Abstract. As a result of the fact that pension funds are financial intermediaries, the value of their assets and liabilities is influenced by changing conditions in financial markets. The market image of a pension fund (and hence its perceived value) are closely tied to the “financial health” of the fund. Setting up and managing complex investment portfolios requires that pension administrators use scientific models of portfolio selection and optimization based on the risk-expected return relationship. Most investment portfolios are modified in time as result of changing stock prices and investment policy objectives. Having established investment policy guidelines, the administrators of pension funds have to determine the structure of their portfolios so that the latter meet legal requirements.

Keywords: pension funds; return; risk; optimization; portfolio; financial assets; profitability; capital market; investments.