12 Dec 2022 1 min read

Four ways to make DB strategies even more resilient

By Anne-Marie Morris (née Cunnold) , Will Riley , Mathew Webb

We discuss how schemes can navigate a thorny investment landscape and prepare themselves for buyout.

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In light of the unprecedented volatility exhibited by UK markets this year, many defined benefit (DB) schemes are reviewing their investment strategies to ensure they are as resilient as possible in the face of a macro environment that is likely to remain challenging.

In this piece, we outline four key areas we believe to be critical to this objective, which will enable schemes to meet their ultimate goal: paying members’ pensions as they fall due.

1. Lower leverage
2. Diversifying sources of liquidity and returns
3. Accessing assets that can pay pensions
4. Integrated portfolio management

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Anne-Marie Morris (née Cunnold)

Head of DB Solutions Strategy

Anne-Marie leads the team responsible for the strategy of objective-driven investment solutions, principally for Defined Benefit Pension Scheme clients. In partnership with the Solutions Portfolio Management team, her team structures and delivers strategies across LGIM’s derivative overlay, LDI and CDI strategies including Buy and Maintain credit. Anne-Marie joined LGIM in 2012, bringing industry experience from prior roles including investment strategy at BlackRock and senior fund manager in structured investments and solutions at Close Brothers Asset Management. Anne-Marie is a CFA charterholder, holds the Financial Derivatives paper from the CISI diploma and graduated from Cambridge University with a first class honours degree in Natural Sciences (theoretical physics). When not eulogising about derivatives and LDI, Anne-Marie might be found exploring historic buildings with her two boys.

Anne-Marie Morris (née Cunnold)

Will Riley

Head of Solutions

Will joined LGIM in January 2019 as Head of Solutions responsible for the strategy and portfolio management of investment solutions for pension schemes and insurance companies. Prior to joining LGIM, Will was head of portfolio management for Client Solutions at BlackRock joining Barclays Global Investors in 2005. His experience includes managing LDI Portfolios, fiduciary management portfolios, multi-asset portfolios and derivative overlay strategies. Prior to joining BlackRock, he was a senior fund manager at Sanlam Investment Management in Cape Town, where he was responsible for asset-liability management of annuity portfolios.

Will Riley

Mathew Webb

Head of Endgame Solutions

Mathew is Head of Endgame Solutions within LGIM's Solutions business and specialises in helping pension schemes achieve their endgame objectives, whether that is buyout (pension risk transfer to an insurer), run-on (investing like an insurer in a credit and LDI portfolio, together with a portfolio focused on surplus growth), or both (run-on for now with the option of buyout later).  Mathew has over 25 years' experience in pensions, insurance and banking markets, having previously worked in pensions advisory, longevity risk transfer and structured products. Mathew is a qualified solicitor (non-practising), holds an MA in Natural Sciences from Downing College, Cambridge University and a Certificate in Quantitative Finance.

Mathew Webb