GLG News by Pension Accounting Specialists

1. Property derivatives allow for exposure to this asset class without direct investing.2. Incremental risks specific to the structure of property derivatives must be taken into account.3. The UK property derivatives market has grown to $10 billion in the two years since inception. Use of good quality...

1.    The need for convergence of accounting standards is real.2.    The ability to converge accounting standards is challenging due to cultural and legal issues.3.    Although convergence will ultimately occur, it will occur with a broad based...

China's pension issues are real.The question is, "How will China's government address the pension issues?"Watch out.  Changes must be forthcoming.

The reality of pension fund management is simple:  fund managers have a fiduciary responsibility.  What that means is risk management is at the heart of managing pension funds.  Today, more than ever, risk management must go beyond the quest for higher returns. 

1. The hedge fund industry is changing in terms of rigor applied to fund selection.2. High net worth individuals may have relied more on trust. Institutional investors are asking tougher questions about risk.3. Hedge funds that have failed may have a hard time attracting institutional investors.

1. Demographics are rapidly changing around the world, including China.2. The pension issue is made more acute as people age and represent a larger percentage of the population.3. Asset allocation is an important element of retirement planning.4. The Chinese "401 (k) equivalent" - enterprise annuities...

1. Additional hedge fund regulation is likely.2. Federal regulation is favored by some in lieu of different states each doing their own thing.3. Billions of pension dollars going into alternatives has regulators worried.

Kraft goes against the grain when it comes to FIN 48: it reports a benefit from its application, not a writedown of assets.

1. Defined benefit plans invest in company stock.2. Fiduciaries often select company stock as a 401(k) plan investment alternative.3. Anything that impacts company share price must be considered before investing. This includes practices relating to executive option grants.4. Problems related to backdated...

Chairman Olson speaks at the Tax Council Policy Institute's annual conference, but invariably, the subject turns to Section 404 and its costs.