McGill students spearhead hybrid MIPC
A dedicated group of McGill students successfully planned the first hybrid iteration of the annual McGill International Portfolio Challenge.
This year, McGill invited 114 teams from 26 countries to tackle the challenge of designing sustainable retirement system plans in light of Dutch pension reforms.
Delve: Why Ultra-Low Yields Don鈥檛 Mean the End of Sustainable Pension Funds
Retirement systems around the world, from public pension plans to private funds, are weathering a storm of ultra-low bond yields that threaten not only adequate returns for pensioners but the sustainability of the systems themselves. Designing retirement systems that are resilient to low yields requires balancing risk with resilience and innovative approaches.
Putting QE in the rearview mirror
With the winding down of Canadian quantitative easing policies, announced recently by the Bank of Canada鈥檚 Governor Tiff Macklem, Professor Sebastien Betermier comments on the effects of rising bond yields on pension plans. Yields across the Canadian economy currently remain at historically low levels due to inflation and supply shortages amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Risk and return at the fifth annual MIPC
To kick off the fifth edition of the McGill International Portfolio Challenge, Professor Sebastien Betermier moderated a Delve聽Integrated Management symposium powered by聽Global Risk Institute in Financial Services (GRI) entitled 鈥淒esigning Sustainable Retirement Systems in the Current Environment of Ultra-Low Yields.鈥� The event invited University Pension Plan Ontario鈥檚 Barbara Zvan and PSP In
Going green in the concrete jungle
Professor Sebastien Betermier and his co-researchers published a paper on financial and environmental solutions for sustainable urban development. Canadian pension funds are doing something right, and they outline strategies for other funds and investors to follow suit.
Taking a deep dive into pension plans
In a Q&A for the Montreal Gazette, Professor Sebastien Betermier takes a closer look at the terms and metrics related to the funding status of a pension plan. The growth rates and termination costs of a fund, he emphasizes in the piece, largely depend on the type and risk level of assets owned.
Canada emerges as a leader in green bonds
Canadian retirement pensions are shaping up to be global leaders in issuing green bonds, or funds designated for environmental initiatives. Professor Sebastien Betermier views Canada鈥檚 commitment to sustainability as an advantage over other countries in growing both pensions and sustainability projects in the long term.
Desautels professor lends expertise to Exchange Traded Funds (ETF) study
One of Wall Street鈥檚 least-known trading companies, Jane Street has quietly become a global market-maker. With a niche in the world of exchange traded funds (ETFs), the company was well-positioned to weather the COVID-19 crisis. Professor Sebastien Betermier recently entered the conversation with a new report that connects fixed-income ETFs to market liquidity during the pandemic.
Investors anticipate low-carbon economy
As the renewable energy sector grows in leaps and bounds; pension funds, banks, investment companies, and insurance companies are waking up to the risk of devaluation in fossil fuel investments.
Two international teams claim victory in McGill portfolio-building competition
The first virtual McGill International Portfolio Competition (MIPC) drew 93 university teams from 18 countries to design portfolio strategies that address the rise of social inequalities and protectionism in the U.K.
93 student teams tackle social inequality and protectionism at MIPC 2020
The fourth annual McGill International Portfolio Challenge invited 93 student teams from 18 countries to compete to solve a complex portfolio construction problem. This year鈥檚 case study challenged participants to invest a fictitious sovereign wealth fund in a way that addressed social inequalities and protectionism in the wake of Brexit.
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Delve: Canada鈥檚 Pension Plan Is the Envy of the World, and Now We Know Why
A new study by Prof Sebastien Betermier is the first to use real data to do a quantitative analysis of asset allocation strategies and cost structures for hundreds of pension, endowment, and sovereign wealth funds across 11 countries. The results hold valuable lessons not only for financial planners, but also working Canadians dreaming of retirement.
The case for a long-term divestment strategy
Pressure is on the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) to divest from fossil fuel companies in support of Canada鈥檚 transition to a low-carbon economy. Professor Sebastien Betermier comments.
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Advocacy for a second Caisse de d茅p么t
An article in La Presse features Sebastien Betermier鈥檚 research that reveals the superiority of Canadian pension funds. Using the Canadian pension funds as a model for success, the article proposes a second institution be introduced in Quebec for employees of cities and universities.
Canada is a global leader in pension funds
Canada鈥檚 pension funds are outperforming global peers in investment performance and are stronger at hedging against liability risks, according to research co-authored by Professor Sebastien Betermier.
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