McGill Desautels Faculty of Management - MIPC News

MIPC asks students to devise decumulation strategies for an inflationary environment

McGill University — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 18:18:35 +0000

For its 7th edition, the 2023 McGill International Portfolio Challenge (MIPC), as part of McGill’s Sustainable Growth Initiative (SGI), gathered over 80 teams from 27 countries to address retirement challenges amidst inflation. Participants tackled the task of developing decumulation strategies for the fictional Maple Leaf Pension Plan, simulating real-world data.

Global competition gets students to take on challenge of investing sustainably

McGill University — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 15:41:09 +0000

The 2022 McGill International Portfolio Challenge (MIPC), in its 6^th year, asked undergraduate students from around the world to devise innovative portfolio strategies that could achieve high returns while still ensuring a sustainable future. Participating teams had to consider the same choices institutional funds would need to make to transition to net-zero emissions by 2050, acting as advisors for a fictional superannuation fund in Australia.

Delve: How Banks and Institutional Investment Funds Are Driving the Road to Net-Zero

McGill University — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 21:58:16 +0000

One of the biggest challenges today for financial institutions is how to meet net-zero climate targets while achieving high returns on investment and satisfying the needs of various stakeholders. What does the road to net-zero look like in the realm of long-term investment, who are the players, and how should the inevitable roadblocks be overcome?

MIPC wraps up with MDIIM Symposium and Grand Finale

McGill University — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 15:47:57 +0000

The Marcel Desautels Institute for Integrated Management Symposium on The Road to Net Zero took place on November 2, marking the opening ceremony of the sixth edition of the McGill International Portfolio Challenge (MIPC). Thank you to our panelists, Fanny Doucet, CFA, Managing Director & Head, Sustainable Finance at Scotiabank and Lori Kerr, CEO of FinDev Canada for participating in what was an ins

Three tips for going green

McGill University — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 18:48:15 +0000

On a recent segment of CTV News Montreal, Professor Sebastien Betermier shared three key takeaways from the 5th annual McGill International Portfolio Competition, an event designed to help guide corporate and political leaders toward a greener economy. First, managers should create clear milestones, he says. Second, they must integrate change across industries. Finally, they should develop proactive stakeholder policies.

MIPC winners prepare to present ideas to Dutch pension funds

McGill University — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 22:53:42 +0000

Students from the Copenhagen Business School took home the $25,000 first prize of the fifth annual McGill International Portfolio Challenge (MIPC) this November. According to Professor Sebastien Betermier, who founded the student-organized competition and serves as MIPC’s faculty adviser, the Copenhagen team will have the unique opportunity to present their ideas on retirement reform to Dutch pension funds in 2022.

McGill students spearhead hybrid MIPC

McGill University — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 16:51:42 +0000

A dedicated group of McGill students successfully planned the first hybrid iteration of the annual McGill International Portfolio Challenge.

This year, McGill invited 114 teams from 26 countries to tackle the challenge of designing sustainable retirement system plans in light of Dutch pension reforms.

Delve: Why Ultra-Low Yields Don’t Mean the End of Sustainable Pension Funds

McGill University — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 14:30:10 +0000

Retirement systems around the world, from public pension plans to private funds, are weathering a storm of ultra-low bond yields that threaten not only adequate returns for pensioners but the sustainability of the systems themselves. Designing retirement systems that are resilient to low yields requires balancing risk with resilience and innovative approaches.

Risk and return at the fifth annual MIPC

McGill University — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 21:35:19 +0000

To kick off the fifth edition of the McGill International Portfolio Challenge, Professor Sebastien Betermier moderated a Delve Integrated Management symposium powered by Global Risk Institute in Financial Services (GRI) entitled “Designing Sustainable Retirement Systems in the Current Environment of Ultra-Low Yields.” The event invited University Pension Plan Ontario’s Barbara Zvan and PSP Investment’s Eduard van Gelderen, leading experts in pension management, to share their perspective on designing

McGill International Portfolio Challenge illustrates growing importance of impact investing

McGill University — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 20:14:31 +0000

BCom student Tania Kuoh, Executive Director of the McGill International Portfolio Challenge (MIPC), makes the case for impact investing following the recent success of the first virtual MIPC event this year. Since 2015, the MIPC has granted students from around the world a unique opportunity to tackle the Triple Mandate through integrated asset allocation. Learn more

Two international teams claim victory in McGill portfolio-building competition

McGill University — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 21:00:12 +0000

The first virtual McGill International Portfolio Competition (MIPC) drew 93 university teams from 18 countries to design portfolio strategies that address the rise of social inequalities and protectionism in the U.K.

Student teams compete to win 2020 McGill International Portfolio Challenge

McGill University — Fri, 27 Nov 2020 15:53:46 +0000

The fourth annual McGill International Portfolio Challenge (MIPC) drew a record number of teams to solve a complex portfolio construction problem designed by Desautels students. This year’s case study, which focused on themes of social inequality and protectionism, was more relevant than ever in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn more in the McGill Reporter

93 student teams tackle social inequality and protectionism at MIPC 2020

McGill University — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 21:38:38 +0000

The fourth annual McGill International Portfolio Challenge invited 93 student teams from 18 countries to compete to solve a complex portfolio construction problem. This year’s case study challenged participants to invest a fictitious sovereign wealth fund in a way that addressed social inequalities and protectionism in the wake of Brexit.

Learn more

MIPC to tackle questions around protectionism and social inequalities

McGill University — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 20:54:28 +0000

Students behind the McGill International Portfolio Challenge (MIPC) are planning the first virtual rendition of the premier case competition to be held in September. MIPC invites university students from across the world to tackle pressing socioeconomic issues faced by asset managers.

“This year’s case centres around investing in a time of protectionism and rising inequalities, a theme that is very representative of our current reality,” co-executive director Darius Kuddo explains.

The complex nature of investment strategies

McGill University — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 21:24:22 +0000

Professor Sebastien Betermier uses winning student proposals from the 2019 McGill International Portfolio Challenge as the model for sustainable investment strategies of university endowment funds, suggesting that divestment strategies should go beyond a simple yes or no response.

Can university pension plans help tackle climate change?

McGill University — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 19:50:35 +0000

In November 2019, teams in the McGill International Portfolio Challenge were asked to provide a solution for a fictional pension fund reassessing its investments in the interest of climate action.

In a piece for The Globe and Mail, Professor Sebastien Betermier considers the winning solution in the context of university pension plans.

Students forging the path to sustainability

McGill University — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 15:28:43 +0000

At the recent McGill International Portfolio Challenge, students once again demonstrated that they are leading the march to sustainability. Asked to consider the options of a pension fund under pressure to divest from the fossil fuel industry, the winning team from HEC Montréal presented a solution that is both responsible and realistic.

Learn more

MIPC brings students together to tackle sustainable investing

McGill University — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 18:49:01 +0000

With a focus on the sustainable investment of public pension funds, this year’s McGill International Portfolio Challenge (MIPC) demonstrated students’ ability to realistically solve a key issue facing investors today. The winning team’s strategy proposed a progressive, partial divestment while pursuing investment in diverse green initiatives, according to Professor Sebastien Betermier.

Reflecting on MIPC 2018

McGill University — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 17:50:02 +0000

Avantages reports on the 2018 McGill International Portfolio Challenge (MIPC), which saw 90 teams from around the world compete for a $25,000 grand prize.

Organized by Desautels BCom students under the guidance of Prof. Sebastien Betermier, this year’s MIPC addressed the severe underfunding of U.S. state pensions – a grand challenge that presents no simple solution.

Students to the rescue of a U.S. pension system in peril

McGill University — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 15:19:34 +0000

The U.S. pension plan shortfall has the makings of a perfect storm – so who is heeding the call to help remedy a seemingly insurmountable problem?

Enter Professor Sebastien Betermier, a group of Desautels BCom students and the McGill International Portfolio Challenge (MIPC).

Students respond with answers to looming U.S. pension crisis

McGill University — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 17:27:47 +0000

Professor Sebastien Betermier sits down with La Presse to discuss the second annual McGill International Portfolio Challenge (MIPC), which brought forward the fresh perspectives of 25 international student teams as they attempted to solve the severe underfunding of U.S. state pensions.

Along the way, Prof. Betermier shares insights into why the looming pension crisis in the U.S. is so complex and difficult to solve, as well as some of the novel ideas proposed at the MIPC.

The top business school competitions you should know about

McGill University — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 19:07:04 +0000

A piece published in BusinessBecause lists the top business school case competitions that offer major prizes to winners.

Among the competitions listed is the McGill International Portfolio Challenge (MIPC).

The MIPC targets innovative portfolio design and asset management, uniquely shifting the status quo of traditional academic competitions to the buy side.

MIPC looks to shape the future of pension investing

McGill University — Wed, 16 May 2018 15:37:23 +0000

For a second consecutive year and under the guidance of Professor Sebastien Betermier, the McGill International Portfolio Challenge (MIPC) is offering the opportunity for students to tackle one of the grand challenges of our time – devising a robust pension system.

The first round of the competition will take place online between September 7, 2018 to early October.

Registration is now open.

Professor Betermier on the value of MIPC

McGill University — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 15:21:41 +0000

Following the inaugural McGill International Portfolio Challenge (MIPC), Professor Betermier reflects on how the event provided an important opportunity of self-reflexivity for Canadian pension organizations, while also contributing fresh perspectives on how to address a growing crisis.

His hope is that events like the MIPC might also inspire Finance students to delve deeper into pension management during their studies and to eventually follow this career path.

Who will solve the pension crisis

McGill University — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 20:18:44 +0000

Students participating in the McGill International Portfolio Challenge presented hypothetical portfolios believed to achieve solvency to address the crisis that has been affecting Canadian pension funds.

McGill launches first-ever competition on pension asset allocation

McGill University — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 18:39:08 +0000

McGill hosted the world’s first business-school competition focused on the asset allocation of pension funds on November 3–4.

The inaugural McGill International Portfolio Challenge (MIPC) welcomed 25 finalist student teams from leading institutions around the world, with some traveling from as far away as Australia, Hong Kong and Switzerland to pitch their proposals to a panel of judges from several of Canada’s largest asset managers.

Desautels inaugurates world’s first pension portfolio challenge

McGill University — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 14:57:26 +0000

This weekend, twenty-five student teams from Berkeley, Chicago, Sydney, Hong Kong, and Geneva, amongst others will participate in the final round of the McGill International Portfolio Challenge.

Organized by Desautels BCom students under the guidance of Professor Sebastien Betermier, this is the world’s first pension asset allocation competition.