Services Tags: Investment Consulting

Luis Sierra Speaking at 2026 529 Conference 9/23

On Wednesday, September 23, Luis Sierra, CFA, will be speaking at the annual 529 Conference hosted by ISS Market Intelligence in Nashville, Tennessee.

Luis will be presenting a session entitled “Structuring & Evaluating the Investment Lineup” for attendees addressing:

  • Investment structure in philosophy and in practice
  • Defining key terms and differentiating factors
  • Investment types and management style trends
  • New asset classes, trends in selection, and review of fee types

The 529 conference brings together the entire 529 and ABLE ecosystem and includes panels, presentations, and workshops exploring the most significant trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the industry today. Discussions will cover the latest federal and state legislative developments, product enhancements, investment trends, marketing and distribution strategies, operational initiatives, consumer insights, and key regulatory and compliance updates.

For more information, please visit the 529 Conference website.

Patrick W. Wing Speaking at National Public Pension Fund Association National Round Table Conference 2026 8/25

On Tuesday, August 25, Patrick W. Wing, CFA, CIPM will be speaking at the National Round Table Conference 2026 hosted by the National Public Pension Fund Association (NPPFA) in Elkart Lake, Wisconsin.

Pat will be moderating a panel entitled “Investment Strategy in a Changing World Environment” with several investment professionals.

The National Public Pension Fund Association is a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit that was founded in 2019 but developed its roots in a state-specific not-for-profit umbrella organization representing police and fire-defined benefit retirement funds in 1985. As the demand grew for prudent stewardship over governmental deferred compensation 457 plans, the NPPFA was established to offer training, services, and support to pension trustees and their organizations. For more information, please visit the NPPFA events webpage.

The Fed Tackles Succession Planning

The leadership structure of the Federal Reserve is intentionally designed to promote continuity, independence, and institutional stability across political cycles. Specifically, the seven members of the central bank’s Board of Governors serve staggered 14-year terms, while the Chair is appointed to a renewable four-year term by the president and confirmed by the Senate. In this context, the nomination of Kevin Warsh by the Trump administration earlier this year to lead the Fed marks a potential inflection point for U.S. monetary policy leadership. Warsh brings a combination of public- and private-sector experience, having served as a Federal Reserve governor during the Global Financial Crisis, worked in mergers and acquisitions at Morgan Stanley, and later advised policymakers and investors as a fellow at the Hoover Institution and lecturer at Stanford. Warsh’s nomination, first announced in late January and now nearing final Senate confirmation, comes as Jerome Powell is set to end his term as Chair in the coming days, concluding a tenure defined by extraordinary economic shocks and aggressive policy responses. Recent developments have effectively cleared the path for this transition, with Warsh expected to assume the role shortly after Powell’s term expires, even as Powell has indicated he intends to remain on the Board of Governors through 2028 in a move aimed at preserving institutional continuity. Against this backdrop, Warsh is in position to take the helm of a Federal Reserve that has recently undergone a historic tightening cycle and is now navigating the late stages of the inflation fight, setting the stage for what is likely to be an evolution (rather than a reset) of policy direction.

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.

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.

We’ve Seen This Before

Diversify. Rebalance. Stay invested. Every one of these letters has concluded with that same advice in some shape or form. It’s not particularly shiny and new, but the best documented path to a successful long-term investment program. The last eight weeks are another data point in support of these practices.

In this edition:

  • Impact of U.S.–Iran conflict on oil prices, interest rates, and equity markets
  • Volatility and drawdowns in the market cycle
  • Equity market rotation
  • Magnificent 7 detraction and increased market breadth
  • Slowdown in non-U.S. equities

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.

Fiduciary Duties in Selecting Designated Investment Alternatives

On March 30, 2026, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued its proposed regulation: Fiduciary Duties in Selecting Designated Investment Alternatives. This comes after the executive order released by the Trump Administration last August which asked the DOL to clarify its position on alternative assets as well as provide guidance to plan sponsors on fiduciary processes for incorporating alternative investments into DC plans. Marquette’s first DC Perspectives paper on this topic can be found here.

The key takeaways from this newly proposed regulation for fiduciaries selecting designated investment alternatives (DIAs) in participant-directed defined contribution plans include:

  • Process matters most: Fiduciary decisions will continue to be evaluated based on a prudent and well‑documented process, focused solely on participants’ best interests.
  • Asset‑neutral framework: The DOL does not require or prohibit any particular asset class, including alternative investments.
  • Clear evaluation factors: To qualify for safe harbor protection, fiduciaries should evaluate DIAs across six areas — performance, fees, liquidity, valuation, benchmarking, and complexity.
  • No immediate changes required: The proposal does not require plans to add new investment options or alter current menus; changes occur only if a fiduciary chooses to act.

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.