Wilshire’s new contract finalized on Friday

A new contract between the NMI Retirement Fund and Wilshire Consulting Associates was finalized and executed on Friday, according to Wilshire managing director Maggie W. Ralbovsky yesterday.

That means Wilshire is officially back on board as the Fund’s consultant, allowing the Fund to wade back into the investment market. The lack of an investment consultant has been holding the Fund back from making major decisions on its market portfolio.

Ralbovsky confirmed that she would be visiting the island before the end of this month to meet with the board of trustees.

Saipan Tribune learned that Wilshire’s contract was sent to the company last week following a review by the Office of the Attorney General.

“Wilshire Associates is delighted to be working once again with the NMI Retirement Fund board of trustees and its hard working staff. Once the matter that forced us to resign was resolved, we agreed to once again work with the board and staff,” Ralbovsky’s email stated.

In fact, she said, Wilshire voluntarily offered to cut its annual fee by $30,000, knowing the severe financial challenges facing the board, staff and current and future retirees.

Wilshire’s original contract when it was hired in October 2010 amounted to $195,000 per year. The newly executed contract is for $165,000 per annum.

“Additionally, in anticipating the increasing importance of the defined contribution plans [DC plans] for the future retirement security of the workers of the CNMI, Wilshire also agreed to include assistance to the DC plans in the contract,” she added.

According to Ralbovsky, Wilshire “appreciates the opportunity to work once again with everyone at the Fund and look forward to assisting the board and the staff as they take on the monumental challenges the financial situation of the Fund presents to them.”

Once on island, Ralbovsky is expected to discuss with the board what to do with the Fund’s portfolio, which was valued at $255.7 million as of Jan. 31: $105 million in CDARS and $145 million in mutual funds.

Wilshire terminated its services with the Fund in October last year following the enactment of the Beneficiaries’ Derivative Act, which was seen as increasing the company’s exposure to litigation. That law has since been repealed.

The board has put on hold the hiring of money managers until Wilshire is officially on board. The Fund’s money managers also left because of the impact of the then derivative law.