Study accounts for TIPS, alternatives

PERS logoThe effects of adding TIPS and alternatives to the existing asset mix are being explored in an asset liability analysis conducted for the $53 billion Oregon Public Employees Retirement System by Strategic Investment Solutions.

A presentation from SIS, which looked at five new asset allocation scenarios adding a 5 per cent alternatives allocation, and between a 0.1 per cent and 11.4 per cent allocation to TIPS, showed all except the most conservative mix achieved the actuarial return without accounting for alpha.

Further, reducing the total equities allocation by nearly 10 per cent, achieved through halving public equities and slightly increasing private equities, together with a 5 per cent and 4 per cent allocation to alternatives and TIPS, would yield the same expected return.

A risk/reward analysis was used to point toward an appropriate level of risk/return with the consultant finding generally the Sharpe ratio, or risk/return efficiency was higher for lower return mixes.

With liquidity analysis, and scenario analysis in inflation, deflation, recession and low-return environments, the conclusion was that the ultimate net cost does not suggest taking less risk.

A July presentation to the investment committee will include defining the ALM analyses, refining a potential asset allocation policy (including new asset classes such as the opportunity portfolio, alternatives and TIPS) and adopting a new asset allocation policy.

Sponsored Content

Asset allocation

Asset class target Mix4-1 Mix4-2 Mix4-3 Mix4-4 Mix4-5 current mix
Public equity 46% 19.8% 21.9% 24.2% 31.4% 39.2% 42.9%
Private equity 16% 18.8% 20.7% 22.9% 24.0% 25.0% 19.8%
Fixed income 27% 36.9% 36.9% 31.5% 28.5% 20.7% 25.7%
Real estate 11% 8.2% 10.1% 12.1% 11.0% 10.0% 9.4%
TIPS 0% 11.4% 5.5% 4.3% 0.1% 0.1% 0%
Alts Port 0% 5.0% 4.8% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 2.2%
Equity 73% 51.7% 57.6% 64.2% 71.4% 79.2% 74.3%
Expected return 8.61% 7.75% 8.08% 8.42% 8.76% 9.09% 8.61%
Std deviation 12.8% 10% 10.9% 11.9% 12.9% 14% 12.8%
Sharpe ratio 0.44 0.47 0.47 0.46 0.45 0.44 0.44

source: Strategic Investment Solutions

Leave a Comment

Sort content by

Gaddafi SWF investees revolt and freeze funds

As tensions in Libya increase, a leading authority on sovereign wealth funds has urged investee entities of the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) to freeze its holdings, until such time as they are needed to rebuild an independent Libya.mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Alaska Permanent looks to emerging markets

The Alaska Permanent Fund Board of Trustees was educated on the changing risk profiles of emerging-market debt at its meeting in February, with chair, Bill Moran, suggesting the asset class could have a greater role in the fund’s portfolio in the future.mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Chinese firm’s advice: forget cap-weighted indexes

Pension funds need to look at building a “new beta system”, according to Dr Henry Zhao (pictured), moving away from traditional global indexes in general and cap-weighted indexes in particular.mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

MSCI invites comment on SRI indexes

MSCI’s proposed global socially responsible indexes are being critiqued by not only MSCI clients but by the wider community as MSCI widens its consultation process for the proposal. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

China-US turbulence threatens smooth sailing

Investors need to build some hedges into their portfolios as uncertainties about the speed and shape of the western world’s economic recovery remain, according to Mercer Investments.mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

State Street goes uber-global

After one year in the job, State Street’s boss, Jay Hooley (pictured), surveys the post-crisis landscape and looks at the trends for investors and fund managers. He spoke with Greg Bright.mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Previous