Description: This article provides an analysis of Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities TIPS, examining the mechanics of these bonds, how they have performed to date and what may be expected for the future.

Description: How to be prepared for a meeting with your investment manager and judging your investment portfolio's performance by comparing it to a relevant benchmark. Risks and Rewards Newsletter, August 1999, Issue No. 33.

Description: Comments on how US insurers have compensated for low interest rates by investing in a range of less liquid and lower quality assets.

Description: This article speculates on the presence and magnitude of the benefits attributable to regular rebalancing of one's investment portfolio. It surveys the extant literature, discusses certain implications, and presents conclusions.

Description: Describes investment strategy targets used in the investment competition under way for investment section members in 2017.

Description: Uses Blackrock's macroeconomic and style factors in asset allocation examples for an insurance portfolio and a pension portfolio.

Description: Chairperson’s column discussing the state of the world today and how that influences investment strategies and describes to seminars the section sponsored to keep members apprised of changes.

Description: Is Risk/Return a sound tool for decision-making? No. It is not consistent, not objective, distorts decision and degrades governance. Why? What shall we do then?

Description: The impact of Fed’s QE program on the financial markets has been enormous and profound. The tapering and the eventual removal of the stimulus will be equally enormous and profound, and may be disruptive. To adapt to the potential regime change in near future, some investment strategies have been proposed: (1) shorten duration to focus on the short end of the yield curve and create laddered portfolios; (2) reduce allocation to high yield bonds; (3) rotate out interest rate sensitive sectors such as utilities; and (4) use interest rate derivatives to hedge the interest rate uncertainties lying ahead. On the other hand, contrarians who see the QE program continuing may stay the course and consider (1) adding duration, (2) gaining exposure to high yield bonds, and (3) increasing allocation to utilities and telecoms.

Description: This articles explains why many corporations are making massive reductions in risk related to their pension plans despite the fact that this means locking in costs at a time of historically low interest rates. This should help actuaries working with pension plans or pension investments advise clients on investment strategies and other approaches to de-risking.