Pensions & Investments Names Best Places to Work in Money Management

CHICAGO, Dec. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Twenty-nine firms are ranked as this year's Pensions & Investments' Best Places to Work in Money Management.

This is the third year that Pensions & Investments, the international newspaper of money management, has ranked U.S.-based money managers on the results of employer and employee surveys.

The 2014 ranking includes eight companies that have made the list each year since P&I's inaugural effort in 2012.

Repeat winners — those ranked at least twice in the three years — outnumber new names by 15-14.

"Best Places to Work is one of my favorite editorial projects," said Nancy K. Webman, editor of P&I.

"I think it helps executives at those organizations on the list recruit and retain talent. And for me and my staff, it's a refreshing change and just plain fun to write about the touchy-feely side of money management."

Overall, firms were evaluated in comparison to their peers by size. Alternative investment managers were judged as a group regardless of size.

The firms ranked as follows:

P&I's partner on the project, Buck Consultants LLC, calculated the rankings based on responses on the questionnaires, with employee survey results accounting for 60% of a company's score and employer survey responses, 40%.

Principal Financial Group retained a first-place spot, but moved to the group of firms with more than 1,000 employees from the next largest category. The Blackstone Group remained the top alternatives manager.

Two newcomers captured first place — The TCW Group Inc. in the category of 500 to 999 employees, and Westwood Holdings Group among firms with 100 to 499 employees.

Baird Asset Management ranked first among firms with 50 to 99 employees, while Dana Investment Advisors ranked first among the smallest firms.

For a complete list of the 2014 Pensions & Investments' Best Places to Work in Money Management, go to www.pionline.com/BPTW14.

Responses to the employer and employee questionnaires for all companies participating in the 2014 project showed some statistical differences between those that made the list and those that didn't, according to an analysis of the data by Buck Consultants.

Among the findings:

• 87% of employees at BPTW companies participate in performance-based pay programs vs. 76% of employees at the other companies;
• 40% of the BPTW companies provide fully paid-for medical insurance and 45% offer free dental insurance, vs. 27% and 25%, respectively, for those that didn't make the list;
• Special perks such as free or subsidized meals, recreational amenities and on-site fitness centers are considered more important at BPTW companies than at others. One company where perks are plentiful — and highly valued — is Highland Capital Management LP in Dallas. For example, health care is free of premiums and deductibles; breakfast foods are available for staff to prepare; and lunches are free up to an allowance of $15 daily.

About Pensions & Investments

Pensions & Investments, owned by Crain Communications Inc., is the 41-year-old international newspaper of money management. P&I is written for executives at defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans, endowments, foundations and sovereign wealth funds, as well as those at investment management and other investment-related firms. Pensions & Investments provides timely and incisive coverage of events affecting the money management and retirement businesses.

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SOURCE Pensions & Investments