
Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO)
Capital at risk. The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and are not guaranteed. Investors may not get back the amount originally invested.
Why BlackRock for OCIO?
BlackRock has been managing assets on a fiduciary basis for clients, for almost 20 years. The breadth of our investment and technology platforms help us offer cost-efficient solutions to clients, better access to private markets and act as an extension of an institution’s staff.
BlackRock’s OCIO business sits at the heart of our firm’s mission to help more people experience financial well-being. Our OCIO clients span across the whole institutional spectrum from defined benefit (DB), to defined contribution (DC), as well as family offices, endowments, foundations and insurers.
Meet the BlackRock OCIO team
Defined Benefit
BlackRock’s OCIO team have a historic deep-rooted experience with DB pension schemes. Being the trusted partner of choice for over 850 UK pension schemes, our experience in managing pensions at every stage of their life cycle, up to and including buyout, can give trustees confidence that we have the experience and skill set to manage their schemes.1
Our OCIO services for DB pension schemes include:
- A liability-driven investing platform within a global fixed-income business
- Bespoke portfolios designed to help improve or preserve funded-status levels
- Designing a customised alternatives portfolio in a lower-cost, accessible way
Defined Contribution
From strategy design to lifecycle planning and implementation, our dedicated portfolio managers invest contributions, carry out rebalancing, and implement our latest views on behalf of clients. The DC team also focus on providing a framework for decumulation to support members both pre- and post-retirement
Our OCIO services for DC pension schemes include:
- “To and through” retirement solutions by integrating income, savings and spending into the investment design
- Selecting strategies considering the asset class, operating model, tax and regulatory factors
- Building optimal portfolios to meet scheme and member objectives, investing across both public and private markets to increase portfolio sophistication
- Designing bespoke investment solutions tailored to align with the corporate's sustainability goals for members
Family Offices, Endowments, Foundations and Insurers
Increasingly complex responsibilities and often resource constraints are some of the reasons why family offices, endowments, foundations and insurers are leveraging BlackRock’s outsourced investment offering.
Our OCIO services for family offices, endowments, foundations and insurers include:
- Bespoke multi asset and single asset class investment solutions
- Incorporates 'best practices' for governance
- Offers a performance accountable approach
- Provides access to top private market managers
- Leverages industry-leading risk management tools
Latest insights

Navigating the new regime with an OCIO
The demand for an Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) investment model is growing. With rising complexity, greater governance and more stringent regulatory demands, investors are turning to an OCIO for their whole portfolio solution.

Investing in the energy transition
Yasmin Meissner joined Camradata to explore the complexities of the energy transition against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving investment landscape. Please be aware by clicking on this link you are leaving BlackRock and entering a third party’s website. As such, BlackRock is not liable for its content.

Investing for Endowments & Foundations
Scott Harris sat down with Camradata to discuss how, now more than ever, there is a greater focus on ensuring endowments & foundations financial assets make a positive impact. Please be aware by clicking on this link you are leaving BlackRock and entering a third party’s website. As such, BlackRock is not liable for its content.

Seizing opportunities today
Asset owners are increasingly turning to an Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) structure. The OCIO model has historically been popular among defined benefit pension schemes. BlackRock notes, in recent years, there is more interest from new client segments such as insurers, endowments, foundations, and family offices.

What effect has Autumn 2022 had on endgame options?
For trustees of Defined Benefit (DB) pensions, the events of Autumn 2022 have prompted a review of governance models. A debate surrounding the timing and options for endgame has been opened.
Outsourced Chief Investment Officer & Family Offices with Scott Harris
Scott Harris, EMEA OCIO lead for Family Offices, Endowments, Foundations & Insurers, sits down with Vicky Matthews, Head of Family Offices, Endowments and Foundations to explore why Family Offices are turning to BlackRock for their OCIO.
Hear from our OCIO team
Our OCIO team share their insights on how BlackRock work with clients across the institutional spectrum, to help them achieve their funding objectives.
Contact our team

1 Source: BlackRock, as at 31 December 2023
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