IFS Articles/Publications

Edward D. Patchett authored a chapter titled Alternative Investments: An Introduction in the 2004 edition of Employee Benefit Issues - The Multiemployer Perspective published by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. The chapter provides an overview of the investment characteristics and risks associated with investing in private equity, hedge funds and managed futures (copies of this article are available upon request)

Lamont E. Tarbox authored a chapter on Economically Targeted Investing recently published by The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans in the Fifth Edition of the Investment Policy Guidebook for Trustees. The chapter discusses the evolution of ETI's over the last twenty five years, how the definition of ETI's has changed, and the response of regulators. He writes "[t]he key insight in the ETI approach is to say that if two investments have a reasonable expectation of similar returns, then investors have the right to consider which of the two offer further secondary benefits of value to plan participants." (copies are available upon request)

Andrew (Andy) Irving was a Contributing Author of the Report of Subcommittee on Fiduciary Responsibility presented to the Mid-Winter Meeting of the Employee Benefits Committee on February 9-12 in San Francisco. Mr. Irving wrote the "Prohibited Transactions" section of the Report.

Global Pensions Magazine, February 2005, ran a "comment" from Samuel ("Skip") Halpern entitled "Objectivity at a Price." This explained how some investment consulting firms have taken certain steps to alleviate some conflicts of interest, but that many further steps are necessary to eliminate more conflicts.