HHIA is prepared to address every aspect of the investment process as it relates:
- Defined Benefit Plans
- Defined Contribution Plans
- Executive Supplemental Plans
- OPEB Trusts
- Foundation and Endowment Trusts
Assistance with RFPs
HHIA provides plan sponsors with professional assistance with the Request For Proposal
process. Acting as an independent and objective third party consultant, we organize,
structure, and manage the search for professional investment-related services and
managers. Our expertise in this area helps take the stress out of a process that
is often time consuming, complex, and challenging for those charged with the responsibility
for screening and hiring quality investment managers.
Advisory Oversight
Our consultants function as a "second pair of eyes" for the plan sponsor's investment committee.
Essentially, HHIA sits on the sponsor's side of the table to ensure the proper questions are
asked of the current investment managers. Clients have found that HHIA brings a level of
investment sophistication and expertise that compliments and rounds out that of the investment
committee. As an option, HHIA can remain in an advisory role as co-fiduciary, providing oversight on either an
ongoing basis or for a specified period.
Expense & Performance Audits
HHIA will help plan sponsors by obtaining a full accounting of fees and expenses, revenue sharing
and rebating from all advisory, investmenet management, custodial, and trust parties. We audit:
Wrap and investment advirosry fees, mutual fund finder's
fees and 12b-1 fees, directed brokerage
commissions, revenue sharing, rebates, offsets, etc. HHIA can also perform an analysis of proper
mutual fund share classes (if pertinent).
Investment Policy Guidelines and Objectives
We will review a plan taking into consideration any mandates of current investment
providers. Through discussions with the committee or board, we identify investment
goals and formulate investment policy guidelines, which are then used to develop
a formal investment policy statement. Our process includes:
- Review of current investment program
- Assessment of risk tolerance
- Identification of investment goals and objectives
- Asset class restrictions
- Liability structure and liquidity needs
- Asset allocation targets
- Index and universe benchmarks for monitoring and evaluation of the portfolio
- Monitor and review standards
- Roles and responsibilities
Asset Allocation Strategies
HHIA develops an asset allocation strategy that takes into account:
- Capital market performance
- Your plan’s unique liability structure
- Plan sponsor tolerance for risk
- Review your current investment program
- Identify asset classes not represented
- Establish risk, return and correlation parameters
- Run multiple asset allocation scenarios
- Work with you to identify the optimal asset mix for your plan’s structure
Asset Liability Modeling
To assist you with effectively managing your pension fund we apply true dynamic
(stochastic and deterministic) integration of assets and liabilities. Our asset
allocation analysis and asset liability modeling have helped clients focus on their
long-term investment horizon and take risks commensurate with that horizon.
Investment Manager Searches
Our manager searches encompass each client’s unique and specific needs with the
goal of adding value to our clients’ portfolios. We are able to offer manager selection
based on:
- Risk profile
- Return goals
- Asset allocation
- Liquidity constraints
- Other circumstances unique to the client
Fund Evaluation and Selection
We have access to the nationally known funds and fund families. Through our screening
process we are able to identify and offer clients top quality funds for each of
the asset classes and investment styles. Our recommendations are based on our knowledge
of each plan’s unique characteristics.
Performance Monitoring and Reporting
Monitoring and evaluating a plan’s investment program is a critical responsibility
of fiduciaries. Fiduciaries can be assured that our standards for evaluating their
plans and investments will be performed according to a set of mutually agreed upon
standards. We will:
- Evaluate investment managers on a quarterly basis
- Adjust portfolio mix to maintain objectives and allocation
- Rebalance regularly to targets as dictated by the Investment Policy Statements
Assessments
We are available to provide an expert assessment of a plan’s current investment
structure, its policies and procedures, fee structure and ongoing plan maintenance.
Fiduciaries utilize our consulting service to assure that their plan’s investment
program is structured to meet specific objectives and is being well managed and
monitored. Our skilled and professional staff acts as a collective “investment talent
pool” for each of our institutional advisory clients.
Executive and Fiduciary Workshops
It is both helpful and prudent to ensure that
those responsible for an organization’s retirement plans are knowledgeable about
their fiduciary responsibilities. We will meet with the plan’s retirement committee,
finance committee and other administrators to help them understand how to manage
their plan related investment fiduciary risks
and responsibilities.