More comment – Page 33
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Opinion PiecesDelivering sustainable long-term value
Some private equity investors claim the increased focus in private ownership imposes a new long-term perspective
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Opinion PiecesEasier to abolish than to reform
The collective pension plan in its various iterations is probably one of the most significant, and undersung, financial and policy innovations of the 20th century. Workplace pensions represent one of the most important, if not the most important financial assets for millions of people.
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Opinion PiecesJudgement needed more than ever
There are good reasons why even the most ardent technophile should be wary of the excitement surrounding new investment-related technology. Big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning and blockchain all no doubt have promising applications in the investment world.
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Opinion PiecesEquities – European banks see light ahead
The European banking sector is moving into positive territory as the tough regulatory pressure of recent years levels off
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Opinion PiecesA belated but welcome debate
The belief that the corporate culture of an asset management organisation affects its performance is gaining ground. Some investment consultants make reference to corporate culture as a factor driving manager selection. This may be marketing, but it could spark debate.
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Opinion PiecesSuper asset managers: size matters
Institutional investors must question how the emergence of super asset managers have really benefited them over the years, especially since the cycle of mergers and acquisitions seems to have continued 10 years on.
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Opinion PiecesDavos Diary: Benefitting all stakeholders
January’s World Economic Forum meeting in Davos captured the spirit of the early 21st century with the overall theme of “stakeholders for a cohesive and sustainable world
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Opinion PiecesLetter from the US: Lower rates, deeper holes
Something unprecendented happened in the US in the first weeks of January when the Milliman 100 PFI discount rate fell 35bps to a 20-year low of 2.85% “It was a very poor month for defined benefit (DB) plans, not a good start of the year and it dug an even deeper hole in their financial situation,” points out Zorast Wadia, principal, consulting actuary at Milliman. He is also author of the Milliman 100 pension funding index (PFI), an annual study of the 100 largest DB pension plans sponsored by US public companies.
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Opinion PiecesPerspective: Striving for net zero
Günther Thallinger, a member of the board of management at Allianz and chair of the steering group of the UN-convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance, spoke in Davos about the role of asset owners in reducing carbon emissions
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Opinion PiecesGuest Viewpoint: Gregg McClymont
If the purpose of a pension system is to deliver a stable income in retirement, then the UK, strictly speaking, is on a path to leaving pensions behind.
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Opinion PiecesViewpoint: DB funding regime change
What might the UK Pension Schemes Bill and upcoming changes to the funding regime mean for managing DB schemes?
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Opinion PiecesViewpoint: A more precise way to unlock targeted factors
Factor investing is built on the premise that investors can manage risk and returns by applying an appropriate mix of equity factors such as value, quality, size, momentum and low volatility.
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Opinion PiecesViewpoint: Investing in green doesn’t equal greening the world
Financial products and services marketed as green must make a clear and measurable difference to the transition to environmental sustainability, argues Ben Caldecott.
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Opinion PiecesViewpoint: Fiduciary duty and global warming
ESG is not the same as global warming, or climate change. There are overlaps, but the differences are more important. In essence, ESG is on the same level as a political conviction.
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Opinion PiecesPost Brexit questions
By the time you read this, the UK will have left the European Union, following three years of negotiation, renegotiation and delay
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Opinion PiecesA perilous stability
A few years ago, when asset managers talked about market prospects, they often pointed to 2020 as the year when the world economy could run into difficulties
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Opinion PiecesTrustees should always protect pensions
The proposal to phase out the Retail Prices Index (RPI), one of the main measures of inflation in the UK is among the pension industry’s biggest topics of debate.
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Opinion PiecesCrossing boundaries
In 2020 many asset owners will be motivated to cross boundaries in search of stable returns. This is because despite big gains for equities and bonds during 2019, institutional investors are worried about low yields and slow growth hurting performance.
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Opinion PiecesGuest Viewpoint: Ric van Weelden
Asset owners have realised that diversity is more than just an ESG matter
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Opinion PiecesModi’s India: The red lights are flashing warnings
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is facing an existential issue that is polarising the nation
