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

Mubadala grows in 2009

Mubadala Development, the strategic investment arm of the Abu Dhabi government, grew its total assets by 75 per cent to AED88.5 billion ($24.1 billion) in 2009. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Danish ATP on track for 5-year performance

The investment and hedging performance for the first quarter of this year means the DKK 660 billion ($114 billion) Danish ATP is on target to reach its five-year performance objective which will end this year. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

US funds look for more protection offshore

The trend away from US equities and various fixed interest products as interest rates risks increase is expected to continue, according to the latest Global Asset Flows Review from eVestment Alliance and Casey Quirk. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

More beta, fewer managers, improves portfolio efficiency

A truly diversified portfolio will have 15 separate asset class allocations with an emphasis on beta opportunities and little to no reliance on active management, according to a Towers Watson’s model. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

UK election could trigger rating downgrade

UK pension funds should brace themselves for bad news after today’s election – no matter what the result – if the country’s credit rating is downgraded. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Private equity hurting from the boom

No matter what they say, private equity managers will struggle to deliver stellar returns from the vintages of the global recession. Simon Mumme speaks to Jane Welsh, global head of private markets research at Towers Watson, about why the glut of capital committed to private equity in its heyday could depress future returns. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored

Previous