Learning from alternatives

Alternative investments are in vogue, but are they a source of diversification or a manager skill?

Those charged with constructing asset portfolios capable of meeting insurance and pension liabilities have to squeeze every last drop of return for the risks they take. In the face of rising life expectancy and deficits there is a growing sense that traditional methods are not enough.

But the decision makers face huge challenges. They must pick fundamental sources of return - so-called beta - within a limited risk budget. Within the same risk budget, they must also find managers capable of