Greenwich Associates Names Top Consulting Firms

NEPC, Pavilion Advisory Group, and Segal Marco Advisors top list of large consulting firms.

Greenwich Associates, a provider of advisory services to the financial services industry, has released its list of 2016 quality leaders for US consulting and investment service.

Investment consultants that receive the strongest quality ratings from clients were those that demonstrate the willingness and ability to develop a deep understanding of the institution and its needs, Greenwich stated in a release. “This is a relationship that goes much deeper than manager search and due diligence,” Andrew McCollum, a managing director at Greenwich Associates, said.

NEPC, Pavilion Advisory Group, and Segal Marco Advisors received the highest ratings from surveyed clients among large US investment consultants, and AJO, Baillie Gifford and NISA Investment Advisors were the 2016 Greenwich Quality Leaders in U.S. Institutional Investment Management Service.  “We are grateful to our clients for responding favorably to the survey from Greenwich Associates and will continue to serve them at a level that merits such distinction,” John DeMairo, president of Segal Marco Advisors, said in an email to CIO.

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“Clients are the focus of every action at NEPC,” Mike Manning, president and managing partner at NEPC, said in a release. “So we take it as the ultimate compliment when those relationships commend us for the dedication each of our consultants brings to every engagement, every day.”

Rocaton Investment Advisors, Summit Strategies Group, and Townsend Group won for midsized consulting firms. “We are extremely appreciative of the recent recognition as a Greenwich Quality Leader, and grateful for the trust and confidence our clients have placed in Rocaton over the last 15 years,” Robin Pellish, CEO at Rocaton, said in an email. “We are proud to be a trusted adviser to our clients in navigating the ever-changing investment and regulatory landscape.”

By Levi Davis

Funded Ratio for US Corporates Inches Higher in March

Levels remain similar to where they were eight or nine years ago, Mercer says.

The aggregate funded ratio for US corporate pension funds increased slightly—about one percentage point—March, according to a report by Mercer. The ratio inched up to 83%, while the estimate aggregate deficit dropped to $391 billion as of the end of the month. It was $408 billion at the end of 2016.

“The current economic and political environment is making plan sponsors frustrated with the lack of progress on the funded status of their pension plans as levels remain similar to where they were eight or nine years ago,” said Jim Ritchie, a partner in Mercer’s wealth business. “Plan sponsors should consider re-evaluating their risk appetites in these uncertain times. Despite the Federal Reserve’s indications that short-term rates may steadily increase in the near future, there is still quite a bit of uncertainty on what will happen with long-term rates and equity markets, which are two main factors that affect the funded status of pension plans.”

The S&P 500 remained relatively flat month-over-month in March, while discount rates as measured by Mercer’s yield curve increased by eight basis points to 4.01%. 

“Those plan sponsors that are relying on long-term rates to rapidly rise in the near future may continue to be frustrated with the lack of progress on their funded status,” Ritchie said.  “Plan sponsors should look at multiple future economic conditions to get a good perspective on the future financial condition of their pension plans.” 

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Mercer based its analysis on plans sponsored by companies listed in the S&P 1500.

By Amrita Sareen-Tak

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