate funds freezing their defined benefit funds and offering defined contribution plans, shows that net of the increase in total DC contributions, firms save 2.7-3.6 per cent of payroll per year, and over a 10-year horizon they save 3.1 per cent of […]
Amanda WhiteApril 24, 2014
Uncategorised posts

Merton’s message: give up on alpha

Nobel Prize winner, Robert Merton, has thrown down the gauntlet. He claims that by focusing on a retirement income goal he can beat any competitor that is managing a 70:30 portfolio that has wealth accumulation as the goal. Do you dare take him on? The defined contribution pension management industry has it wrong, according to […]
Amanda WhiteDecember 18, 2013
Investor Profile

Conservatism to stay for Norway’s DNB Liv

The $46 billion Norwegian DNB Livforskiring has a conservative strategy but it should not be confused with a static approach. The fund revises the investment strategy of its defined benefit offering on an annual basis.   Norwegian pension investor DNB Livforsikring is set to stick to a conservative investment strategy due to continued regulatory pressures, […]
Dan BillinghamNovember 29, 2013
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