Investment Policy Framework
We design Investment Policy Statements and decision-making frameworks — translating your investment philosophy into clear, enforceable rules that guide every allocation decision.
IPS Framework Scope
- Investment philosophy & belief statement
- Decision-making authority & approval matrix
- Permitted & prohibited investment universe
- Performance measurement standards
- Policy breach identification & escalation
- Annual review & amendment process
Our Advisory Services
Investment Philosophy Statement
We document the core beliefs that drive your investment approach — market efficiency assumptions, return drivers, risk philosophy — creating the intellectual foundation of every policy that follows.
Decision Authority Matrix
Who can approve what investment decision — by type, size and risk level — documented in a clear matrix that eliminates ambiguity and creates accountability for every allocation.
Permitted Investment Universe
A defined list of permitted asset classes, instruments, structures and geographic markets — with explicit exclusions and the process for requesting a universe expansion.
Performance Standards
Benchmark selection, performance measurement period, attribution methodology and the evaluation criteria used to assess whether investment decisions are meeting objectives.
Breach Management
Identification process for policy breaches, escalation pathway, remediation timeline and documentation requirements — ensuring breaches are addressed promptly and systematically.
Policy Review Process
Annual review structure, amendment authority, change documentation and version control — ensuring your IPS evolves with your organisation without losing institutional memory.
Built for Real Outcomes
An Investment Policy Statement is the governance document most organisations know they need and fewest have written well. Vague objectives and undefined decision rules create the illusion of governance without providing the substance.
We produce IPS documents that are operationally useful — specific enough to actually guide decisions, flexible enough to accommodate legitimate discretion.
IPS Documents We Produce For
- Family office and UHNWI investment programmes
- Endowment and foundation investment committees
- Corporate treasury and reserve funds
- Pension and retirement fund trustees
- Sovereign and government investment authorities
IPS Core Sections
- 1. Purpose & governance overview
- 2. Investment objectives & constraints
- 3. Asset allocation policy
- 4. Permitted investment universe
- 5. Risk management framework
- 6. Performance measurement standards
- 7. Manager oversight policy
- 8. Review & amendment process
Common IPS Weaknesses We Fix
- Objectives stated without measurable targets
- No defined permitted/prohibited instrument list
- Performance benchmarks not specified
- No breach identification process
- Amendment process undefined
How We Work
Philosophy Workshop
We facilitate a structured discussion to elicit and document your investment beliefs and objectives.
Draft IPS
We produce a full draft IPS with all sections and supporting schedules.
Review & Refine
We review with your investment committee or board and incorporate feedback.
Adoption & Embedding
We advise on how to formally adopt the IPS and embed it in your investment governance.
Frequently Asked
Ready to Build Your Investment Policy Framework?
Our Investment Oversight team produces IPS documents that provide genuine governance discipline — not just documentation for its own sake.