Services Tags: Investment Consulting

2020 Market Preview Video

This video coincides with our annual Market Preview newsletters and includes a recap of 2019’s performance and what investors can expect heading into 2020. 2019 was certainly a profitable year for investors as traditional and alternative asset classes delivered positive returns. As we enter 2020, there are a litany of questions facing global markets ranging from the U.S. election to trade disputes to global monetary policy, all of which will undoubtedly influence investment returns.

This video is part of our Market Insights series, a quarterly presentation designed to brief clients on the market as soon as possible after quarterly market data becomes available. Members of our research team discuss the overall U.S. economy, along with fixed income, U.S. and non-U.S. equity, hedge funds, private equity, real estate, and infrastructure.

For more information, questions, or feedback, please send us an email.

Illinois Pension Consolidation Act

On December 18th, 2019, Governor Pritzker officially signed Public Act 101-0610 into law, which then took effect on January 1st, 2020. A large portion of this new law (the “Pension Consolidation Act”) requires all 649 Illinois suburban and downstate police and firefighters pension funds — previously established as prescribed by Articles 3 and 4, respectively, of the Illinois Pension Code — to consolidate their assets into two new statewide funds: one for all police pension funds and one for all firefighter pension funds.

This legislative update covers the background and reasoning for consolidating these public safety pension funds, lays out the established timeline for the consolidation process, and details the ongoing responsibilities, requirements, and structure of both current local boards and the transition and permanent boards for the newly established funds.

Read > Illinois Pension Consolidation Act Legislative Update

While there is still some uncertainty regarding the implementation and timing of the transition, Marquette will continue to monitor new announcements closely and provide regular updates to our Article 3 and 4 pension fund clients as details emerge. Also included in this update are several key points we consider of utmost importance as the transition boards begin implementing the Act, including governance, infrastructure, personnel, a transition plan, and implementation. We are prepared to work with the consolidated funds, auditors, and any other necessary service providers to ensure our clients experience a transition that is as seamless as possible.

For further information or questions, please contact your consultant.

 

The opinions expressed herein are those of Marquette Associates, Inc. (“Marquette”), and are subject to change without notice. This material is not financial advice or an offer to purchase or sell any product. Marquette reserves the right to modify its current investment strategies and techniques based on changing market dynamics or client needs. Information contained herein should not be construed as legal advice.

Institutional Retirement Plans Legislative Update — SECURE Act

As speculated in Marquette’s recent  4Q 2019 DC Legislative Update, Congress passed sweeping retirement savings reform by tacking the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (“SECURE Act”) onto its year-end spending bills. On December 17th and 19th, the House and Senate respectively passed the SECURE Act (“the Act”) with the goal of enhancing retirement readiness for Americans. This update outlines a summary of the Act’s provisions impacting our defined contribution (DC) and defined benefit (DB) plan clients.

Read > Institutional Retirement Plans Legislative Update — SECURE Act

As always, your consultant will be able to address any specific questions you may have regarding these changes. A similar summary targeting individual investors can be found here.

 

The opinions expressed herein are those of Marquette Associates, Inc. (“Marquette”), and are subject to change without notice. This material is not financial advice or an offer to purchase or sell any product. Marquette reserves the right to modify its current investment strategies and techniques based on changing market dynamics or client needs.

Individual Retirement Plans Legislative Update — SECURE Act

In June of 2019, we published our first paper on the SECURE Act, “Securing Retirement through the SECURE Act,” after it passed the House and have since been monitoring the evolution of the legislation. On December 17th and 19th, the House and Senate respectively passed the SECURE Act (“the Act”) with the goal of enhancing retirement readiness for Americans. The Act will undoubtedly impact both retirement plans and individuals in many ways. This update will specifically focus on the pieces of the legislation impacting individuals.

Read> Individual Retirement Plans Legislative Update — SECURE Act

As always, your consultant will be able to address any specific questions you may have regarding these changes. A summary of the SECURE Act’s provisions impacting our defined contribution and defined benefit plan clients is outlined in a separate legislative update here.

 

The opinions expressed herein are those of Marquette Associates, Inc. (“Marquette”), and are subject to change without notice. This material is not financial advice or an offer to purchase or sell any product. Marquette reserves the right to modify its current investment strategies and techniques based on changing market dynamics or client needs.

Alternatives 101 Video Series

Our Alternatives 101 video series covers each of the major alternatives asset classes, with guidance provided by several of Marquette’s research analysts and directors. In contrast to traditional investments, alternatives investing includes asset classes other than stocks, bonds, and cash (reference our Investing 101 series for more information about traditional investing concepts). This series aims to introduce trustees, staff, and other investors to the key terms and concepts they may encounter when investing in these typically less familiar asset classes.

The series covers:

View each talk in the player below— use the upper-right list icon to access a specific presentation.

For more information, questions, or feedback, please send us an email.

Dave Smith Speaking at AIMSE 2018 Annual Conference 5/1

On Tuesday, May 1, Dave Smith, CFA, will be speaking at the Association of Investment Management Sales Executives’ (AIMSE) 41st Annual Marketing & Sales Conference in Miami.

Dave will speak as a panelist during the session, “The Changing Landscape of Healthcare”. The panel will consist of investment professionals from health organizations and consultants with a focus on the health care space. Topics of discussion will include the following are designed to address the changing landscape of healthcare institutions, an evolving distribution channel for asset managers:

  • Ideal structure for strategic partnerships between allocators and asset managers
  • AHCA and its potential implications on various hospital and healthcare plans
  • Whether healthcare plans constitute as ERISA and why
  • Changing landscape due to increased M&A activity
  • How plans leverage resources among different groups with various pools of assets
  • How data can affect the financial sufficiency of healthcare organizations

For more information, please visit the AIMSE event page.

Defined Contribution Plan Legislative Update – 4Q 2019

Since our 2Q 2019 DC Legislative Update, both chambers of Congress have moved forward with legislative enhancements for retirement savings. Under the leadership of Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA), the House has passed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (SECURE Act). In the Senate, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, formally introduced the most recent version of the Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act (RESA). The bulk of this update discusses the similarities and differences between the two pieces of legislation and what plan sponsors can expect going forward.

In this update, we summarize various pieces of legislation and recent topics of interest for DC plan sponsors:

  • SECURE Act vs. RESA
  • Release of Final Regulations on changes to the hardship withdrawal process by the IRS
  • IRS 2020 401(k) contribution limit increases

Download PDF > 4Q 2019 Defined Contribution Legislative Update

As always, your consultant will be able to address any specific questions you may have regarding these changes. For a broader view of Marquette’s approach to defined contribution consulting, see our previous research including A Roadmap for Defined Contribution Plan Sponsors and Defined Contribution Plans: A Look at the Past, Present & Future.

 

The opinions expressed herein are those of Marquette Associates, Inc. (“Marquette”), and are subject to change without notice. This material is not financial advice or an offer to purchase or sell any product. Marquette reserves the right to modify its current investment strategies and techniques based on changing market dynamics or client needs.

Marquette Speaking at AIMSE 2018 Annual Conference 5/1

On Tuesday, May 1, Julianna Paterra, CAIA, will be speaking at the Association of Investment Management Sales Executives’ (AIMSE) 41st Annual Marketing & Sales Conference in Miami.

As a Consultant Roundtable speaker, Julianna will engage in lively discussions with participants by sharing investment manager search activities, organizational updates, and methods for effectively communicating with research and field consultants. A hallmark of AIMSE conferences, the consultant roundtables feature both traditional and alternative professionals.

The AIMSE seeks to provide an educational forum for those employed in the investment management sales and marketing services profession worldwide.

For more information, please visit the AIMSE event page.

Illinois Sustainable Investing Act

As sustainability factors are increasingly being incorporated into the underlying investment processes at the corporate, manager, and investor levels, it’s not surprising that the Illinois General Assembly has taken up the issue in recently passed legislation. The Illinois Sustainable Investing Act (the “Act”), formally cited as Public Act 101-0473, was signed into law by Governor Pritzker with an effective date of January 1st, 2020. The goal of the Act is to recognize that sustainability factors play an important role in an investment’s overall performance and the creation of long-term value.

In this update, we summarize the Act and offer next steps for impacted clients, including:

  • Stated goals and purposes of the Act
  • The role of sustainability factors in investment performance and value
  • The duties of public agencies and governments
  • Implementation of the Act

Download PDF > Illinois Sustainable Investing Act Legislative Update

As always, your consultant will be able to address any specific questions you may have regarding these changes.

 

The opinions expressed herein are those of Marquette Associates, Inc. (“Marquette”), and are subject to change without notice. This material is not financial advice or an offer to purchase or sell any product. Marquette reserves the right to modify its current investment strategies and techniques based on changing market dynamics or client needs.

Jeremy Zirin Speaking at 2018 Central States Institutional Forum 3/20

On Tuesday, March 20, Jeremy Zirin, CAIA, will be speaking at the Markets Group 5th Annual Central States Institutional Forum in St. Louis.

Jeremy will join the panel, “Evolving Infrastructure Environment”, and explore how investors are assessing the infrastructure’s longer-term impact on returns and positioning their portfolios to avoid potential risks.

Following the financial crisis, strategies to incorporate infrastructure into the portfolio construction and asset allocation processes continue to evolve as governments seek partnerships and third-party financing to develop energy, water, transportation and social projects critical to economic growth. The panelists will also examine specific strategies investors are using to integrate infrastructure investments into portfolios.

For more information, please visit the Markets Group event page.