Newsmakers
Mike Charette Promoted to New Deputy CIO Role at Michigan MERS
Charette, who has been at the Municipal Employees’ Retirement System for two decades, will oversee equities and fixed-income portfolios.
News
Regulation
GOP Lawmakers Launch Probe of CalPERS $330M Pension Fund Loss
The House members are questioning whether the nation’s largest public pension system violated ‘exclusive benefit’ rule by prioritizing ESG investments.
Newsmakers
Valbona Schwab Appointed CIO at Children’s Health in Dallas
The former deputy investment chief of Grinnell College will succeed Ken Lee, who moved to Cal Tech in April 2025.
Regulation
SEC’s Atkins Backs Digital Clarity Act at Senate Banking Hearing
According to the chair, joint SEC-CFTC ‘Project Crypto’ will provide a regulatory bridge, with token taxonomy, the digital assets while legislation is pending.
Pensions
DB Plans Choosing to De-Risk Instead of Terminate
The pace of insured U.S. pension annuitizations slowed in 2025 after exceeding $50 billion in 2024, Aon reported.
Pensions
Economic Uncertainty, Market Volatility Led to Steep Decline in Canadian PRT Transactions
Pension risk transfer volume in the country declined 40% in 2025, according to a report from Normandin Beaudry.
Corporate Moves
Nuveen Deal for Schroders Would Form $2.5T Manager
The proposed $13.5 billion acquisition would propel the combined firm to be one of the world's 10 largest by AUM.
Asset Allocation
In ‘Turbulent Year,’ University Endowments Report Average 10.9% Return
Institutions withdrew more than $33 billion to support spending, according to the 2025 NACUBO-Commonfund study of endowments.
Corporate Moves
Cerity Partners to Merge With Investment Consultant Verus
The combined firm would manage and advise on $1.3 trillion in assets.
Newsmakers
Manager Who Stole Millions From Pension Clients Files for Congressional Run
Alan Bond was convicted in 2003 for stealing millions in kickback and cherry-picking schemes. Now he is running for a House seat as an independent in New Jersey. Bond says much has changed since then.
Pensions
WTW Sees Nearly $100B UK Pension Risk Transfer Market in 2026
Favorable pricing and strong competition could drive industry growth this year.
Corporate Moves
Neuberger Berman to Acquire McKinsey’s Wealth and Asset Management Unit
MIO Partners will be integrated into Neuberger following SEC scrutiny of McKinsey’s nonpublic information controls.
Asset Allocation
Public Pensions’ Growing Private Investments Expected to Further Raise Volatility in 2026
Conflicting trends of asset outperformance and risk driven by increasing workplace disability claims are expected to affect the funds, according to S&P Global.
Newsmakers
LACERA Promotes Luis Lugo to CEO
The former deputy CEO succeeds Santos Kreimann, who announced in January that he was stepping down for health reasons.
Pensions
Global Pension Assets Reached $68.3T in 2025
Defined contribution savings drove growth, according to WTW’s Thinking Ahead Institute.