Completing the Puzzle: A Global GIPS^® Compliant Firm Definition 

The Global Investment Performance Standards are a global ethical set of guidelines for calculating and presenting investment performance, rooted in the principles of fairness and transparency. Historically, the GIPS standards were centered around traditional asset class structures, resulting in many managers carving out the alternative asset classes from their GIPS compliant firm definition.  

However, the 2020 GIPS standards marked a significant expansion and standardization for non-traditional asset classes that often use Money Weighted Returns (MWR), increasing relevance and adoption by alternative investment managers, fund managers, and private wealth managers. The welcomed update resulted in managers reassessing whether the previously mentioned carved out assets should be incorporated into their firm definition.

This white paper makes the case for why your firm should adopt the GIPS standards. It will examine:

• Pros and cons of the shift to adopt GIPS in the alternative assets space
• Common misconceptions
• Recent observations in redefining what is captured in the GIPS compliant firm