NEW: Forbes' Siedle to Conduct New Investigation into RI Pension Fund

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NEW: Forbes' Siedle to Conduct New Investigation into RI Pension Fund

Edward "Ted" Siedle
Forbes columnist and former SEC investigator Edward Siedle has said that he will be conducting a new investigation into the Rhode Island state pension system, more than a year after his initial report "RI Public Pension Reform: Wall Street's License to Steal," was released in October 2013.  

"I will be investigating the [Rhode Island] pension system again," said Siedle, who said his expected time frame is to start in the beginning of 2015.  

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"I have financial backing," said Siedle, who last time was hired by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) to conduct an investigation. Siedle said he would be saying who is backing his newest investigation "when it gets closer."  

Siedle made note of the fact that Rhode Island's hedge fund investment with Mason Capital made 1% in returns this year.

"The money managers got more money than the state did," said Siedle, who said that Mason's "standard fee schedule" was two percent.  "They get at least one and a half," added Siedle.  "They're just one of the worst, but this whole hedge fund strategy is a failed experiment.  I tweeted recently, "The one percenters made Rhode Island...one percent!"

Siedle added that he has just been named by Institutional Investor one of the forty most influential pension people in America.  "After I hammered them for giving Raimondo an award," noted Siedle.  

Read Siedle's First Investigation Findings HERE

RI Public Pension Reform: Wall Street's License To Steal

Treasurer’s Lack of Transparency

 
"There has been a sinister pall of secrecy regarding fundamental investment information orchestrated by state officials and aided by key investment services providers. "

So-Called Pension Reform Scheme Permanently Reduces Benefits To Retirees

"Whether retirees receive any COLA will depend upon both ERSRI’s funding level and the Fund’s actual investment returns—both of which are volatile, unpredictable and subject to manipulation by elected officials and others. The manipulation of both of these key goalposts has already begun. "

SEC Should Investigate ERSRI’s Failure to Disclose Skyrocketing Investment Expenses 

 
"The Treasurer has intentionally withheld information about soaring investment fees which is material in assessing both whether ERSRI should invest in costly alternative investments and whether benefit cuts are necessary to improve pension funding."

Lose-Lose: Alternative Investments Both Reduce Returns and Increase Risk 

 
"The Treasurer’s representations regarding the level of risk related to ERSRI’s hedge fund investments are wholly inconsistent with the hedge fund managers’own words."

ERSRI Agrees To Be Kept In The Dark, Grants Mystery Investors Licenses to Steal and Consents To Potential Nondisclosure Illegalities 

 
"The outrageous nondisclosure policies detailed in the hedge fund offering documents cause these investments to be, at a minimum, inherently impermissible for a public pension, such as ERSRI, if not illegal."

Heightened Risks Related To Hedge Fund Offshore Regulation And Custody

 
"There is no evidence the State Investment Commission was aware of, or ever considered, the unique risks related to foreign regulation of hedge funds."

SEC Should Investigate Questions Surrounding ERSRI’s Point Judith Venture Investment

 
"The Treasurer has made numerous public statements regarding the performance of the Point Judith II fund she formerly managed and sold to ERSRI, as well as released summary performance figures which are strikingly divergent. [...] In order to prevent any possible confusion or misleading of investors, the SEC should investigate Point Judith II performance claims."

Rhode Island Ethics Commission Opinion And “Blind Trust” Fail to Address Conflicts Regarding Point Judith Investment

 
"The Treasurer notably failed to mention in her letter to the Ethics Commission that the state was a limited partner in the Point Judith fund and may have broad rights in the fund that conflict with hers. Further, she may have special rights that permit her to profit at the state’s expense."

SEC Should Investigate ERSRI Investment Consultant Conflicts, Payments From Money Managers

 
"The investment consultant retained to provide objective advice regarding alternatives, Cliffwater LLC, has disclosed in its SEC filings that it receives compensation from investment managers it recommends or selects for its clients, including Brown Brothers Harriman which manages $272 million for ERSRI."

“Pay To Play” Placement Agent Abuses at ERSRI

 
"Rather than undertake an independent investigation in response to an SEC inquiry, ERSRI relied upon its then investment consultant, PCG, for objective advice regarding controversial placement agent fees—at a time when PCG itself was embroiled in a national pay-to-play scandal."
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