Improving Alpha: Innovation in Investing, ESG and Technology

As the complexity in alternative financial markets grows, is the bridge between academia and institutional investing being stretched to a point of collapse? Both researchers and investors deal with similar problems in institutional investing. Solution approaches may differ, but could a value be found in combining points of view, so that investors benefit from greater combined intelligence and portfol...

When examining sole fiduciary states, such as North Carolina, the direction of pension plans and other asset pools typically consolidates under a single elected official, typically the State Treasurer. Combine that setup with disappointing investment performance, and the stage begins to get set to reform both governance and investment operations. This is what happened in 2025 when Brad Briner, the Tr...

Albert Einstein is often quoted as stating, “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant.” As a society today, in this unstable world, you need both to accelerate success while avoiding defensive decision-making. Instead of taking up that defensive position, have the courage to go with more robust yet easier strategies blending data and intuition together.

There’s a famous sports adage on how great defenses win championships, but can defensive layers be efficiently applied to pension plans that have close to $128 billion in AUM and provide secure retirement benefits to 850,000 participants?

When running a pension plan for 150,000 active and retired members across the state of Hawaii, there are several factors that help achieve a 7% return. Governance, portfolio risk awareness, and culture all weigh on the minds of the investment team at the Employees’ Retirement System of the State of Hawaii.

Evaluating all the investment pieces in a modern-day endowment portfolio requires a keen eye. You might have capital demands pouring in from the university to improve campus buildings, student education opportunities and equipment, professor salaries, and more.  Today, these demands are then multiplied by concerns over inflation, regulation, and, in the case of our next guest, adhering to Jesuit prin...

​Can a generalist provide a much broader view of the institutional markets and uncover things that so-called experts miss? Can the sins of Wall Street be traced back to a genuine lack of perspective and ineffective communication when a crisis arises? These are some of the questions and answers that we’ll uncover in our latest episode of the Improving Alpha podca...

Institutional investors continually seek top-tier managers, relying on insights, industry signals, and rigorous due diligence led by expert portfolio teams before committing any capital. While these preliminary drivers are widely adopted and can often contribute 100 to 300 basis points above relevant benchmarks, the pursuit of above-average alpha remains relentless. Could convex alternative investmen...

​Many talented endowment CIOs evolve from engineering backgrounds, consultancies, and other disciplines. These past experiences allow CIOs to transform investment office teams, broadening the search for alpha through improved portfolio construction, balancing liquidity concerns, outpacing endowment peers, and creating an environment where investment staff are valued for their continued contributions....

Can prior career opportunities help you discover your true potential in institutional investing even if they’re not related to the finance sector? Maybe it reveals that ideal ‘a-ha’ moment that sets your future course. 

Being able to source accurate data across alternative markets is a complex process. Stocks, bonds, and futures offer continuous price updates and greater intelligence for investors. The landscape is evolving, with a growing number of cutting-edge investment researchers enhancing decision-making on policy issues that will help shape private markets investments for the future.