A new textbook on value investing is aiming to combat the academic community’s premature dismissal of the subject, says author George Athanassakos, professor of finance and the Ben Graham chair in value investing at Western University’s Ivey School of Business. “There are plenty of books on value investing — but not academic books. I decided […]
The 2022 Defined Contribution Investment Forum, held virtually on Jan. 21, explored how generational priorities impact investment options and strategies, including the growing importance of environmental, social and governance factors; the introduction of liquid investments and real assets, helping all age groups set the right glide path to retirement; and ensuring communication reaches all plan members. […]
Asset managers have responded to a growing demand from investors for socially responsible investing, with pledges to integrate environmental, social and governance factors into the way they invest. But investors are skeptical that companies are making as much progress as they say. More than three-quarters (77 per cent) of Canadian institutional investors believe companies are overstating […]
While target-date funds have traditionally been a one-sized-fits-almost-all solution, innovation to integrate environmental, social and governance-oriented strategies into these funds is coming just as plan members are seeking more sustainable investing options. “The vast majority of Canadians say ESG integration is important in their investing,” said Wylie Tollette, executive vice-president and head of client investment […]
Defined contribution plan sponsors are facing much more challenging market conditions heading into 2022, with lower expected returns across core asset classes and high levels of uncertainty around the pandemic, rising inflation and other market factors. “This is truly an exceptionally difficult environment to navigate,” said Som Priestly, multi-asset solutions strategist at T. Rowe Price, […]
With sustainable investing gaining significant popularity, it’s critically important for defined contribution plan sponsors to understand how underlying investment managers integrate environmental, social and governance factors into their investment processes. “Let’s think about ESG not as a separate process and overlay or a yes or no question, but as a core reinforcing part of how […]
Alternative assets have long been the domain of institutional investors seeking to increase their risk-adjusted returns, but defined contribution plan sponsors now have the opportunity to access these assets in the form of liquid alternatives in their target-date fund offerings. Over the last five years, the expected returns of traditional balanced portfolios in target-date funds […]
KPMG Canada has seen firsthand the benefits that environmental, social and governance investing can have on employees’ retirement savings and the wider world. It recently introduced an environmental leaders fund into its defined contribution pension plan lineup. In the month it was launched, contributions into the fund from the organization and its employees played a […]
Morningstar Inc. is appointing Tom Kuh as its first global head of environmental, social and governance strategy. In the newly created role, Kuh will be responsible for advancing the Chicago-based financial services firm’s strategy to accelerate growth while harnessing its broad ESG strengths. He’ll report to Rolf Agather, head of research and product. Read: Mark Carney […]
The large majority of institutional investors believe structured credit serves as an attractive alternative to fixed income, according to a new survey by Aeon Investments. The survey, which polled 100 institutional investors in Europe, the U.S. and the U.K., found 87 per cent of pension funds and other institutional investors believe that, in addition to […]