Focus Conference 2020
The Drive for Efficiency
Achieving more with less
The pension industry is caught in a devilish bind between ever-increasing calls for tailored solutions and the equally urgent demand to lower costs. How can pension schemes reconcile passive investing with ambitious ESG policies, harvest illiquidity premiums without paying top dollar, or employ AI strategies to win the efficiency battle?
Thursday 26th of November 2020
Fort Voordorp, Groenekan (Utrecht)
Program
Please note that this is a draft programme and therefore subject to change.
11:30-12:15
Workshop
Lower cost and tailor-made solutions: an (im)possible combination?
Speakers: Hartwig Liersch, CIO, PMT and Gerco Goote, Head of Fiduciary Management, MN
12:00-13:00
Registration and Lunch
13:00
Opening
André de Vos, Editor Print and Events Pensioen Pro
13:05-13:35
13:05-13:35
Keynote Presentation
Active versus Passive in Nature
Living organisms employ very different survival methods, from roaming hunters to patient trappers. Which strategy is the most effective?
Living organisms employ very different survival methods, from roaming hunters to patient trappers. Which strategy is the most effective?
Speaker: tba
13:35-13:55
Presentation
Long Term Investing in a Short Term World
Pension funds are long term investors, but find themselves in a short term squeeze, forced to focus on near daily fluctuations in returns and coverage ratios. Short-termism is clearly hindering efficiency – but is long term investing still viable, or even allowed in a short term environment?
Pension funds are long term investors, but find themselves in a short term squeeze, forced to focus on near daily fluctuations in returns and coverage ratios. Short-termism is clearly hindering efficiency – but is long term investing still viable, or even allowed in a short term environment?
Speaker: Marleen Bosma, Head of Research & Strategic Advisory, Bouwinvest Real Estate Advisors
13:55-14:15
Case Presentation
DIY Benchmarks
Off-the-peg benchmarks often cannot meet pension funds’ tailor-made needs. Can do-it-yourself benchmarks offer affordable, viable solutions? A case presentation.
Off-the-peg benchmarks often cannot meet pension funds’ tailor-made needs. Can do-it-yourself benchmarks offer affordable, viable solutions? A case presentation.
Speaker: Guido Veul, Client Portfolio Manager, NN Investment Partners
14:25-15:25
Stream A: Passive Investing and ESG
How can smaller to mid-size schemes implement ESG strategies and make their portfolios more sustainable at reasonable cost levels?
With among other speakers: Joseph Molloy, Global Head of Index & Systematic Equity Portfolio Management, HSBC Global Asset Management
Stream B: New Tools in the Drive for Efficiency: AI and FinTech
Smart technology can lower the execution costs and streamline processes from benefit administration to communication and asset management. What innovations have already proven themselves, what is yet to come?
With speakers: Rik de Kort, Data Scientist, PGGM and Marcel Kruse, Director Pension & Investment Risk, Milliman Pensioenen
Stream C: It's the Administration, Stupid
Late or incorrect benefit payouts, ‘lost’ participants, or even hacked accounts: benefit administration is a veritable minefield for pension schemes. Many benefit administrators are working to update their IT systems, but is there such a thing as a foolproof benefit admin system?
With speakers: Jeroen Hartogensis, consultant, SIVI and Arno Ijmker, Partner, Quint
15:30-16:05
Break
Coffee and tea
16:05-16:35
16:05-16:35
Panel
Race to the Bottom
Pension funds face immense pressure to negotiate lower asset management fees, and in categories such as equities fees have dropped to 20 basis points. At the same time ultra-low fees are prompting asset managers to turn away some Dutch pension fund clients. Should fees be pushed even lower? Or has the focus on low costs gone too far?
Race to the Bottom
Pension funds face immense pressure to negotiate lower asset management fees, and in categories such as equities fees have dropped to 20 basis points. At the same time ultra-low fees are prompting asset managers to turn away some Dutch pension fund clients. Should fees be pushed even lower? Or has the focus on low costs gone too far?
With: Huub van Berkel, Investment Manager EMEA, Pension Fund Mars; Reiniera van der Feltz,
Uitvoerend bestuurder Beleggingen en Vermogensbeheer, Pension Fund SBZ; Henk van der Kolk,
Voorzitter, Pension Fund Detailhandel; Jan Willem Wijckmans, Expert Investment Manager,
Pension Fund ABN Amro
Uitvoerend bestuurder Beleggingen en Vermogensbeheer, Pension Fund SBZ; Henk van der Kolk,
Voorzitter, Pension Fund Detailhandel; Jan Willem Wijckmans, Expert Investment Manager,
Pension Fund ABN Amro
16:35-16:55
Presentation
Efficiency in Risk Management
Investment returns are determined in large part by a scheme’s risk budget and when the budget is tight, an efficient approach to risk management is all the more vital.
Efficiency in Risk Management
Investment returns are determined in large part by a scheme’s risk budget and when the budget is tight, an efficient approach to risk management is all the more vital.
16:55-17:15
Presentation
Less is More: The Resurgence of ‘Risky’ Instruments
After the financial crisis, instruments like leverage, arbitrage and securities lending went out of fashion. Yet these instruments can significantly improve portfolio efficiency. Is it time for a comeback?
Less is More: The Resurgence of ‘Risky’ Instruments
After the financial crisis, instruments like leverage, arbitrage and securities lending went out of fashion. Yet these instruments can significantly improve portfolio efficiency. Is it time for a comeback?
17:15-17:45
Keynote Presentation
Too Much Efficiency?
For years the regulator has pressed for lower costs, more transparency and simplicity in investment portfolios. But has the relentless drive for efficiency bred unwanted uniformity with its attendant risks?
For years the regulator has pressed for lower costs, more transparency and simplicity in investment portfolios. But has the relentless drive for efficiency bred unwanted uniformity with its attendant risks?
Speaker: Sven van den Beld, Afdelingshoofd Expertisecentrum financiële risico’s pensioenfondsen, DNB
17:45–18:45
Tour in Fort Voordorp, followed by Networking Drinks
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