Nick Wade: Driving from Beijing to Paris and stories in risk modelling

I chat with Nick, Director of Asia Pacific Marketing at Northfield Information Services, about the bubbles we live in socially, philosophically and professionally. Risk modelling has evolved to mirror active management and yet entails residual dogma and structural flaws in delivery and execution. In this fascinating conversation we unpack where AI will take financial services, the importance of time horizons and the better questions asset owners need to ask themselves in order to understand their portfolios.

Nothing on this podcast is to be considered investment advice or a recommendation. No investment decision or activity should be undertaken without first seeking qualified and professional advice.

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Finland’s Elo: Larger equity allocations promise new media scrutiny

Finland’s Elo: Larger equity allocations promise new media scrutiny

As Finland's pension funds prepare to increase their equity allocations to unprecedented levels compared to global peers, they must also navigate a new and unfamiliar risk. Elo's chief investment officer Jonna Ryhänen explains the fund's investment approach going forward and how it will manage stakeholder and media scrutiny as they react to swinging volatility and returns.

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Finland’s Ilmarinen prepares to increase risk ahead of new pension rules

Ilmarinen, Finland’s €63 billion ($73 billion) pension insurer, is laying the ground to significantly increase its equity allocation ahead of new pension rules in the country. CIO Mikko Mursula is preparing for a sharp increase in volatility of annual returns and the enhanced role and importance of diversifying the portfolio.

Temasek chases core-plus infra, creates private credit offshoot

The $338 billion Singapore state investor Temasek is contemplating allocating more capital to core-plus infrastructure projects, especially those related to data centres, energy transition and ageing facilities. The fund also spun out a standalone private credit platform called Aranda from its in-house credit team last fiscal year. 

North Carolina TSERS: Taxpayers deserve better in governance overhaul too

Ditching the sole trustee for a five-person board will help bring North Carolina’s pension funds out of enduringly weak performance by encouraging risk taking, says treasurer Brad Briner, whose experience includes managing Mike Bloomberg’s money. Sarah Rundell spoke to the treasurer about the new governance and investment overhaul.

GPIF pins active equity overhaul on ‘scientific’ manager selection

A quest for manager and fund strategy diversification has led the world's largest pension fund, Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund, to reach a decade-high allocation to active global stocks. Its active equity portfolio now consists of 103 funds, increasing fivefold compared to 2020 when it only invested in 20.

Japan University Fund expands active allocation guided by risk factors

The $77 billion Japan University Fund is stepping up active strategies and introducing country-specific passive allocations as the young endowment, established only in 2022, builds out the policy portfolio. Co-CIO and the head of global investment department Naoya Sugimoto speaks about JUF's vision and manager expectations.

UPP: Canadian investor looks outside US markets

Canada's University Pension Plan is eyeing new risks and opportunities triggered by policies from the Trump administration, like additional taxes for US investments and a surge of public spending on defence and infrastructure in Germany. It is also fine-tuning its roster of active managers.

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