The global top 300 pension funds is an annual study conducted by the Thinking Ahead Institute, in conjunction with Pensions and Investments. The research highlights high-level trends in the pension fund industry and provides information on how the characteristics of these top funds have changed.
Key findings
- Assets Under Management (AUM) of the top 300 pension funds totalled US$ 22.6 trillion
- Assets of top 300 funds increased by 10% in 2023, compared to a decline of 13% in 2022
- The top 20 pension funds made up 42% of total AUM in 2023
- While equity markets returned positive performance across most regions in 2023, persisting volatility and high uncertainty in the global economy means there is increasing complexity in the investment landscape
- Rising systemic risk creates a compelling case for adapting investment risk thinking and practices
- The emergence of 3D investing, also known as system-level investing, is timely and crucial. This approach integrates the three dimensions of risk, return and impact, recognising that the returns we seek are only possible within a well-functioning, sustainable system.