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Feb 17, 2012 - Carl Winfield

Editors's Pick: Podcast of Top Stories - Feb. 20, 2012

Listen to the Money Management Intelligence team recap and bottom line their top stories of the issue. This week, the team breaks the news that Con-way has begun a due diligence review of its recordkeeping and administrative services for its $1.4 billion defined contribution pension plan. Con-way is working with a consulting firm on the review, and sources say Arnerich Massena is the firm that has been retained. The $1.8 billion San Jose Federated City Employees’ Retirement System has increased its hedge fund allocation to 25% from 5%, none of which is currently invested. It hopes to begin farming out mandates within the six months. Some institutional investors are seeking ways to maximize the return on the cash held their portfolios in response to the current low interest rate environment through enhanced cash investments. Enhanced cash strategies seek out returns through investments in high-quality, short-term securities such as Treasury bills and commercial paper. The $78.6 billion Washington State Investment Board approved three private equity investments, totaling more than $1 billion, and two emerging market fund-of-fund investments at its Feb. 16 meeting.

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Feb 17, 2012

Road Warriors: Always Check Your Work!

The head of a West-Coast money management firm finds it never hurts to give your proposal a second, third and maybe even a fourth pass before sending.

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Feb 07, 2012 - Carl Winfield

Alts Digest: Will Greeks Slam Creditors?

Efforts by hedge funds to profit from Greece’s debt restructuring may not be taking legislators’ willingness to foist losses onto them into account, Bloomberg writes.

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Feb 03, 2012 - Carl Winfield

Editors's Pick: Podcast of Top Stories - Feb. 3, 2012

Listen to the Money Management Intelligence team recap and bottom line their top stories of the issue. This week, the team breaks the news that a West Coast public fund has earmarked $200 million to invest in risk-parity strategies and is also considering what to do with $100 million it recently liberated from a closed account. A large Northeastern public fund has approved a plan to invest half a billion dollars in the alternatives class and is now eying emerging markets. On the defined contribution plan side, new regulations may have providers changing their fee structures. And regarding investment in infrastructure, the question of whether U.S. pension funds--which have long trailed other countries in investment in the class—may now be enticed by attractive opportunities is discussed. To read more click on the links below:

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Feb 03, 2012 - Carl Winfield

Road Warriors: Do You Really Need To Travel Full Freight? You Decide

You think your commute is bad? Try crossing the Irish Sea on the cheap and getting stuck 343 miles from your next big account win.

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Jan 24, 2012 - Veronica Belitski

Texas Teachers' Leblanc Talks Strategy (CNBC Video)

As research for MMI's Public Fund Awards for Excellence has indicated, pension funds spent 2011 grappling with the perils of an unstable market and tackling diversification to bolster returns.

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Current

  • Small Image
    Blogs - Feb 22, 2012 -
    Alts Digest: Paulson Sued In Timber Tumble

    For any that thought John Paulson had a crystal ball by his bedside, the last year has proven them wrong.

  • Small Image
    Blogs - Feb 21, 2012 -
    Alts Digest: Falcone Investors Cry Foul

    This is just not Phil Falcone’s month.

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    Blogs - Feb 17, 2012 -
    Alts Digest: Bigmouth Strikes Again

    Note to analysts: if you’re under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation it’s a good idea not to antagonize the agency.

  • Small Image
    Features - Feb 17, 2012 -
    Road Warriors: Always Check Your Work!

    The head of a West-Coast money management firm finds it never hurts to give your proposal a second, third and maybe even a fourth pass before sending.

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    Top Stories - Feb 17, 2012 - Carl Winfield
    Editors's Pick: Podcast of Top Stories - Feb. 20, 2012

    Listen to the Money Management Intelligence team recap and bottom line their top stories of the issue. This week, the team breaks the news that Con-way has begun a due diligence review of its recordkeeping and administrative services for its $1.4 billion defined contribution pension plan. Con-way is working with a consulting firm on the review, and sources say Arnerich Massena is the firm that has been retained. The $1.8 billion San Jose Federated City Employees’ Retirement System has increased its hedge fund allocation to 25% from 5%, none of which is currently invested. It hopes to begin farming out mandates within the six months. Some institutional investors are seeking ways to maximize the return on the cash held their portfolios in response to the current low interest rate environment through enhanced cash investments. Enhanced cash strategies seek out returns through investments in high-quality, short-term securities such as Treasury bills and commercial paper. The $78.6 billion Washington State Investment Board approved three private equity investments, totaling more than $1 billion, and two emerging market fund-of-fund investments at its Feb. 16 meeting.

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    Blogs - Feb 16, 2012 -
    Alts Digest: Loeb Pulls An Ichan

    Who doesn’t like to be in the driver’s seat? Certainly not Third Point’s Dan Loeb.

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    Blogs - Feb 15, 2012 -
    Alts Digest: Feds Kill LightSquared Venture

    LightSquared, Philip Falcone’s visionary wireless network, and personal money-pit, is done.

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    Blogs - Feb 14, 2012 - Carl Winfield
    Alts Digest: Goldman Maneuvers On Volcker Rule

    Representatives from Goldman Sachs, earlier this month asked the Federal Reserve to consider tweaking the 3% limit on bank ownership of credit funds imposed by the so-called Volcker rule, Bloomberg reports.

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    Blogs - Feb 14, 2012 - Veronica Belitski
    AllianceBernstein's Ruff Talks True Inflation Protection Strategy

    Over the past three years, there has been continuous discussion of asset allocation that would help protect against inflation - if and when it arrives.

  • Blogs - Feb 13, 2012 - Carl Winfield
    Alts Digest: Small FoF’s Score Big

    Mid-Market Managers Outpace The Big Guns Bigger isn’t always better if you’re a hedge fund-of-funds. Preqin reports managers running $10 billion or more in saw an average 2.1% dip in the value of their assets in 2011, while those for the mid-sized crowd increased their assets by 10%, according to hedgeweek.

  • Events - Mar 26-27, 2012 -
    The 17th Annual Public Funds Summit

    Taking place on March 26-27, 2012, IMN's 17th Annual Public Funds Summit brings together leading pension trustees, board chairs, executive directors, investment officers, investment consultants and money managers from around the country for in-depth educational content and extensive networking opportunities.

  • Events - Mar 29, 2012
    Mercer's 2012 Global Investment Forums: Tokyo

    Mercer announces its Global Investment Forums programme for 2012 with events to be held throughout the year in Tokyo, Sydney, Washington DC and London. The Forums will explore what positive actions investors can take to capture existing investment opportunities and manage risk effectively in the current environment. The Forums are designed for investment managers, pension trustees and other institutional investors.

  • Events - Apr 02-03, 2012 -
    Mercer's 2012 Global Investment Forums: Sydney, Australia

    Mercer announces its Global Investment Forums programme for 2012 with events to be held throughout the year in Tokyo, Sydney, Washington DC and London. The Forums will explore what positive actions investors can take to capture existing investment opportunities and manage risk effectively in the current environment. The Forums are designed for investment managers, pension trustees and other institutional investors.

  • Events - Apr 23-27, 2012 -
    FundForum Asia 2012

    If Asia is a focus for your business, and you would like to network with over 450 senior industry CEOs and decision-makers from the region's leading asset managers and distributors then don't miss this opportunity - sign up before 24th February 2012 & save up to £1300!

  • Events - Jun 21-22, 2012 -
    Mercer's 2012 Global Investment Forums: Washington, D.C.

    Mercer announces its Global Investment Forums programme for 2012 with events to be held throughout the year in Tokyo, Sydney, Washington DC and London. The Forums will explore what positive actions investors can take to capture existing investment opportunities and manage risk effectively in the current environment. The Forums are designed for investment managers, pension trustees and other institutional investors.

  • Events - Sep 04-05, 2012 -
    Mercer's 2012 Global Investment Forums: London

    Mercer announces its Global Investment Forums programme for 2012 with events to be held throughout the year in Tokyo, Sydney, Washington DC and London. The Forums will explore what positive actions investors can take to capture existing investment opportunities and manage risk effectively in the current environment. The Forums are designed for investment managers, pension trustees and other institutional investors.

  • Small Image
    Podcast - Feb 17, 2012 - Carl Winfield
    Editors's Pick: Podcast of Top Stories - Feb. 20, 2012

    Listen to the Money Management Intelligence team recap and bottom line their top stories of the issue. This week, the team breaks the news that Con-way has begun a due diligence review of its recordkeeping and administrative services for its $1.4 billion defined contribution pension plan. Con-way is working with a consulting firm on the review, and sources say Arnerich Massena is the firm that has been retained. The $1.8 billion San Jose Federated City Employees’ Retirement System has increased its hedge fund allocation to 25% from 5%, none of which is currently invested. It hopes to begin farming out mandates within the six months. Some institutional investors are seeking ways to maximize the return on the cash held their portfolios in response to the current low interest rate environment through enhanced cash investments. Enhanced cash strategies seek out returns through investments in high-quality, short-term securities such as Treasury bills and commercial paper. The $78.6 billion Washington State Investment Board approved three private equity investments, totaling more than $1 billion, and two emerging market fund-of-fund investments at its Feb. 16 meeting.  more

  • Small Image
    Video - Feb 14, 2012 - Veronica Belitski
    AllianceBernstein's Ruff Talks True Inflation Protection Strategy

    Over the past three years, there has been continuous discussion of asset allocation that would help protect against inflation - if and when it arrives.  more

  • Small Image
    Podcast - Feb 03, 2012 - Carl Winfield
    Editors's Pick: Podcast of Top Stories - Feb. 3, 2012

    Listen to the Money Management Intelligence team recap and bottom line their top stories of the issue. This week, the team breaks the news that a West Coast public fund has earmarked $200 million to invest in risk-parity strategies and is also considering what to do with $100 million it recently liberated from a closed account. A large Northeastern public fund has approved a plan to invest half a billion dollars in the alternatives class and is now eying emerging markets. On the defined contribution plan side, new regulations may have providers changing their fee structures. And regarding investment in infrastructure, the question of whether U.S. pension funds--which have long trailed other countries in investment in the class—may now be enticed by attractive opportunities is discussed. To read more click on the links below: more

  • Small Image
    Multimedia - Jan 24, 2012 - Veronica Belitski
    Texas Teachers' Leblanc Talks Strategy (CNBC Video)

    As research for MMI's Public Fund Awards for Excellence has indicated, pension funds spent 2011 grappling with the perils of an unstable market and tackling diversification to bolster returns.  more

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    Podcast - Jan 20, 2012 - Carl Winfield
    Editor’s Pick: Podcast of Top Stories, Jan. 20

    Listen to the Money Management Intelligence team recap and bottom line their top stories of the issue. This week, the team breaks the news that a large West Coast public fund has slashed its domestic equities allocation and will make initial investments in credit opportunities and public real assets, and a Midwestern public student tuition agency has issued a request for proposals for an investment manager for its $1.1 billion Prepaid Tuition Program. Also, a survey of asset managers by MMI and iiSEARCHES finds that firms expect to spend more on risk management resources going forward, while the latest Asset Review Forecast indicates that pension funds are targeting investments in international equity and fixed income for the current and the second quarters.  more

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    Podcast - Jan 06, 2012 - Carl Winfield
    Editor's Pick: Podcast of Top Stories, Jan. 6

    Listen to the Money Management Letter team recap and bottom-line their top stories of the issue. This week, the team unveils nominees for MML’s 11th Annual Public Pension Fund Awards For Excellence. They also report that the Employees Retirement System of the Government of the Virgin Islands is now searching for a recordkeeper for its new 403(b) and 457(b) plans, and that the fund is also in the process of switching consultants. Also, the Office of the Arizona State Treasurer is looking for an external bond manager to help oversee non-endowment portfolios, valued at $7 billion  more

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    Podcast - Dec 23, 2011 - Carl Winfield
    Editor’s Picks: Podcast of Top Stories

    Listen to the Money Management Intelligence team recap and bottom-line their top stories of the issue. This week, the team takes a look at an Ohio plan’s plans for real estate and real assets, a California plan’s push into alternatives and a new defined contribution plan being established on the East Coast. more

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    Podcast - Dec 14, 2011 - Carl Winfield
    Editor’s Picks: Podcast of Top Stories

    Listen to the Money Management Intelligence team recap and bottom-line the top stories from the most recent issue. Among the highlights: the strategy behind a Texas major’s big real estate push, the new ways corporate funds are tackling liability-driven investing (LDI) and an Arkansas plan’s agenda for illiquid investments.  more

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    Video - Dec 13, 2011 - Alexandra Scaggs
    Aberdeen's Martin Connaghan On Global Markets

    Reporter Alexandra Scaggs speaks with Martin Connaghan, senior investment manager of global equities with Aberdeen Asset Management, about his outlook on global equities. The volatile global markets have proven to be a challenge, and Connaghan talks about how managers and investors alike can weather economic uncertainty.  more

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    Video - Dec 13, 2011 - Carl Winfield
    Symphony Financial Partners' Baran Talks Asia Investing

    Senior Reporter Carl Winfield speaks with Symphony Financial Partners' Co-CEO David Baran about investment opportunities throughout Asia. Though China and other emerging markets remain at the heart of many institutional investors' investment strategies, Japan's more-developed market is still ripe for returns.  more


Current Poll

Over the last year or two pension plans have been lowering their assumed rates of return--sometimes grudgingly—in response to a continuing low interest rate environment. Given that the Federal Reserve has now made it clear that it intends to keep interest rates low for at least the next two years, what in your opinion is an appropriate average assumed rate of return pensions funds should adopt?

More than 8%
6% - 8%
4% - 6%
2% - 4%
Less than 2%

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