Sarfraz Thind

• The Solvency II mandate race

  29 March 2017

  Solvency II has turbo-boosted the move to insurance asset outsourcing. Asset managers are beefing up their capabilities to win market share—but what can you do to make yourself stand out from the crowd? Sarfraz Thind reports

  

• The insurance asset management gold rush

  15 March 2017

  Enticed by lucrative revenues, insurers are pushing into the asset management business like never before. Insurer-affiliated managers are currently some of the fastest growing in the world. With regulations and low rates driving increased insurer third-party asset outsourcing, the industry is in a prime position to pick up more business. Sarfraz Thind reports

  

• The machine learning revolution

  24 February 2017

  Machine learning is seen as the next stage of evolution in the asset management world. While still in its infancy, asset managers are examining how to use machines in everything from investment making to operational efficiency. So will it really change the way that insurers invest? Sarfraz Thind reports

  

• ESG investment: the bleeding edge?

  17 February 2017

  Responsible investing is increasingly mentioned in the investment process, and insurers certainly wear their ESG principles as a badge of honour. But, despite the talk, does ESG really influence investment policy? Sarfraz Thind reports

  

• The unorthodox CIO behind MetLife's expansion

  25 January 2017

  MetLife's CIO Steve Goulart manages one of the biggest and most diverse insurance asset portfolios in the US. While the insurer is feeling the pinch of low interest rates, its diversification has helped to calm some of the yield pressure. Sarfraz Thind reports

  

• Sega drives Conning to new frontiers

  11 January 2017

  Rich Sega has been driving Conning towards a more diversified asset base to meet the challenges that US insurers face in the low yield environment. He talks to Sarfraz Thind about the shifting demands of US insurers.

  

• New rules to prompt US asset reshuffle

  22 December 2016

  US insurance is on a collision course with one of its biggest risk capital changes in years. It is a significant change for the long-term asset allocation strategy of US insurers and could herald a reshuffle in the fixed income portfolio. Sarfraz Thind reports.

  

• Unsticking the liquidity jam

  02 November 2016

  Levels of fixed income issuance are at the highest level in nearly a decade yet concerns over bond liquidity have never been greater. The issue is squeezing flexibility in the secondary markets and forcing a deep review of the investment process. Sarfraz Thind reports.

  

• Mortgaging the future

  10 October 2016

  Insurers are realising gains on fixed-income assets faster than ever before. It is a risky strategy, with little regard for future profitability. Sarfraz Thind reports.

  

• Hedge fund reinsurers feel the heat

  07 September 2016

  Poor investment performance and tight reinsurance markets have squeezed returns for hedge fund reinsurers. With some already exiting the market, what for the future? Sarfraz Thind reports.