AAA Welcomes New Jersey Pension Funds Decision to go ‘Alternative’

May 27, 2011 - PRLog -- Boston, MA -- This news has been welcomed by Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), an organization established to assess new alternative assets and encourage individuals and funds to make more alternative investments.

The pension fund currently has around 17.3 per cent of its investment in real state, commodities, hedge funds and private equities – all known as alternative assets. However, after a successful 10-2 vote in favour of a change in stance, the fund hopes to increase its exposure to these assets to around 25.5 per cent in the 2012 fiscal year, explained AAA.

The State Investment Council’s head, Robert Grady, said the decision to put more cash into alternatives was simply a strategy that it hopes will reduce risk. He said, "We're trying to maximize risk-adjusted returns.”

However, he stated, the idea is to reduce risk, rather than drive huge returns. He added, “I don't think it's accurate to say that the [state] or this council is chasing yield to make up the deficit, which we know about, in the pension system."

Under the new plan, some 10 per cent of New Jersey’s pension fund allocation will go into hedge funds, which will represent a rise of nearly 100 per cent. Investment in private equity will also be up to 7 per cent from 6.7 per cent.

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, said that the pension fund’s investment strategy is a sound one. “Investing in alternative assets that are not as affected by wider economic factors to the same extent as equities is wise for any major fund,” he stated.

AAA supports investment in alternative assets including real estate, currencies, commodities private equity and forestry. “There are some excellent returns to be had when investing in environmentally sustainable projects in emerging markets,“ explained Johnson, who has over ten years fund management experience.

He continued, “There are several successful sustainable forestry plantation projects in Brazil that are proving ethical investment can also be lucrative. Greenwood Management has completed its first round of selling for its teak plantation trees to individual and groups who have jumped at the chance to own a tangible, alternative asset that is likely to rise considerably in value over the coming years.”

Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-898-6317
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

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