How we won the UK Pensions Awards… Northern Trust Asset Management

What does it mean to win the award?

This recognition is proof of the strength of our index and quantitative platform and the clarity of our purpose: delivering precise outcomes aligned with client goals.  We have built our capabilities over three decades, combining institutional-scale index implementation expertise with a quantitative platform that harnesses advanced research, alternative data, and AI-driven insights.

This award also validates our disciplined and adaptive approach. Our clients rely on us to deliver consistent performance through changing market conditions, and our combination of scale, customization and innovation drive that consistency. 

What have been your main achievements as an organisation over the past 18 months?

We have continued to scale our index platform, refining implementation techniques to manage tracking error, liquidity, and costs with precision.

At the same time, we have strengthened our investment team through strategic hires to further expand the depth and rigour of our quantitative capabilities. Today, the platform combines academic insight, empirical research and techniques such as generative AI, machine learning and natural language processing to extract information from complex data sets.

A key example of this is the addition of our adaptive equity capability, designed to generate uncorrelated alpha across market regimes by combining diversified signals, dynamic risk management, and continuous innovation. 

What do you believe sets you apart from your peers and contributes to this success?

We combine three key elements: risk-efficient precision, customization, and innovation.

First, our index heritage gives us deep expertise in delivering benchmark outcomes with consistency and efficiency. Second, we translate client policy into portfolios, ensuring solutions reflect each client's specific goals, including ESG priorities. Third, we bring a quantitative platform that continuously evolves through research, alternative data, and disciplined validation.

Together, indexing provides efficiency and clarity, while quantitative strategies add insight and adaptability, creating a more resilient portfolio approach. 

What are the key challenges facing your pension scheme clients at the current time and how are you helping them address these issues?

Pension schemes are navigating a complex environment: meeting return objectives, managing risk and demonstrating value for money, while incorporating sustainability considerations.

We address these challenges through flexible building blocks. Index strategies provide cost-efficient exposure and transparency. Customization aligns portfolios with policies, and quantitative strategies target additional sources of return and improved risk efficiency.

How will you continue to improve your services to pension scheme clients over the coming 12 months?

We expect innovation to drive improvements, backed by investments in data, technology, and research to enhance how we identify and implement sources of return.

We expect to advance our use of alternative data and artificial intelligence to deepen insight, and we will continue to refine our index platform to deliver efficiency, scale, and customization.

Comments from the Judges

Our winner in this category was cited for its policy-led customisation; forward-looking quantitative innovation; and the way it had institutionalised its adaptive alpha capabilities.

Quotes from the UK Pensions Awards judges included the following:

• "The firm's adaptive alpha developed‑markets strategy evidenced low‑cost outperformance alongside tight implementation."
• "Its ‘One Northern Trust' aligns investment management with custody in an operating model that gave trustees audit‑ready governance and clear accountability."
• "Has evidenced strong examples of passive fund customisation"

Discover Northern Trust Asset Management's award-winning investment expertise on its website.

Important information

This information is directed to institutional, professional and wholesale current or prospective clients or investors only and should not be relied upon by retail clients or investors.

This is a marketing communication. Please refer to the prospectus and to the KIID/KID and any other applicable fund documentation available on the Northern Trust pooled funds website before making any final investment decisions.

This information may not be edited, altered, revised, paraphrased, or otherwise modified without the prior written permission of NTAM. The information is not intended for distribution or use by any person in any jurisdiction where such distribution would be contrary to local law or regulation. Northern Trust Asset Management's (NTAM) may have positions in and may effect transactions in the markets, contracts and related investments different than described in this information. This information is obtained from sources believed to be reliable, its accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed, and is subject to change. Information does not constitute a recommendation of any investment strategy, is not intended as investment advice and does not take into account all the circumstances of each investor.

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All securities investing and trading activities risk the loss of capital. Each portfolio is subject to substantial risks including market risks, strategy risks, advisor risk, and risks with respect to its investment in other structures. There can be no assurance that any portfolio investment objectives will be achieved, or that any investment will achieve profits or avoid incurring substantial losses. No investment strategy or risk management technique can guarantee returns or eliminate risk in any market environment. Risk controls and models do not promise any level of performance or guarantee against loss of principal. Any discussion of risk management is intended to describe NTAM's efforts to monitor and manage risk but does not imply low risk.

Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI refers to computational systems designed to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as pattern recognition, decision-making, and prediction. In investment management, AI may be used to support portfolio construction, risk assessment, and trading strategies. Machine Learning (ML): ML is a subset of AI that enables systems to identify patterns based on data inputs without being explicitly programmed. ML models may be used in stock selection to identify investment opportunities based on historical and real-time data. Natural Language Processing (NLP): NLP is a field of AI focused on the interpretation and generation of human language by machines. In financial contexts, NLP may be applied to analyze textual data such as earnings reports to inform investment decisions.  Large Language Models (LLMs): LLMs are advanced NLP systems trained on extensive datasets to understand and generate human-like text. In investment management, LLMs may assist in synthesizing qualitative information or generating insights, but do not independently make investment decisions.

Northern Trust Asset Management is composed of Northern Trust Investments, Inc., Northern Trust Global Investments Limited, Northern Trust Fund Managers (Ireland) Limited, Northern Trust Global Investments Japan, K.K., NT Global Advisors, Inc., 50 South Capital Advisors, LLC, Northern Trust Asset Management Australia Pty Ltd, and investment personnel of The Northern Trust Company, The Northern Trust Company (Singapore Branch), and The Northern Trust Company of Hong Kong Limited.

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