"Retirement plan sponsors are giving alternative investments, including hedge funds and private equity funds, a closer look -- due to the lower historical volatility, higher returns and varied correlations offered when compared to traditional investments. In addition to performance, plan sponsors are also seeking increased levels of information on their operational complexities in order to address the total risk (investment and operational) funds pose to pension assets. Alternative investment managers must recognize the holistic nature of additional information data requests in order to promptly and effectively satisfy the increased transparency requirements of institutional investors."