Advisers – Page 135
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Features
Funds' qualified support
European pension funds are strong supporters of pensions consultants. According to the responses to a survey undertaken by IPE, the overwhelming majority of (91%) – use external pensions consultants. Of those which do not, just 6% say they have in-house expertise. One respondent however went further: “Our pension fund has ...
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Features
Ironing out the creases
In their eagerness to court increasingly powerful consultants, investment management firms throughout Europe have created consultant relations positions. But the consultants themselves are still not convinced that they are getting what they need. Like client relationship managers, consultant relations executives are the first point of contact for consultants looking for ...
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Features
Torn by conflicts of interest
It is estimated that up to 90% of a quoted service company’s market capitalisation is due to its reputation. But this reputation can take a knock from clients and investors if people think there are conflicts of interest in the service provided and firms are no longer perceived as independent. ...
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Features
Where do consultancies see their business growing?
In Portugal, Thomas says quite a sizeable pensions consultancy market is likely to grow in the next few years, as the state’s role in pension provision is reduced and wealth moves from state control to the private sector. The details, however, are still unclear. “There is a lot of uncertainty,” ...
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Features
Next on the US chopping block?
The investment consulting business in the US is very concentrated, with the leading firms controlling 70% of the market. But this situation is slowly changing, because of the increasing competition coming from new entrants and because of the recent mutual fund scandal’s ripple effects. “The top 20 leading consulting firms ...
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Features
Biting the hand that feeds
IPE’s look at investment managers’ attitudes to consultants makes sobering reading for some consulting giants. When asset managers were asked to name the five firms that impressed them most in order of preference some of the biggest firms barely got a mention, while others failed to be number one with ...
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Features
Self assessment rules OK?
The pensions industry relies heavily on consultants, but increasingly, there are calls for them to quantify what exactly it is that they do, and how they do it. In the UK, some of the major consultancies have responded by publishing analysis of their own results – putting into basis points ...
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Features
Continuous cycle of advice
The whole point of the pensions consultancy business is to help pension schemes do what they have to do in the best possible way. They are there to provide backing at all levels, from expert advice on arcane investment instruments to performing some of the day-to-day administrative chores a company’s ...
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News
Standard Life Investments names acting CEO
UK – Standard Life Investments has named its chief investment officer Keith Skeoch as acting chief executive following Sandy Crombie’s appointment as CEO of the parent company.
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News
ABP explains reasons for sticking to asset mix
NETHERLANDS – A top manager at the Dutch civil service pension fund ABP has expanded on the reasons why the 150 billion-euro fund has stuck with its long-term asset allocation.
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News
Wolters Kluwer pension director van Schie retires
NETHERLANDS – Cees van Schie has retired as director of the 500 million-euro Dutch pension fund of publishing firm Wolters Kluwer.
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News
Hewitt’s Fitzpatrick queries consultant relations
GLOBAL – Nick Fitzpatrick, head of global investment consulting at Hewitt Associates, says investment managers will regret putting effort into consultant relations at the expense of client relations.
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News
PIMCO hires Bentley from Morley Fund Management
UK – Allianz’s PIMCO has hired Peter Bentley from Morley Fund Management as UK corporate bond portfolio manager.
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News
Britannic AM hires sales head for pension funds
UK - Britannic Asset Management says it has hired a former Baring and Mercer executive to head sales to pension funds.
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News
Pension funds plan “huge” hedge fund move – study
GLOBAL – Greenwich Associates says pension funds plan to put “huge amounts” into hedge funds – though transparency will become more of an issue.
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News
Watson Wyatt hires Deloitte’s Gavanou
FRANCE - Watson Wyatt has hired Jean-Francois Gavanou from Deloitte & Touche’s Paris office as a senior consultant.
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News
MLIM sees European institutional outflows
EUROPE – Merrill Lynch Investment Managers saw outflows from its European institutional business in the fourth quarter, according to its parent company’s latest earnings report.
