OCIO Fundamentals
Bringing together all you need to know about outsourced CIO.
What is OCIO?
OCIO stands for Outsourced Chief Investment Officer. This is when an organization delegates either some or all of the day-to-day management of its investment portfolio to a qualified firm. By hiring an OCIO, you retain control over important decisions like strategic asset allocation. Your OCIO partner manages the day-to-day investment management.
How can CIO outsourcing help?
Respond more rapidly in a crisis.
Partnering with an OCIO firm ensures your portfolio is monitored around the clock and can respond rapidly in a crisis.
OCIOs improve access to the best ideas
Improvement alignment: The sustainable roadmap
Whether you're driven by personal or stakeholder values, mitigating risk or complying with regulation, sustainable factors are a key consideration for many investors. Yet, as with many areas of investing, it's complicated. An investment outsourcing partner can help.
OCIO myth-busting
"I'll lose control of my investment program"
The reality is far removed. Each outsourcing partnership is based on the unique resourcing needs of the organization. Fiduciary responsibility cannot be delegated; however, we can help you determine the right level of resourcing for your organization. The ultimate authority remains with you.
"Outsourcing hides fee layering"
Fee standardization remains an elusive goal for the industry, and hidden or additional fees can be an issue for some providers. The industry best practice remains full fee transparency, particularly around the remuneration to third parties, with a simple "all-in" or "cost-plus" fee based on the scale of assets managed.
"Strategies are over-diversified"
Portfolios can be over-diversified with additional inclusions reducing return potential without reducing risk. Best practice providers will have the tools to accurately assess a broad array of opportunities for diversification and align them with the investors' unique risk appetite.
Considering an outsourced investment approach
What to look for in a provider.
KEY ASPECT 1
Integrated, holistic risk management
Accurate, timely and comprehensive visibility of risks at the total portfolio level forms the foundation for virtually all basic risk and portfolio management activities. Yet, with the complexity embedded in today’s portfolios, across public and private assets, integrated holistic visibility is surprising uncommon.
KEY ASPECT 2
Organizational focus and capability
Maintaining the full suite of capabilities required for any outsourcing solution requires significant commitment, scale and resources. Organizations with competing priorities, little leadership focus or lacking fully integrated capabilities will find it challenging to sustain a competitive edge.
KEY ASPECT 3
Industry-specific experience
A partner lacking a well-grounded understanding of your industry will ultimately draw on your time to get up to speed (at your expense). In contrast, a partner who is an industry specialist will be able to provide additional insight, and support, based on their experience guiding organizations with similar challenges.
KEY ASPECT 4
The human element
Although exceedingly difficult to quantify, the relationship between your organization and your outsourcing provider is of critical importance. The best partners will act as a seamless extension of your team, with aligned objectives and a cohesive approach.
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