Executive Summary Many families have significant wealth tied up in the publicly traded shares of a single firm. Concentrated exposure to a single stock—often the family’s original source of wealth—represents a significant risk to the family’s wealth and its future spending and charitable-gifting power. Single stocks, on average, are about 68% more volatile than a…
This paper describes our approach to developing input assumptions for use in mean-variance analysis. Appendices cover the weaknesses of other approaches, as well as taxable considerations.
After assessing the current environment of extremely low interest rates and its implications for defined benefit plans, we articulate our view on how to develop a flexible de-risking framework that takes into account today’s low yields. We contrast this to the more formulaic and mechanical “glide path” concept advocated by many pension industry participants. Defined…
The most recent step in the evolution of portfolio construction practices has been a shift from an asset allocation-centered process to a more comprehensive risk allocation-based process. In this paper, published February 2013, we share our views on why asset allocation has developed into risk allocation and provide an introduction to the Risk Allocation Framework.
This report provides an overview of activist investing and also addresses the role of activist funds in investor portfolios and the associated risks of the investment strategy.
This report discusses the landscape of the U.K. social investment market, with a focus on impact investing; reviews the barriers to the growth of the market and potential solutions; and outlines a decision-making framework to help investors evaluate and implement social investments within a diversified investment portfolio. While this report is focused on the social…
This short piece communicates our position on the investment implications of the standoff on the US debt ceiling.
Asset management and investment banking firms across the globe continue to develop a variety of liability driven investing (LDI)–focused products and solutions for the pension plan community; however, there remains broad confusion over the meaning of LDI. While most of these products and customized solutions attempt to hedge liability-related interest rate and inflation risks, such…
This paper highlights key provisions of the major U.S. financial act signed into law in July 2010, focusing on issues related to alternative investments and managers. With more than 60 mandated federal studies due over the next several years and at least 200 new regulations that have yet to be written, the final regulatory landscape…
Given that the global economic outlook is highly uncertain and valuations are not particularly cheap, we once again find ourselves in the role of urging institutions to develop spending contingency plans now, to prepare for the day when their spending policy may dictate cuts, as opposed to being forced to make such decisions hastily, under…