Investment consulting and investment controlling for pension funds

At a glance

  • PPCmetrics has been providing investment consulting and investment controlling services since 1991
  • Comprehensive range of consulting services for pension funds (investment strategy, asset liability management (ALM), investment organization, asset allocation, asset manager selection, investment consulting, investment controlling and actuarial consulting)
  • Consulting services for pension funds of different asset volumes (between CHF 5 m and 40 bn)
  • Our clients are pension funds under both public and private law
  • Analysis of various key issues of the 2nd pillar such as interest rate risk management, currency hedge, actuarial, economic and risk-bearing funding ratio, conversion rate, asset management fees, recommendations on benchmarks, risk management, retrocessions, etc.

Pension funds and pension schemes

Due to regulatory developments, changes to liability structure and the increasing complexity of capital markets, pension funds continuously face new challenges. For more than 20 years PPCmetrics has been providing advice on the management of these challenges. We offer an exhaustive range of pension fund consultancy services and can therefore optimally cover all requirements in this sector. Our clientele consists of pension funds of all sizes and legal forms.

From investment strategy to investment controlling

We offer an exhaustive range of pension fund consultancy services and can therefore optimally cover all requirements in this sector:

  • Investment strategy: we advise pension funds on the best possible adaptation of the investment strategy to the liability structure (asset liability management (ALM)).
  • Asset manager selection: we support pension funds in the selection of asset managers and custodian banks (global custodian). PPCmetrics has an extensive expertise in various investment categories such as equities, bonds (government and corporate bonds), mixed mandates, real estate, and alternative investments (e.g., hedge funds, commodities, private equity, insurance linked securities, etc.).
  • Actuarial consulting: PPCmetrics operates as a pension fund expert and provides advice as an actuary on actuarial issues for pension schemes.
  • Investment consulting: PPCmetrics offers professional and innovative consulting services in the field of investment consulting. This includes the analysis of various key issues of the 2nd pillar such as low interest rates, management of interest rate risks, currency hedge, retrocessions, actuarial, economic and risk-bearing funding ratio, conversion rate, asset management fees, recommendations on benchmarks, risk management, analysis of risk premiums, etc.
  • Analysis of portfolio structure: analysis of possible risks of the implemented products, evaluation of asset management fees, and recommendations on investment style and mandate structure.
  • Investment organization: analysis of pension governance, the organization, the investment process as well as the formulation of investment guidelines and task specifications according to the legal requirements.
  • Legal advice: PPCmetrics advises pension funds on the increasingly complex legal requirements and questions.
  • Investment controlling: independent monitoring and controlling in the areas of strategy controlling, controlling of investment tactics, and controlling of mandates or asset managers.

Contact

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Dr. Stephan Skaanes
Partner
Contact

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Alfredo Fusetti
Partner
Contact


Publications

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About us: Changes to the Management

About us: Changes to the Management

In the interests of proactive organisational planning and even better coverage of client needs, the management of PPCmetrics AG will undergo some changes as of 01.01.2024. Further information can be found in our media release.

Challenges and Approaches in Performance Analysis of Illiquid Assets

Challenges and Approaches in Performance Analysis of Illiquid Assets

What challenges arise from the valuation of illiquid assets? What are the implications for investors? And what approaches can be used in performance analysis? Our Managing Consultant Marc Staub answered these questions among others at the IPE Seminar.

UBS Takeover of Credit Suisse

UBS Takeover of Credit Suisse

On the evening of 19 March 2023, UBS announced its intention to fully acquire Credit Suisse in close coordination with the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), the Swiss National Bank (SNB) and the Swiss Confederation. According to the SNB's press release, the transaction is necessary to secure financial stability and protect the Swiss economy. In our presentation, we summarise the most important facts about the takeover as well as possible implications for investors.

Current Facts About Credit Suisse

Current Facts About Credit Suisse

Distortions at the banks in the USA as well as statements by major Credit Suisse shareholders led to renewed high price declines in Credit Suisse's bonds and shares. The bank's stability is particularly at risk if it enters a negative spiral and is confronted by a significant outflow of client funds. In a media release on 15 March 2023, the Swiss National Bank SNB and the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA commented on the uncertainties in the market as well as on Credit Suisse.

SNB Policy Rate Hike and General Interest Rate Increase: Impact on institutional investors (in particular Swiss pension funds)

SNB Policy Rate Hike and General Interest Rate Increase: Impact on institutional investors (in particular Swiss pension funds)

Market interest rates have risen significantly since the beginning of the year and the capital markets have lost markedly in value. On 16.06.2022, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) also decided to raise the key interest rate and the deposit rate for commercial banks by half a percentage point. The presentation by PPCmetrics shows the effects on institutional investors - especially Swiss pension funds.

Shifting from fixed income

Shifting from fixed income

Swiss pension funds are rebalancing their portfolios but allocating to certain asset classes could prove challenging.

IPE Seminars - Approaches and Challenges of Measuring ESG in Investment Portfolios

IPE Seminars - Approaches and Challenges of Measuring ESG in Investment Portfolios

This presentation shows the extent to which Swiss pension funds disclose information on ESG. Furthermore, the possibilities for institutional investors to measure ESG are analysed. Measuring the ESG characteristics of a portfolio is not trivial. For this reason, various difficulties in this area are discussed.

Transition from LIBOR and Alternative Reference Rates After the End of 2021

Transition from LIBOR and Alternative Reference Rates After the End of 2021

LIBOR will be replaced as the reference interest rate in Switzerland at the end of 2021. We explain the reasons for this, show alternatives and point out possible implications for institutional investors.

Interest Rate and Inflation Risk: How Are Pension Funds Affected?

Interest Rate and Inflation Risk: How Are Pension Funds Affected?

The topic of inflation is currently in the spotlight. Our article looks at the economic context and the historical and current interest rate and inflation risks. It also shows to what extent Swiss pension funds are affected by interest rate and inflation risks and to what extent such risks are acceptable for them.

Tail-risk hedging lessons from the corona crisis

Tail-risk hedging lessons from the corona crisis

The coronavirus crisis illustrates that equity collar strategies may still have a place for pension funds.


Factsheets

Comparison of Fees

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Investment Controlling

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Analysis of the portfolio structure

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Asset Manager Selection

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