Coverage, charts, video and research on Explainers for universal owners.
Endowment fiduciary duty imposes strict legal obligations on trustees and investment committees to maximize long-term returns, act without conflicts, and preserve capital for future generations. Standards vary by state law and charter.
Long-term asset owners now interpret fiduciary duty as extending to future beneficiaries, not just current members. This shift reshapes how the world's largest pension funds approach climate risk, systemic sustainability, and decades-long capital allocation.
Europe approaches investor duty through directives and disclosure rather than a single fiduciary statute — and the 2025-26 reforms are redrawing where sustainability fits in.
Why public pension funds answer to state law and the exclusive-benefit rule rather than ERISA — and how that shapes the ongoing fight over ESG and investment mandates.
How institutional investors decide the millions of proxy votes they cast each year — and why the role of ISS and Glass Lewis is now shifting.
What a stewardship report is, what the UK Stewardship Code 2026 expects it to contain, and how to tell a substantive report from a glossy one.
The evidence on whether selling or staying does more to change corporate behaviour — and why universal owners lean toward engagement backed by a credible exit threat.
How universal owners use dialogue, voting and escalation to influence the companies they hold — and what separates real engagement from box-ticking.
Fiduciary duty forms the legal and ethical foundation of pension fund management. We examine statutory obligations, trustee responsibilities, and governance implications for long-term allocators.
Universal proxy consolidates shareholder proposals onto a single ballot, reshaping how institutional investors exercise voting rights and engage in stewardship. We examine the mechanics, adoption timeline, and governance implications for asset owners.
Say on Climate gives institutional investors a formal voice in corporate climate governance through non-binding shareholder votes. We explain how it works, adoption rates, and its role in fiduciary duty.
Duty of care requires institutional investors to act with competence and diligence when managing capital. We examine the legal framework, practical implementation, and how major asset owners structure governance to meet this obligation.
Research, charts, video and podcast analysis for the institutions investing at the scale of the world.
Five minutes, five days a week. Complimentary — subscriptions are reviewed by our editorial desk, and you'll receive a notice once approved.
You’re on the list. Tomorrow’s brief will arrive in your inbox.
Please enter a valid email.