The Committee on the Investment of Employee Benefit Assets, better known as CIEBA, is the voice of the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) on employee benefit plan asset management and investment issues. CIEBA represents more than 115 of the country's largest pension funds. Its members manage $1.4 trillion of defined benefit and defined contribution plan assets, on behalf of 16 million plan participants and beneficiaries.
CIEBA was formed in 1985 to provide a nationally recognized forum and voice in Washington for ERISA-governed corporate pension plan sponsors on fiduciary and investment issues. Members are the senior corporate financial officers who individually manage and administer ERISA-governed corporate pension plan assets. William Quinn, Chairman and CEO of American Beacon Advisors, is the current chairman of CIEBA.
CIEBA's mission is to improve retirement security and increase investment management effectiveness by:
Informing pension plan sponsors of legislative, regulatory and investment issues affecting defined benefit and defined contribution plans
Providing a forum for discussion of these issues and development of effective solutions
Helping its members address these issues and effectively discharge their fiduciary responsibilities
Serving as an information resource for legislative and regulatory bodies
Supporting constructive policy and legislative initiatives
Building understanding and support for the private sector pension system
CIEBA is committed to strengthening the private sector pension system so that it continues as a major source of retirement income for millions of Americans. Its members also recognize that the private pension system's assets provide a significant source of long-term capital essential for growth.
Representation in Washington
CIEBA is a unique organization with a focus on the investment of funds for federally regulated pensions, profit sharing, employee saving, and employee welfare plans. CIEBA has testified before Congress and regulatory agencies to express opinions on various issues, including the following.
Public Education
CIEBA publishes primers and research reports designed as educational tools for its members, policymakers and other decision-makers. They include:
Peer Networking
CIEBA meetings are a forum for candid off-the-record discussions among peers of contemporary issues. Some examples of topics presented and discussed in the past include:
Industry Trends
Through surveys, CIEBA provides exclusive information on trends within the industry and issues members are currently addressing. These are:
Investment Issues
As the only forum for discussion among exclusively corporate plan sponsors, CIEBA meetings allow members to examine significant investment issues. Past meetings have addressed:
Continuing Professional Education
CIEBA provides a unique opportunity for its members to remain current with the latest investment thinking, particularly as it relates to pension fund issues. Both through membership-generated research, and industry and academic sources, CIEBA's continuing education programs have special relevance for its members. They include:
The effectiveness of CIEBA in its role as an authoritative resource on pension and investment issues is due in large measure to the expertise and active participation of its members. Membership is limited exclusively to ERISA-governed corporate plan sponsors. In order to become a member of CIEBA you should:
The CIEBA membership meets twice a year to address both public policy and investment issues through open dialogue with key public policymakers and investment industry leaders.
Working Group Members
As a member of the Working Group, you have the opportunity to take full advantage of what CIEBA has to offer. You can develop a network of executives with whom you can have candid off-the-record conversations on the latest investment management topics and company issues you face. You have immediate access to research that is completed by objective plan sponsors. You can participate in subcommittee discussions and help to develop and guide the advocacy positions prepared by CIEBA on pertinent regulatory and legislative developments. Not only will you stay ahead of the issues, but also you will thrive as a better professional because of the touchstones offered by CIEBA membership.
The Working Group meets quarterly.
For information on CIEBA membership, please contact either Dave Lewis at 301.907.2862, e-mail dlewis@AFPonline.org or Judy Schub at 301.907.2862, e-mail jschub@AFPonline.org.
