The Curious Quant

The Curious Quant series, hosted by Michael Kollo, is a discussion between technically-minded professionals in the financial services, technology and data science fields. It carefully examines the application of new data and new methodologies to common problems in financial markets. The aim is to promote better discussions about these emerging areas, and a better understanding of new technologies.

 

 

Michael Kollo is a seasoned investment professional with a deep passion for the pragmatic discussion and application of quantitative models to solve problems. His PhD in Finance is from the London School of Economics where he lectured in quantitative finance in addition to Imperial College and at the University of New South Wales. He has created models and led quantitative research teams at Blackrock, Fidelity and Axa Rosenberg in the UK before more recently moving to Australia where he established the quantitative team for the $50 billion industry superannuation fund, HESTA. Kollo is an experienced speaker, author, mentor, a keen student of philosophy and more recently, a podcaster. The Curious Quant is a series of conversations with market leaders, deep thinkers and practitioners who deal with the wonder and frustrations of these models and who are on the front line of AI innovation.

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In pursuit of the perfect fee model

Matteo Dante Perruccio and Mark Barker, chief executive and co-chief investment officer of Hermes BPK, the boutique fund of funds majority-owned by Hermes Fund Managers in turn owned by the BT Pension Scheme, speak to Amanda White about the benefits of focusing on investment management, and not asset gathering, in the hedge fund game and

CalPERS to hold public board meetings

CalPERS’ remaining board meetings for the year, in May, July and September, will be open to the public as the fund deliberates a full asset-liability assessment, culminating in a potential change to the benchmark rate of return in December. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

The Netherlands leads charge into government bonds

The Netherlands, an innovator in pension investment management, is leading a renaissance into government bonds at the expense of corporate bonds, as other European countries further reduce their domestic equities allocation, according to Mercer Investment Consulting’s 2010 European asset allocation survey. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Flexible in-house thinking pays dividends for Canada’s HOOPP

A strategic shift into equities during 2009 and the completion of a multi-year strategy to bring all assets in house, has resulted in the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) returning 15.18 per cent return for 2009, positioning it as one of very few pension funds around the globe to be fully funded. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored

Australia’s UniSuper launches first internal capabilities

The $A25 billion ($23 billion) UniSuper will ramp up its internal funds management capabilities, with four of its own portfolios set to be running by the end of the year, in conjunction with a project that will see its defined benefit and defined contribution sections adopt differing investment strategies for the first time. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored

CalSTRS cost breakdown supports internal savings…

A breakdown of CalSTRS’ investment costs confirms the cost savings of internal asset management, with the fund’s internal asset management costs making up only 0.07 per cent of the total portfolio management costs, but comprising 30 per cent of the total assets managed. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

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