For some time now, pension funds and other institutional investors have been looking for new ways to hedge against inflation and generate solid, reliable income. By hiring seasoned industry professional Joyce T. Shapiro,
FTREA, a unit of San Mateo, Calif.-based
Timber companies, for instance, can generate revenue consistently either by culling mature trees from forests annually and more frequent periods in between, Foster said. And in the infrastructure sector, highways deliver reliable cash flow from tolls.
The company expects to launch the multi-manager fund in three to six months, Foster said. For now, FTREA is relying on Shapiro to get the expanded group going. Her background suggests she is up for it.
Previously, Shapiro was at
“If you ask most pension professionals how to protect from inflation, they are not sure what to do,” Foster said. “We believe real assets will offer some protection.”