Services Tags: Investment Consulting

Matt Nowak Speaking at 2026 12th Annual GAPPT Trustee School 9/29

On Tuesday, September 29, Matt Nowak, AIF® will be speaking at the Georgia Association of Public Pension Trustees (GAPPT) Twelfth Annual Trustee School in Athens, Georgia.

Matt will be presenting an educational session for attendees entitled “Plan Governance and Fiduciary Responsibilities.”  The GAPPT is a nonprofit organization formed to provide education and professional development opportunities to trustees and administrators of Georgia’s public pension plans. Subject areas span fiduciary responsibility and liability, board governance, investment acumen, and plan administration. For more information, please visit the GAPPT website.

Marquette Speaking at Greater Milwaukee Foundation Event 8/13

On Thursday, August 13, Christopher Caparelli, CFA  and Greg Leonberger, FSA, EA, MAAA, FCA will be speaking at an Investor Briefing hosted by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.

Chris and Greg will be providing an overview of Marquette and an update on the Foundation and recent market environment for attendees.

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation is Wisconsin’s largest community foundation and was among the first established in the world. For more than a century, the Foundation has been at the heart of the civic community, helping donors achieve the greatest philanthropic impact, elevating the work of changemakers across neighborhoods, and bringing people and organizations together to help our region thrive. Racial equity is the Foundation’s North Star, guiding its investments and strategies for social and economic change. Leveraging generations of community knowledge, cross-sector partnerships and more than $1 billion in financial assets, the Foundation is committed to reimagining philanthropy, catalyzing systems change, convening and following community voice, and building inclusive culture to transform our region into a Milwaukee for all. For more information, please visit their website.

Healthcare System Operating Portfolios: Balancing Stability with Need for Growth

Healthcare systems have faced an onslaught of challenges in recent years. They had to navigate the operational and financial headwinds stemming from COVID-19, a severe labor shortage, and 2022’s double-digit drawdowns in both stocks and bonds. Since the end of 2022, global equity markets have returned more than 70% cumulatively, but a combination of portfolio draws and elevated cash expense growth has left median days cash on hand roughly flat. Going forward, balance sheet liquidity is likely to be restrained. While operating margins are improving, the appetite for capital spending remains high and the effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act have yet to emerge. At the same time, equities are expensive and credit spreads are tight, limiting the margin for error. Health systems need to carefully weigh the risks of a significant market decline with the need for long-term growth.

Luis Sierra Speaking at TEXPERS 2026 Summer Educational Forum 8/4

On Tuesday, August 4, Luis Sierra, CFA will be speaking at the Texas Public Employee Retirement System (TEXPERS) 2026 Summer Educational Forum, “Building Resilient Futures,” in San Antonio.

Luis will be joining a panel entitled “Between the Pitch and the Vote: What Happens Before a Recommendation Reaches Your Board,” described as follows: Most investment recommendations arrive at a board table already finished. The manager has been met, screened, referenced, and compared against others, and the trustee sees the last page of a process they were never in the room for. This session pulls back the curtain on the stages that come before the vote. A trustee, a consultant, and an investment adviser each walk through what actually happens inside their part of the process, including the parts the other two never see. Trustees will leave with plain-language questions they can ask at their next investment committee meeting, whatever their background.

The TEXPERS Summer Educational Forum brings together public employee retirement system trustees, administrators, and industry professionals from across Texas for three days of professional development, networking, and discussions on the issues shaping public pensions. For more information, please visit the TEXPERS website.

Sarah E.R. Wilson Speaking at PSACC 2026 Annual Conference 7/28

On Tuesday, July 28, Sarah E.R. Wilson will be speaking at the Pennsylvania State Association of County Controllers’ (PSACC) 2026 Annual Conference in Shawnee on Delaware, PA.

Sarah will be moderating an Investment Roundtable at the event. The annual conference gives controllers, deputies, and their solicitors the opportunity to participate in roundtable discussions and receive training on various topics related to the responsibilities of the controller’s office and county government. For more information, visit the PSACC website.

Andrea Blomquist Speaking at Women Investment Professionals Event 7/22

On Wednesday, July 22, Andrea Blomquist, CFA will be speaking at a professional development event hosted by Women Investment Professionals in Chicago: “Boiling the Ocean: Understanding Your Place in the Investment Ecosystem.”

Andrea will be joining a panel at the event discussing her career journey and the role investment consultants play in helping institutional clients build and oversee their investment program. The event will bring together professionals across a range of roles in the investment ecosystem to share perspectives and advice with those earlier in their careers.

Women Investment Professionals aims to enhance women’s opportunities and growth in the investment industry by offering professional and personal development, educational programs and networking opportunities. For more information, please visit the WIP website.

Seventy-Five Horses and Two Pieces of Plastic

Anyone who has gone snowmobiling knows it can be simultaneously exhilarating and terrifying. Throttling across snow and through a forest powered by a 75-horsepower engine with two plastic skis to steer makes it hard to feel like one has complete control; 30 mph in the open air feels more like 100!

Nonetheless, operating a snowmobile is pretty straightforward: The throttle is a right-thumb button, the brake is a left-hand squeeze lever. Beyond those two controls, it’s up to the driver to effectively navigate the trail, with the critical concession that the terrain is out of anyone’s complete control. Which brings me to our 2026 market outlook.

The “throttles” for portfolios are the usual constituents: equities, below investment grade credit, and private markets. The “brakes” are investment grade fixed income, particularly Treasuries which can slow a portfolio’s losses if the market tumbles. The terrain is naturally the actual path that each of these asset classes will follow in 2026. Since 2022 the equity market ride has been mostly exhilarating, save for some of the terrifying moments like the market dip after Liberation Day. But that’s in the rearview mirror, and the focus is what is around the bend. Will the thrill continue, or should we ease up on the throttle?

Jessica Noviskis Featured on Bloomberg Markets 7/3/26

Portfolio Strategist Jessica Noviskis, CFA was featured on Bloomberg Television’s Markets coverage on July 3, 2026.

Jessica discussed market uncertainty surrounding the AI rally, how investors can approach diversification within portfolio construction — including across both asset classes or geography — what asset classes may diversify portfolios well outside the 60/40 structure, and expectations for how Fed actions may impact markets and the economy with Warsh at the helm.

Watch Jessica’s interview segment on Bloomberg’s website.

 

The opinions expressed herein are those of Marquette Associates, Inc. (“Marquette”), and are subject to change without notice. This material is not financial advice or an offer to purchase or sell any product. Marquette reserves the right to modify its current investment strategies and techniques based on changing market dynamics or client needs.

Kweku Obed Speaking at 2026 Apollo U.S. Public Pension Private Capital Roundtable 6/22

On Monday, June 22, Kweku Obed, CFA, CAIA will be speaking at the 2026 U.S. Public Pension Private Capital Roundtable hosted by Apollo Global Management at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Kweku will be joining a panel entitled, “Portfolio Construction: Rethinking Risk, Return & Resilience,” described as follows: The investment landscape has grown more complex for institutional investors, and particularly for public pension plans navigating long-duration liabilities in a period of sustained geopolitical volatility. Persistent inflation, elevated rates, policy uncertainty, and rapidly evolving capital markets are challenging long-held assumptions around asset allocation, diversification, and risk management. This session will explore how investors are rethinking portfolio construction in real time, including approaches to risk budgeting, rebalancing discipline, and building resilience across market regimes. Panelists will examine the expanding role of private capital as a tool for enhancing return potential, managing downside risk, and strengthening portfolio durability through periods of sustained uncertainty.

The Roundtable is a one-day event that will bring together senior investment professionals from leading public pension plans alongside top consultants, academic experts, and Apollo’s senior leadership. For more information about Apollo, visit their website.

Sam Frymier Speaking at NCPERS 2026 Annual Conference & Exhibition 5/18

On Monday, May 18, Sam Frymier will be speaking at the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems’ (NCPERS) 2026 Annual Conference & Exhibition in Las Vegas.

Sam will be joining the Annual Investment Consultant Panel: Strategic Perspectives for Public Pension Funds with several investment professionals, described as follows:

As public pension systems navigate an increasingly complex investment landscape, the role of investment consultants remains critical in shaping long-term strategy and decision-making. This annual panel brings together leading investment consultants to share timely insights on market conditions, emerging risks, and evolving opportunities facing institutional investors.

The discussion will explore key themes influencing portfolio positioning, including asset allocation trends, risk management approaches, and the impact of macroeconomic and geopolitical developments. Panelists will also provide perspectives on how pension systems can adapt to changing market dynamics while maintaining focus on long-term objectives and fiduciary responsibilities.

Attendees will gain valuable insights into how consultants are advising clients in the current environment and practical considerations for aligning investment strategies with evolving market conditions.

Since 1941, NCPERS has been a trusted partner to pension leaders across local, county, and state retirement systems with the mission of connecting and empowering public pension leaders with the skills, strategies, and networks to solve today’s challenges and prepare for tomorrow’s. At the Annual Conference, attendees will explore the most pressing challenges facing public pensions and gain actionable insights to navigate them effectively. For more information, please visit the event webpage.