Guideline 66. External safekeeping measures
The board and/or management ensure the professional safekeeping of the investment assets of the institution.
The board and/or management ensure the professional safekeeping of the investment assets of the institution.
The board and management ensure that the valuation of the investment portfolio is in accordance with international market standards on fair market value.
The board and management have the technical expertise to determine whether investment proposals have undergone due diligence, and act upon their determination.
The investment unit of the institution efficiently implements the investment policies set out by the board or management.
The investment unit follows the prudent person principle in managing the funds of the institution. The prudent person principle is integral to the fiduciary duties of the board and management in administering and managing the funds of the institution.
There are many areas to be addressed in enforcing the prudent person principle in the investment of social security funds. These guidelines are addressed specifically to institutions with internal investment units.
For social security institutions that have a mandate to manage the investment reserve funds of the programme, whether through internal and/or external fund managers, the board and the management are duty bound to ensure that the funds are invested in accordance with basic prudential rules such as profitability, safety, liquidity and diversification.
For institutions that have investment reserve funds, standards and benchmarks are established for the returns on fund investments to support the financial sustainability of the programme.
To maintain its financial sustainability, the contribution rates are set according to the promised benefits of the social security programme.
The programme has regular actuarial valuations to monitor sustainability.