This op-ed originally appeared in Townhall on July 27, 2020. In 2001, Enron, then one of the most admired companies in the United States, collapsed in scandal and bankruptcy. Questions began emerging a year earlier regarding the energy giant’s accounting practices after investors, analysts, and reporters became concerned by Enron’s massive amount of debt. In […]
Commentary
Statement from IPFI President Christopher Burnham on the SEC’s Proposed Rule on Proxy Advisory Firms
Washington, DC – The Securities and Exchange Commission is holding an open meeting today to finalize a rule to enhance transparency, improve disclosures, and increase confidence in the proxy advisory process. The rule under consideration could bring the proxy advisory industry in line with every other financial service by ensuring they are registered as fiduciaries – and can be […]
Commentary: Reclaim ESG As A Force For Good, Not A Way To Impose Political Preferences On Investments
This article originally appeared in Forbes on July 17, 2020. An article in the Financial Times July 9 related how some asset managers are upset about a proposed U.S. Department of Labor rule that would bar pension funds from making investments that prioritize politics over sound retirements. The rule says that investing decisions can’t be driven by environmental, social and governance […]
For Immediate Release: IPFI Advisory Board Weighs in on the Proposed Dept. of Labor ESG Rule Change
Washington, DC – IPFI advisory board members have submitted comment letters concerning a proposed regulation on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investments by the Department of Labor. The letters express support for the revision to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) which would require ERISA-qualified asset managers to base investment decisions solely on financial considerations rather […]
In Case You Missed It: The Latest Roundup of Material from IPFI
The Institute for Pension Fund Integrity (IPFI) works to promote sound governance of public pension funds across the United States. At IPFI, we urge pension leadership to prioritize fiduciary responsibility and put fiscal health first when making financial decisions. We encourage officials to carry out sensible and prudent pension management guided by their fiduciary responsibilities. […]
Commentary: Activist Banks That Weaponize Lending Power Should Meet Stiff Resistance From Lawmakers
This article originally appeared in Forbes on June 16, 2020. Is it ever proper for banks to play politics with their financial assets? The answer is a resounding “No.” You would think that with almost one-third of the nation unemployed and businesses of all sizes suffering, banks – particularly Goldman Sachs, Citibank and Morgan Stanley […]
IPFI Statement on the proposed Department of Labor rule on ESG investing
The Department of Labor last week released a proposed rule on tax-qualified retirement plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) in order to determine the extent to which Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations factor into investment decisions. The question at hand is whether the plan managers, bound by fiduciary duty to their beneficiaries, […]
Commentary: Proxy Firms’ Social-Ills Advice Wrongheaded
This article originally appeared in the Chief-Leader on June 22, 2020. In this time of economic turmoil, firefighters deserve stable pensions, not political gamesmanship. The COVID-19 crisis has put an incredible strain on public pension funds. State and city governments will be under enormous budget pressure as leaders scramble and struggle to recover from the […]
Commentary: As Shareholders Come Together to Vote, Investors Must Work to Keep Politics Out of Public Pensions
This article originally appeared in Morning Consult on June 9, 2020. With the proxy voting season in motion, corporations and shareholders are preparing to debate numerous potential changes to how thousands of businesses operate. This year, a single issue will be at the forefront of everyone’s minds: the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus has upended the […]
Commentary: BlackRock’s new ESG priority is probably about collecting more fees
This article originally appeared in ValueWalk on May 28, 2020. BlackRock has been moving to redefine its identity from a firm focused on index investing to a firm that emphasizes ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) investing. However, one organization argues that this move is less about doing something good for investors and more about enabling BlackRock […]