Investment Solutions

With the Swiss Life Asset Managers occupational pension platform, we offer companies a custom-fit solution comprising the following components:

•  bAV capital investment (asset management)
• Pension liability management (liability management)
  
• Insurance solution (outsourcing of risks)
  

In occupational pension practice, it is common for companies to implement an individual mix of the above components.

The Swiss Life Asset Managers occupational pension platform offers companies both predefined and individual solutions. Regardless of the design of the solution, the following principles are the focus of our joint considerations:

• Value preservation and controlled value growth
  
• The generation of long-term and consistent returns
  
• A responsible approach to risks and active consideration of ESG criteria
  
• Relief ("de-risking") for the company while at the same time increasing its attractiveness for employees
  
• Involvement of the relevant stakeholders and specialist departments within the company
  

The Swiss Life Asset Managers baV platform supports companies in analysing, evaluating and implementing the above considerations.

Individual capital investment and strong right of co-determination

Standard solutions do not fit every company or every pension plan payout option. Therefore, we build individual solutions for life-cycle, working time value accounts as well as for collective models. In workshops, we as asset managers work with you to find the right investment. From our point of view, suitable means that on the one hand a certain target return should be achieved, but at the same time a certain risk must not be exceeded. In this context, it is important for you and thus also for us as asset managers to take into account the planned incoming and outgoing payments.

Professional derivation of the capital investment

The derivation usually takes place via an ALM study by our colleagues from the "Financial Engineering" division. The Financial Engineering team consists of quantitative analysts and is primarily responsible for conducting ALM studies and portfolio optimisations as well as for developing quantitative investment strategies.

The goal is to show the opportunities and risks regarding the choice of asset allocation and risks of the plan design by means of a realistic projection of assets and liabilities. In addition, proposed solutions for risk reduction are discussed and recommendations for asset investment are derived from them. We are happy to support you in the conversion from HGB to IFRS.

In the ALM study, we combine our many years of experience in asset management with a high level of expertise in the area of occupational pension schemes. We are happy to discuss the implementation of the occupational pension investment with you. Here we show you the advantages and disadvantages of active and passive instruments in a transparent and comprehensible manner. We are also happy to discuss the use of real estate and infrastructure investments as a stabiliser of pension assets. Our competences include:

Portfolio optimisation

• Market and scenario analyses
  
• Manager selection
  
• Implementation of sustainability criteria
  
• Quantitative and data-based way of working
  

Strategic and tactical asset allocation (SAA & TAA)

• Derivation of the Strategic Asset Allocations
  
• Development of tactical asset allocation models
  

Investment Research

• Research in cooperation with the portfolio management teams and the economic research team
  
• Development of quantitative investment strategies
  
• Jointly developed models are made available to PM teams via proprietary tools.
  

ALM-studies

• Many years of experience and expertise in conducting ALM studies 
• Classical and capital market-based method with dynamic projections
  
• In-house yield forecasts
  
• Recommendation of an optimised investment strategy with the aim of ensuring coverage of the pension liabilities in the medium to long term
  

Our risk-conscious investment philosophy

Our investment philosophy is based on many years of experience in risk-conscious asset management. We focus on attractive, stable returns and a long-term investment horizon. We are convinced that active asset management creates added value for our clients and systematically exploit investment opportunities that arise from market inefficiencies and price distortions. Broad diversification is central to us in order to minimise specific risks and to take into account the asymmetry between risk and return of bond investments. We implement investment ideas promptly so that alpha can actually be achieved. We place great emphasis on strict risk management, starting from portfolio management, and on clear responsibilities for each individual step of the investment process.