Liability-Driven Investment Strategies

Our LDI capabilities include a range of duration-targeting credit strategies designed to help clients stay on their glidepaths and reduce funded-status volatility while also generating competitive yields to help meet plan obligations.

Contact us to learn more.

Approach

Conning believes in disciplined pension risk management aimed at minimizing the downside risk to a plan's funded status while maintaining investment performance in order to meet desired investment outcomes.
A customized LDI strategy should reflect:
  •   A client's tolerance for risk
  •   The considerations of various stakeholders
  •   The anticipated contribution amounts
  •   The plan's place in a de-risking glidepath
  •   Desired investment outcomes.
Portfolios are customized to each client's unique needs and supported by Conning's proprietary fundamental credit research, qualitative and quantitative analysis of relative value, active sector and security selection, integrated risk management, and trading.

Process

Our optimized process ensures that the LDI strategy is tailored to the client's specific needs, effectively manages risks, and is regularly reviewed and adjusted to maintain alignment with client objectives.
1

Client Objective Definition


  • Define desired outcomes, goals, risk tolerance, and constraints.
  • Establish return expectations and time horizon.

2

Risk Analysis


  • Identify and analyze interest rate, credit, and any inflation risks.
  • Consider client-specific constraints and risk factors.
  • Holistically consider the pension plan as part of the broader organization.

3

Benchmark Design


  • Design investable benchmark fully reflecting liability characteristics.
  • Use benchmark as performance measurement tool.

4

Portfolio Implementation


  • Align asset duration and risk with the benchmark.
  • Utilize the full range of asset classes and tools available to meet investment objectives.

5

Regular Monitoring & Rebalancing


  • Monitor portfolio performance against benchmark.
  • Rebalance to maintain alignment with client objectives.

Experts

Sean Kurian

Sean Kurian, FSA, CAIA, FIA, FRM, is a Managing Director and Head of Institutional Solutions, responsible for the creation of investment solutions for pension plans as well as all aspects of the firm’s derivatives portfolio management and trading. Prior to joining the firm in 2016, Mr. Kurian was lead structuring specialist & derivatives portfolio manager at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, and previously led Towers Watson’s Structured Solutions group. Mr. Kurian serves on FTSE bond index committees on both sides of the Atlantic and has been a frequent media commentator on financial risk management, derivatives and pensions investment. He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) in the U.S., a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries (FIA) in the U.K., holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation and the Financial Risk Manager (FRM) designation. Mr. Kurian earned a master’s degree in financial mathematics from the University of Oxford.

Sean Kurian, FSA, CAIA, FIA, FRM, is a Managing Director and Head of Institutional Solutions, responsible for the creation of investment solutions for pension plans as well as all aspects of the firm’s derivatives portfolio management and trading. Prior to joining the firm in 2016, Mr. Kurian was lead structuring specialist & derivatives portfolio manager at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, and previously led Towers Watson’s Structured Solutions gro Read More...

Lynn Ryan

Lynn M. Ryan, CFA, is a Managing Director and lead LDI portfolio manager. Ms. Ryan is a member of the firm’s Investment Policy Committee and has been managing pension assets since joining Goodwin Capital Advisers in 1997, prior to that firm being acquired by Conning in 2011. She was previously employed by BankBoston as a Corporate Lender and is a graduate of Dartmouth College with a bachelor’s degree in economics.

Lynn M. Ryan, CFA, is a Managing Director and lead LDI portfolio manager. Ms. Ryan is a member of the firm’s Investment Policy Committee and has been managing pension assets since joining Goodwin Capital Advisers in 1997, prior to that firm being acquired by Conning in 2011. She was previously employed by BankBoston as a Corporate Lender and is a graduate of Dartmouth College with a bachelo Read More...

Explore Additional Investment Capabilities

Customized services for U.S. pensions, insurers and other liability driven investors
Liability Driven Investment (LDI) Solutions
A customized approach using a range of duration-targeting credit strategies designed to help clients stay on their glidepaths and reduce funded-status volatility while also generating competitive yields to help meet plan obligations.
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Core, Core Plus, Total Return and Duration-based Fixed Income for pensions and other institutional investors
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Derivative and Overlay Solutions
Derivatives-based investment solutions that strategically improve risk-adjusted investment outcomes for institutional investors.
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Peer Analysis
A benchmarking tool offering insight into trends and opportunities in investment portfolios, underwriting and operations to help insurers better understand their competitive position.
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Strategic Asset Allocation
Conning's process of developing investment strategies that examine the portfolio’s role within the insurer’s entire operation, rather than simply focusing on optimizing returns.
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Risk Considerations

 
Credit Risk: The risk that an issuer of securities will be unable to pay principal and interest when due, or that the value of the security will suffer because investors believe the issuer is less able to pay.
 
Interest Rate Risk: The value of your investment may also go down when interest rates rise. A rise in rates tends to have a greater impact on the prices of longer term or duration securities.