Outsourced Chief Investment Officer
What is an OCIO?
An OCIO is an external institutional investment expert hired by organizations to manage their investment portfolios in a fiduciary manner. They make decisions on behalf of the asset owner, handling everything from strategy to selecting investments, with the goal of meeting long-term financial objectives within an acceptable risk framework. Benefits include faster execution of investment decisions, stronger risk management, reduced administrative burden, and increased access to investment opportunities all allowing the client to focus on other priorities.
U.S. Bancorp Asset Management's OCIO Solution
Our history of developing and implementing customized institutional OCIO solutions dates back more than 20 years through legacy firms. We help clients invest across a variety of public and private asset classes including global equities, investment grade and non-investment grade fixed income, real assets, and alternatives. We take a client-first approach to understand the specific challenges clients face today and to collaboratively develop investment programs meant to last into the future. Today, our OCIO business manages more than $36B in discretionary OCIO assets for institutional clients nationwide.
Clients We Serve
Endowments, Foundations and Not for Profits
At U.S. Bancorp Asset Management Inc. (USBAM), we partner with endowments, foundations, and not‑for‑profit organizations to deliver OCIO solutions that align investments with mission and long‑term objectives.
We provide discretionary investment management, governance support, board education and access to institutional‑quality strategies—including alternatives and private markets—tailored to your goals, liquidity needs, and spending policies. With disciplined risk oversight and transparent reporting, we help leadership stay focused on advancing your mission while we manage your assets with care and expertise.
Corporate Pensions
At U.S. Bancorp Asset Management Inc. (USBAM), we partner with corporate defined benefit plans to deliver OCIO solutions that align investment strategy with plan liabilities and long‑term funding goals. We provide discretionary fiduciary management, liability‑aware portfolio design, and access to institutional‑quality strategies tailored to each plan’s risk profile and de‑risking needs. With disciplined oversight and clear reporting, we help plan sponsors manage complexity while ensuring assets are stewarded with care and expertise.
Healthcare Organizations
At U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc. (USBAM), we believe the right investment approach begins with the right partnership. We work alongside healthcare organizations, including nonprofit healthcare systems, healthcare foundations, and continuing care retirement communities, to understand their mission and liquidity needs. We then tailor investment strategies that support their long-term sustainability.
Higher Education Institutions
At U.S. Bancorp Asset Management Inc. (USBAM), we partner with colleges and universities to deliver OCIO solutions designed to support institutional stability and long‑term strategic goals. With deep experience serving higher‑education clients and active engagement in industry organizations such as NACUBO and AGB, we provide discretionary investment management, governance support, and access to institutional‑quality multi‑asset strategies tailored to your operating funds, reserves, endowments, and foundations. Our disciplined risk oversight and transparent reporting help leadership navigate evolving challenges while ensuring assets are managed with care, expertise, and a focus on advancing your academic mission.
Captive Insurance Companies
When working with U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc. (USBAM), captive insurance companies will find customized institutional investment strategies that support their unique growth, liquidity, and liability needs. We have experience with both onshore and offshore domiciles and work with captive insurers at every stage of the life cycle.
Public Institutions
OCIO services for Public Institutions are provided by our subsidiary, PFM Asset Management.
OCIO Capabilities
Investment Related: Strategic and Tactical Asset Allocation; Manager Selection, Portfolio Construction, Performance Monitoring, Customized Solutions
Risk & Governance: Risk Management; Compliance Oversight; Fiduciary Support; Investment Policy Development & Maintenance
Operational: Consolidated Reporting, Custodian Coordination, Transaction Execution, Cashflow Modeling, GIPS Performance Reporting
Investment Approach and Philosophy
Our investment philosophy is grounded in the belief that meeting our clients’ investment objectives and goals begins with the most important input, strategic asset allocation design. Active return strategies incorporate the implementation of periodic tactical asset allocation and third-party actively managed strategies in certain asset classes. Low cost, passive index-based strategies are also available to clients. Our open architecture approach uses third-party mutual funds or ETF’s, separate accounts, or our proprietary multi-manager mutual funds which provide access for smaller asset pools. We strive to meet the distinctive return, risk and liquidity needs of each client with a culture of client service excellence.
Our Investment Principles
- Strategic Asset Allocation and Portfolio Construction
- Manager Selection, Research and Oversight
- Dynamic Asset Allocation & Rebalancing
What do we offer?
- Tenured Investment Committee
- Dedicated Manager Research & Portfolio Construction Teams
- Long Term Track Record
- Risk Management and Compliance
- Access to Portfolio Managers and Client Service Specialists
Our OCIO Team
Our OCIO Investment Committee is comprised of senior investment professionals, guides our overall investment decision-making process. We also have supporting portfolio construction and manager selection sub-committees informing our investment decisioning process along with dedicated portfolio strategists and manager research analysts. Our centralized investment research team collaborates with our client service specialists and portfolio managers to develop strategies and portfolios tailored to our clients’ investment objectives and return goals, investment restrictions and sensitivities, and anticipated uses and liquidity needs.
Additional Insights & Thought Leadership
For More Information
Jim Link