A new Working Group report from the International Centre for Pension Management explores how pension and sovereign wealth funds are implementing a Total Portfolio Approach (TPA) in practice and identifies the various models funds are adopting. The report also articulates the factors that can shape the TPA journey.

“Despite this being a hot topic, there is a lack of clarity about what TPA is and the various models that have been adopted by pension and sovereign wealth funds,” says Adrian Trollor, ICPM Managing Director and lead of the Working Group. “The report provides a useful overview for leaders to better understand how funds around the world are actually implementing TPA, the different factors that go into shaping the journey, and the considerations they should be mindful of as they navigate this in their own organizations.”

The report, “The Total Portfolio Approach: Models and Considerations for Those Embarking on the TPA Journey” is the result of a year-long collaboration of nearly twenty pension and sovereign wealth fund leaders. Leveraging ICPM’s global experiences and perspectives, the report outlines:

  • insights into TPA implementation and the different levers
  • a spectrum of TPA models from fully integrated to partially integrated, including hybrid approaches
  • case studies from five funds to illustrate the variations in approaches, and
  • several considerations for funds embarking on the TPA journey

Read the report here.

Public webinars on the findings will be presented on:

  • Aug 17 at 9am CET / 5pm AET – Register here
  • Aug 19 at 1pm PT / 4pm ET – Register here

Thank you to the Working Group members and contributors: Adrian Trollor (ICPM, Australia, lead author), Sebastien Betermier (ICPM and McGill University, Canada, lead author), Charles Hyde (NZ Super Fund, New Zealand), Craig Thorburn (Future Fund, Australia), Jacky Chen (OPTrust, Canada), Jing-Yi Chen (OPTrust, Canada), Russell Clarke (VFMC, Australia), Derek Walker (CPP Investments, Canada), Gabriel Boivin (Desjardins Group Pension Plan, Canada), David McGowan (BCI, Canada), Bernard Murira (World Bank, USA), Kanwar Singh (AIMCo, Canada), Elizabeth Fernando (Nest, UK), Gareth Witten (IMCO, Canada), Timothy Li (HOOPP, Canada), Jacky Lee (HOOPP, Canada), Tony Foley (NSW TCorp, Australia), Rogier Swierstra (PGGM, Netherlands), Sue Brake (New Zealand/Australia).

The views expressed herein shall not be attributed to, or deemed to represent the views, positions or policies of any affiliated organization, pension plan, institution, or ICPM.