White papers and articles discussing issues related to investment consulting and actuarial consultants. The most recurrent theme amongst our top papers is the subject of delegated investment management services, with fiduciary management surveys and reports on investment outsourcing (OCIO) being frequently downloaded. Reports on the role of investment consultants in... manager selection have also proved popular, covering topics such as investment consultants' recommendations of fund managers, investment consultant alpha, and how to get on the approved list of managers for selection. Other top research in this section covers trends within the investment management industry, actuarial assumptions, and the role that investment consultants play in alternative investments. Further documents consider the risk tolerance of boards, institutional decision-makers, fee structures and risk premia.
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has published its 330 page provisional decision on the market for Investment Consulting and Fiduciary Management services. The report observes that, while there are a number of consulting firms available to choose from, there are competition issues within both the investment…
In broad terms, accounting standards aim to enable employers to approximate the cost of an employee's pension and other post-retirement benefit over the employee's service tenure. Any benefit accounting method that recognizes the cost of benefits before their payment becomes due must be based on estimates or assumptions…
This report examines the state of robo-advising. Looking at business models, the authors see that robo-advisors, discount brokerages, and full-service wealth managers have value propositions that target different customer bases. Many of the discount brokerages are well scaled with material cost advantages, while the…
This edition of the Longevity Bulletin (published by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries) explores how rapid technological change is affecting longevity.
This report by IPE (Investment & Pensions Europe) lists the top 400 asset managers ranked by global assets under management and by the country of the main HQ and/or main European domicle. Total global assets under management total 65.7trn euros.
This paper provides an introduction to short selling and how it is regulated to help ensure investor protections and prevent abuse. In addition, it explores the benefits short selling provides investors as both a risk management tool and a way to meet financial obligations regardless of market conditions.
Four CFA Societies from the state of Florida pooled their data to product this region-specific analysis of compensation levels for investment professionals.
Ten years after the global financial crisis, many industry observers are looking back, assessing what transpired, and wondering what has truly changed in the financial services industry. Lasting damage occurred on many fronts, not the least of which was a serious erosion of trust. But research shows that trust in the finance…
PwC queried US-based life and P&C chief actuaries about their actuarial modernization initiatives to determine where the insurance industry stands in its efforts to modernize. We found that insurers will facilitate their actuaries’ ability to provide greater insights and become better business partners.
Pensions, endowments and foundations are delegating more of their asset management responsibilities than ever. Tasks that were once the purview of an investment committee (e.g., manager selection and rebalancing) are increasingly delegated to investment staff or transferred to an outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO)…
EY’s Capital Confidence Barometer is a regular survey of more than 2,500 senior executives from large companies around the world conducted by Euromoney Institutional Investor. The respondent community comprises an independent panel of senior executives and select EY clients and contacts. This report, carried out in March and…
Whether or not we consciously think about it, our perception of the brands we interact with affect decisions we make in our work and personal lives daily. We gravitate toward brands we have a positive association with and avoid those with a negative association.
The investment industry spends a huge amount of time on mandate searches and manager selection. But what about after you have hired a manager or selected a manager for a recommend list? What is the right amount of ongoing due diligence? This blog includes four tips for asking deeper questions about whether your fund…
A just-released survey of institutional asset managers, consultants and investors confirms compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®) is on the rise, with 84% of asset managers responding saying their firms are GIPS compliant. This is up from 72% who claimed compliance in 2014, the last time …
Last year, the Prudential Regulation Authority (‘PRA’) withstood several shots to its bow in the Treasury Select Committee’s (‘TSC’s’) report into the Solvency II Directive and its impact on the UK Insurance Industry. The report made sweeping recommendations and criticised the PRA’s implementation of Solvency II, as we…
Rapid advances in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are creating products and services with the potential not only to change the environment in which actuaries operate, but also to provide new opportunities within actuarial science. These advances are based on a modern approach to designing, fitting and applying…
Brand awareness is not just important for sodas, stores and celebrities. Even in the world of institutional investment management, a strong brand can have big benefits. eVestment data shows that asset managers with both high firm and product awareness realize growth as much as 20.3 times that of firms with low awareness, but…
This latest issue of Current Issues looks at various aspects of the UK pensions industry. The authors discuss the LGPS' first ever National Confidence Assessment, the recent Competition and Markets Authority report, and more.
