Washington, D.C., Nov. 14, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vantagepoint has started the process of adding private alternative assets in its target-date and target-risk funds, becoming one of the first funds of their kind to help give defined contribution retirement plans access to private equity, private real estate, and other relatively illiquid investments that historically have not been available in these kinds of funds.
The rise of defined contribution plans continues to shift the burden of investing for retirement from institutions to individuals. While defined benefit (DB) plans and other institutional investors have enjoyed the benefits of alternatives in enhancing risk-adjusted performance, defined contribution (DC) plans have not adopted private alternatives as investment options due to various liquidity and operational issues.
“We are taking the first steps to provide access to a diversified portfolio of private alternatives for people who otherwise would not be able to benefit from these investments. We’re doing it in a daily valued fund, so we’re not restricting liquidity,” says Wayne Wicker, CIO of Vantagepoint Investment Advisers, LLC. “It will be a multi-year process to build our target exposure. We believe that adding alternatives to our target-date and target-risk funds will offer significant value over the long term, because alternative assets like private equity and real estate have different characteristics than traditional assets. By including them in our funds, over time we can potentially help increase risk-adjusted returns and aid participants’ efforts to enhance their retirement security,” he adds.
Alternatives often have different properties than traditional stocks and bonds, enhancing portfolio diversification and potentially improving risk-adjusted returns. As the allocation to diversified alternatives in Vantagepoint’s Milestone Funds (target date) and Model Portfolio Funds (target risk) is built over a multi-year implementation schedule, investors will be able to take advantage of the potential benefits of private alternative asset classes, such as illiquidity premiums and an expanded investment opportunity set.
In recognition of the complex and sophisticated nature, and the unique risks of private alternative assets, Vantagepoint is taking a measured approach to introducing the asset class to its target-date and target-risk funds. The implementation will occur over several years and we currently expect that private alternative investments will comprise less than 5% of the total assets of any single target-date or target-risk fund.
Enhancing 45-Plus Years Serving Retirement Investors
The addition of private alternative assets to Vantagepoint’s target-date and target-risk funds reflects on our more than 45-year commitment to serving the retirement needs of public sector employees who serve others, including first responders and other city and state employees. “A one-stop investment solution like a target-date or target-risk fund helps individuals in defined contribution plans in making the right decisions about their retirement security,” says Flora Hedrick, Managing Vice President, Investments. “Over time, we hope to provide investors exposure to a diversified portfolio of alternative assets that already available to defined benefit plans, giving investors additional tools to improve the probability of their retirement security.”
About Vantagepoint Funds
Vantagepoint Investment Advisers, LLC (VIA) advises VantageTrust Company, LLC, (VTC) the trustee to the Vantagepoint Funds and the VT Funds, which include over $28 billion in assets as of September 30, 2019. VIA’s in-house investment professionals design, manage, and oversee the Vantagepoint Funds, a suite of commingled investment vehicles spanning multiple asset classes and sectors. These investment professionals access and utilize subadvisers from a variety of independent firms, including award-winning institutional managers and specialist investment managers. VIA’s investment professionals have an average of 16 years of investment industry experience. VIA and VTC are wholly-owned subsidiaries of ICMA-RC. For more information about VIA’s advisory services, please review its Form ADV, available at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
The Vantagepoint Milestone and Model Portfolio Funds are not a complete solution for all retirement savings needs. An investment in a Milestone or Model Fund includes the risk of loss, including near, at or after the target date of the Fund. There is no guarantee that the Fund will provide adequate income at and through an investor's retirement. Before investing, investors should read the Funds' offering and disclosure documents carefully for a complete summary of all fees, expenses, investment objectives and strategies, and risks. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of the amount invested. Investors should carefully consider the information contained in the Funds’ offering and disclosure documents before investing. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
About ICMA-RC
Founded in 1972, ICMA-RC is a non-profit, independent financial services corporation focused on providing retirement plans and related services for over a million public sector participant accounts. ICMA-RC’s mission is to help public sector employees build retirement security. The organization’s mission is delivered through its RealizeRetirement® approach in which ICMA-RC representatives actively engage participants in their retirement programs, help them build their asset base, and help them realize their retirement goals through a comprehensive retirement planning strategy. For more information, visit ICMA-RC or follow ICMA-RC on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.