All Alliance Bernstein articles
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NewsBiggest asset managers accused of blocking ESG shareholder proposals
Non-profit ShareAction says the lack of support by BlackRock and other major companies has stymied investors’ environmental and social ambitions.
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NewsHolding asset managers’ feet to the fire on ESG: Engage or swap out?
Swapping out fund managers can be a laborious process, but some pension funds are willing to consider it if asset managers will not step up to the mark on environmental, social and governance factors.
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OpinionValue for money: Is 60:40 really good enough for Generation DC?
Pensions regulators rightly stress the primacy of value for money and good governance in defined contribution pensions. But while the primacy of low cost endures, cheap investment solutions’ recent performance masks a real risk to outcomes, says AllianceBernstein’s David Hutchins.
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OpinionDC costs need more transparency to create member confidence
AllianceBernstein’s portfolio manager of multi-asset solutions, David Hutchins, suggests a series of changes to defined contribution costs and charges in light of the review launched by the Department for Work and Pensions in this space.
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News
Brunel appoints managers for £2.6bn alpha equity mandate
On the go: The Brunel Pension Partnership has appointed five managers to run a £2.6bn Global High Alpha fund for its 10 Local Government Pension Scheme clients.
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OpinionDC governance: How to ensure your scheme is on the right track
When it comes to ensuring good governance, few things are more important than the process applied to the default investment strategy, says AllianceBernstein’s David Hutchins.
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OpinionAre DC default strategies diversified enough?
While recent history and the performance of simple balanced portfolios would suggest defined contribution defaults are overly diversified, we cannot assume the future will accurately mimic the past, says AllianceBernstein’s David Hutchins.
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OpinionSmart beta: Understand the impact on your wider portfolio
Smart beta has gained considerable traction with pension funds, writes AllianceBernstein’s David Hutchins, but investors should still maintain a healthy dose of cynicism towards new factors and ensure performance is measured effectively.
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OpinionWill the FCA market study revolutionise pensions?
AB Global’s David Hutchins on why the recent final report on asset management will set a welcome direction of travel, and why both consultants and trustees should be brought within the FCA framework.
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OpinionCan illiquid investments help weather market mayhem?
Illiquid alternatives can be a boon for better outcomes in defined contribution, says AB’s Karen Watkin.
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Opinion
Illiquid assets: Latest fad or the future of DC investment?
Analysis: Defined contribution investments are still far less sophisticated than those of many defined benefit plans, but there is growing support for making illiquid assets such as infrastructure or private equity part of DC default funds.
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OpinionActivating better DC outcomes
Defined contribution investment should not rely on the up and down of global stock markets alone, says AB’s Karen Watkin.
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OpinionThere is no such thing as passive
AB’s David Hutchins explains why allocation of assets between different passive funds might be more important than the management of those funds.
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OpinionDebunking five myths about infrastructure debt
From the blog: The global financial crisis has fundamentally changed the way infrastructure projects are funded. Governments have less to spend, while new regulatory constraints have curbed bank lending.
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OpinionAchieving better outcomes – where should the burden lie?
Asset manager AB’s David Hutchins explains why providers and trustees should focus on value for money rather than mere cost savings.
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OpinionSave or suffer: How to futureproof the UK’s retirement plans
An increase in contribution levels is seen by many in the defined contribution space as necessary to ensure members have sufficient retirement income, but could there be another way to a more comfortable retirement?
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OpinionBreak down DC charges to assess value for money
Value for money is at the heart of defined contribution, but asset manager AB’s David Hutchins says cheap investments do not always make for a cheerful retirement outcome.
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Opinion
Innovation within the charge cap
DC Investment Quarterly: Ever since defined contribution funds have had to demonstrate value for money to members, they have sought to drive up performance of the investment strategy while controlling volatility.
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NewsTesting market conditions greet 2016
Market volatility is here to stay, experts have said, urging defined benefit trustees to assess their risk management frameworks and eliminate unintended exposures as the year kicks off.
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Features
Shropshire profits from infra but schemes struggle to fill targets
Shropshire County Pension Fund’s infrastructure investment gained 40 per cent during 2014/15, but entry into the asset class remains a challenge for some UK pension funds.