Background
In 2001, the Society of American Archivists’ independent auditors pointed out the need for a formal investment policy. Both legally and ethically, the SAA Council must provide prudent oversight of the Society’s investments. This written investment policy is intended to address those concerns, and its existence will help protect SAA from liability should the Society’s investments be mismanaged. The guidelines provided in the initial investment policy included the following:
Preamble
The SAA Council is responsible for the fiduciary management of the Society. The following investment objectives and directions are to be judged and understood in light of that overall sense of stewardship.
Delegation
The SAA Council has delegated supervisory authority over its financial affairs to the Society's Finance Committee. Among its several tasks, the Finance Committee is responsible for reporting regularly to the Council on the status of SAA's investments. In carrying out its responsibilities, the Finance Committee and its agents will act in accordance with this Investment Policy and all applicable laws and regulations. The SAA Council reserves to itself the exclusive right to revise the Policy.
The SAA Council and its Finance Committee are authorized to retain one or more Financial Consultant(s) to assume the investment management of funds and assets owned or administered by SAA. In discharging this authority, the Finance Committee can act in the place of Council and may receive reports from, pay compensation to, and enter into agreements with such Financial Consultant(s). The Council may also grant exceptions to the Investment Policy when appropriate. The Finance Committee will maintain regular contact with teh Financial Consultant(s) and any investment brokers primarily through the Director of Finance and Administration, the Executive Director, or the Treasurer, all of whom are members of the Committee.
The SAA Council has established the Finance Committee to, among other responsibilities, provide oversight of SAA’s investment program, including reviewing specific quantified income needs that are adequate to cover projected fund expenses, investment administrative fees, management performance, a three-year review schedule for the SAA Investment Policy and program, and all other areas that are related and appropriate to SAA investments. The Finance Committee will receive copies of all periodic financial reports. (See Finance Committee.)
Objectives
The Society’s primary investment objective is to earn a positive total return on its investments that meets or exceeds the S&P 500. The computed total return considers dividends, interest, and realized and unrealized capital gains and it factors in capital losses and investment expenses. The Investment Policy and portfolio is reviewed by the Finance Committee and Financial Consultant(s) every three years to ensure its compliance with SAA's risk tolerance, liquidity needs, and investment objectives. This review cycle will begin in FY 2010.
Asset Mix
To accomplish the Society's investment objectives, the Financial Consultant(s) are authorized to utilize portfolios of equity securities (common stocks and convertible securities), fixed-income securities, and short-term (cash) investments. As a guide to accomplishing these objectives, the Financial Consultants shall remain within the following ranges:
Operating Expenses: SAA's operating funds will be managed for liquidity and preservation of principle. No more than 50% of SAA's operating funds are to be invested in fixed-income securities (such as U.S. and corporate funds or prime rate funds), with the remaining funds kept in cash and equivalents (such as money market funds and CDs).
Long-Term Investments: SAA's endowment and reserve funds (including the Awards Funds, Endowment Funds, Publications Funds and Deferred Income Fund) are to be managed with a longer time horizon in mind (between three to five years). Thus, 40% to 60% of these funds should be invested in equity securities (such as stocks or stock mutual funds), 25% to 50% should be invested in fixed-income securities or bond mutual funds, and 5% to 20% should be invested in cash and equivalents.
The Finance Committee can modify these ranges from time to time with the Council's approval. The actual investment targets shall be set within those limits by the Financial Consultant(s) in conjunction with SAA's designated financial officer.
Asset Standards
Common stocks: The Financial Consultant(s) responsible for managing the funds for SAA's endowed and reserve funds may invest in any unrestricted, publicly traded common stock that is listed on a major exchange or a national, over-the-counter market that is appropriate for the portfolio objectives, asset class, and/or investment style defined in this policy. This investment can be in the form of direct investment in the stock market, or indirect investment via mutual funds. Mutual funds should be considered where they offer additional portfolio diversification; lower purchase, maintenance, and sale costs; and good potential gain.
Convertible preferred stock and convertible bonds: The Financial Consultant(s) may use convertible preferred stocks and bonds as equity investments. The quality rating of convertible preferred stock and convertible bonds generally should be BBB or better (as rated by Standard & Poor's) or Baa or better (as rated by Moody's). The common stock into which both may be converted must satisfy the standard specified for common stocks.
Fixed-income securities: The quality rating of bonds and notes must be investment grade (BBB or better, as rated by Standard & Poor's or Moody's). Bonds and notes within a bond mutual fund must, on average, be investment grade (BBB or better, as rated by Standard & Poor's or Moody's). The portfolio may consist of only traditional principal and interest obligations (no derivatives) with maturities of seven years or less, or bond funds with average maturities of seven years or less.
Prime rate funds: Any investments in prime rate funds should include a 90-day liquidity.
Cash/cash equivalents: The quality rating of commercial paper must be A-1 (as rated by Standard & Poor's), P-1 (as rated by Moody's), or better. The assets of any money market mutual funds must comply with this standard and/or the quality provisions for fixed-income securities.
Asset Diversification
As a general policy, the Financial Consultant(s) will maintain a reasonable diversification at all times. The Financial Consultant(s) responsible for long-term investments may not allow the investments in the equity securities of any one company to exceed 5% of the portfolio nor the total securities position (debt and equity) in any one company to exceed 10% of the portfolio. The Financial Consultant(s) shall also maintain reasonable sector allocations and diversification. In that regard, no more than 25% of the entire portfolio may be invested in the securities of any one sector.
Custody and Securities Brokerage
The Finance Committee will establish such custodial and brokerage relationships as are necessary for the efficient management of the Society's funds. Whenever the Finance Committee has not designated a brokerage relationship, then the Financial Consultants shall execute transactions wherever they can obtain best price and execution.
Transactions
All purchases of securities will be for cash and there will be no margin transactions, short selling, or commodity transactions.
Reporting Requirements
Monthly: The Financial Consultant(s) will provide the Finance Committee with a monthly written statement containing all pertinent transaction details for SAA's investment portfolio, including:
Periodically: The Financial Consultants shall provide the Finance Committee with detailed information about (1) asset allocation, (2) investment performance, (3) future investment strategies, and (4) any other matters of interest to the finance Committee.
Annually: The Financial Consultant(s) shall provide to the SAA Council an annual summary of all transactions in each fiscal year, together with a report of investment performance for the year and a "snapshot" listing of current investments.
Cash Flow Requirements
SAA will be responsible for advising the Financial Consultant(s) in a timely manner of the Society's cash distribution requirements from any managed account. The Financial Consultant(s) are responsible for providing adequate liquidity to meet SAA's cash flow requirements in accordance with Council's policy.
Adopted by the SAA Council: August 2002; revised August 10, 2009