A research Report Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Award of the Degree of Master of Business Administration (Corporate Management) of Mzumbe University
This study is about assessment on the role of real estate asset allocation strategies in pension funds’ investments portfolio while National Social Security Fund (NSSF) being its case study. Specifically the study focus on examine whether portfolio characteristics influence investment portfolio, determine whether interest rates influence investment portfolio, establish volatility characteristics influence investment portfolio, to determine whether pension fund regulations influence investment portfolio. The study is descriptive research design as information was collected by using both interviews and questionnaires as tools of data collection to 69 respondents involved in this study. Key informants were sample in simple random sampling while data analysis was analyzed using statistical packages for social science (SPSS) version 23.
Findings from the study indicate that, portfolio characteristics significantly influence investment portfolio with flexibility of asset combination and consideration of expected returns for asset class taking the lead, however, the research reveal poor public involvement on investment portfolio. Investment portfolio is as well influenced by interest rates, with benefits reaped by beneficiaries on time, investment considering short-termed profit orientation and stock price variation. The study also established that, with volatility calculations being prior considered in asset investment portfolio, also the investments adhere to policy requirements and funds objective as a rule of thumb.
While most significant investment requirements that can assure profit on the investments are considered, one important part, to be specific a deliberate public involvement is ignored. This is probably because the general public might be considered of generally unprofessionalism based or as another unnecessary red-tape. Therefore, study concludes that, asset investment portfolio being done with consideration of portfolio characteristics, volatility calculations, and the expected returns of the investments, yet policies and regulations should be reformed friendly to the public involvement as the primary beneficiaries of any investment made from public sourced pension funds like those managed by NSSF.