VantagePoint: Fourth Quarter 2019

As economic growth slows, manufacturing contracts, and major central banks start to ease monetary policy anew, investors need to consider what policy options the world has left in the event this slowdown becomes a recession. In this edition of VantagePoint, we look to the 1930s for some answers, while realizing that intervening changes to the global financial system rule out an exact repeat of that period.

October 2019

With Peak Brexit Stress Seemingly Passed, Should UK Investors Boost Sterling Allocations? 

No, sterling-based investors should not change their currency hedge ratios or their allocations to sterling-denominated assets based on potential Brexit outcomes.

September 2019

Alternative Risk Premia: A Diversifying Option for Investors (Euro Edition)

Elevated equity market valuations and potentially rising bond yields suggest the return environment for traditional risk assets could be difficult. Faced with this challenge, institutional investors are seeking alternative sources of return. Alternative risk premia (ARP) strategies—which harvest well-established risk premia and market anomalies across asset classes—may fit the bill. ARP strategies have exhibited low […]

September 2019

Community Foundations: The Power of Aggregated Capital

Community foundation assets have grown steadily over the years, accumulating a mix of endowment funds and funds with more expedient spend-down expectations. With the right expertise and attention, the endowment model can be applied to these complex, dynamic assets to differentiate the foundation and deliver on its mission.

August 2019

Revving UK Pension Schemes’ Funding Engines

A number of UK defined benefit pension schemes have experienced significant funding level gains in recent years, driven by sponsor contributions, liability management exercises, and strong equity market returns. However, due to increased volatility in global equity markets, relatively high valuations in many market segments, and the late stages of the economic and credit cycles, optimising the scheme’s growth engine is more challenging than ever. This paper provides a framework for how to achieve that goal.

August 2019

Pathways to Sustainable Investing: Insights from Families and Peers

Every day, CREO and Cambridge Associates encounter wealth owners, families, and family office professionals who are starting down the path of sustainability investing. This paper details the typical path these investors take, the questions many of them face, and the way that many of them successfully develop a winning strategy that generates both returns and impact.

August 2019

Four Key Strategies for Managing Pension Risk

While overseeing pension plans is increasingly complex and there’s no silver bullet solution, employing these four strategies can do much to reduce risk. CFOs at companies that offer defined benefits might be forgiven for feeling frustrated that, in addition to oversight responsibility for company financial performance, shareholder relations, accounting, tax, and myriad other functions, they […]

July 2019

Healthcare Systems Describe Mounting Pressures & Investment Remedies: 2019 Survey Results

Due to mounting pressures in the healthcare industry, many hospitals will likely rely on spending from investment pools to support operations and capital plans. While investments will be a source of funding, our survey of healthcare clients indicates that for many, investment strategy will balance spending needs and growth goals.

July 2019