The $244 billion Thrift Savings Plan, the largest defined contribution plan in the world, faces an enormous operational challenge this year as it moves from an opt-in to an opt-out default for US federal employees. Amanda White spoke with executive director Greg Long about the fund’s plans for 2010, which include a substantial investment tender.
In analysis completed for the Norwegian Ministry of Finance, Mercer has conducted a survey of active management, assessing the use and performance of active management at the total fund and asset class levels for 14 pension funds with combined assets of $950 billion, including eight funds from Europe and three from North America.
A complete evaluation of active management including reports by Mercer and an international group of professors, has resulted in the Norges Bank Investment Management, manager of the $375 billion Government Pension Fund-Global, staunchly favouring active management, with the bank’s Governor and executive director of the NBIM describing “a passive, uninformed approach to operational decisions is an alternative without a sound theoretical or practical justification”.
A joint study by LIMRA , the International Foundation for Retirement Education and the Society of Actuaries into the effects of the financial crisis on how retired individuals with investable assets make decisions about investing their assets and purchasing financial products has found they are more risk averse and less confident post the crisis.
Following the purchase of European equities manager Sourcecap International, Hermes Pensions Management, the fund manager for the £32 billion ($51.8 billion) BT Pension Scheme, is preparing to market its diverse array of boutique managers to institutions worldwide.
With the ability to make investments of up to £50 million ($80.4 million) without board oversight, the London Pensions Fund Authority (LPFA) has boosted its exposure to emerging markets while also buying global infrastructure, commodities and solar energy. Chief executive Mike Taylor told Simon Mumme about some further opportunities, such as Brazilian agriculture, the fund is targeting.