Services Tags: Investment Manager Search

Marquette Speaking at 2014 Pension Bridge Annual 4/23

On April 23rd, Marquette will be speaking at the 2014 Pension Bridge Annual at the Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco.

Ben Mohr will participate in a panel discussion on emerging investment managers which will address the following topics:

  • How are plans defining emerging managers?
  • What are the benefits and opportunities offered by investing in next generation managers?
  • Exploiting market inefficiencies by utilizing emerging managers
  • What are the growth prospects?
  • Strategies for implementing an emerging managers program – how is establishing this type of program different from others?
  • Due diligence and key points of analysis for selecting emerging managers
  • Comparing the attributes of prospective emerging managers
  • Explain diversity and how you achieve it
  • New firms fundraising – how important is it to be spun out from traditional or name-brand firms?
  • Key differentiators that enable a successful fundraising?
  • Research statistics and results on emerging managers
  • Risk/return prospects of emerging manager programs vs. programs focused on established managers?
  • What are the perceived risks of emerging managers? Are they inappropriate?
  • How do you evaluate performance and measure success?
  • What is happening with funds that have reached critical mass?
  • What is an important lesson learned from your experiences?

For more information, please visit The Pension Bridge website.

Socially-Responsible Fixed Income Investing

Socially-responsible investing (SRI) is one of the fastest-developing segments of investing and we see a ballooning trend of true action taken by investors. Specifically for fixed income, socially-responsible investing is growing and a great deal is evolving in the recent landscape, particularly in terms of philosophical changes as well as the development of new products where “the rubber meets the road.”

This white paper explores trends in socially-responsible fixed income investing and assesses the challenges. In addition, we examine the prevalence of Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) issues and compare their uses in fixed income versus equities. Finally, we evaluate methods to invest in fixed income for the responsibly-minded investor.

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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.

Marquette Speaking at Opal Emerging Managers Summit 5/17

On Friday, May 17th, Kelli Schrade will be speaking at the Opal Emerging Managers Summit at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago. She will be one of the panelists on the Consultants Roundtable moderated by the Chicago Policeman's Annuity and Benefit Fund, which will discuss the following topics:

  • Importance of transparency
  • Understanding the operational aspects of a fund
  • Role of consultants in vetting an emerging manager

For more information, please visit the Opal Financial Group website.

Marquette Speaking at Connex 7th Strategic Investment Sector Meeting 12/3

On Monday, December 3rd, Kelli Schrade will be speaking at Connex International’s 7th Strategic Investment Sector Meeting on the topic of investment manager search. She will lead the following panel discussion.

Manager Due Diligence and Selection
Selecting and monitoring good money managers is one of the largest challenges facing institutional investors today. Plan sponsors are facing a unique opportunity to gain a greater level of transparency than ever before. This panel will discuss best practices and innovative approaches on the following:

  • Sorting through the sea of managers to find best in class
  • Employing custom benchmarks for better monitoring
  • How to avoid common pitfalls

Panel Members:

  • Kelli Schrade, Managing Partner, Marquette Associates (moderator)
  • Natalie Jenkins Sorrell, Investment Officer, Employees’ Retirement Fund of the City of Dallas
  • Matt Peden, Director of Portfolio Management, GuideStone Capital Management
  • Tom Tull, Director of Strategic Research, ERS of Texas

For more information, please visit the Connex website.

Nonprofit Investment Symposium

Friday, September 14, 2012 – 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Nonprofit clients – Please join us for a discussion on the state of the global economic recovery, best practices in research and manager search, and emerging investment themes for the nonprofit investor.

Agenda
7:00 – 8:00 AM


Registration Open/Breakfast
8:00 – 8:15 AM


Welcome and Opening Remarks
Brian Wrubel, CEO/President
8:15 – 9:15 AM

Global Economic Outlook: Europe in Crisis, Global Recession, and the US Election
Jim McDonald, Chief Investment Strategist, Northern Trust

Steve Vogt, Ph.D., CIO, Mesirow Advanced Strategies

Gary Fencik, Partner, Adams Street

Moderator: Tim Burdick, CFA, Managing Director & Chief Investment Officer
9:15 – 9:30 AM


Networking Break
9:30 – 10:30 AM

Breakout session 1 – choose one of the two topics

Yin and Yang of Investment Manager Research – Qualitative vs. Quantitative Factors

Kelli Schrade, Managing Partner & Director of Manager Research

Eric Przbylinski, CAIA, Senior Research Analyst

Moderator: Tim Fallon, CIMA®, Managing Director

Emerging Trends in Alternative Asset Classes

Greg Leonberger, FSA, EA, MAAA, Director of Research

Nat Kellogg, CFA, Associate Director of Research
Moderator: James Wesner, CFA, Vice President
10:45 – 11:45 AM

Breakout session 2 – choose one of the two topics

Global Investing – Identifying Value in a Volatile Market

Tom Salemy, CFA, Senior Research Analyst

Dave Smith, CFA, Vice President

Moderator: Miguel Zarate, Senior Vice President

Seeking Income in a Low Rate Environment
Elizabeth Francis, CIMA®, Vice President

Tim Burdick, CFA, Managing Director & Chief Investment Officer

Moderator: Doug Oest, CAIA, Managing Partner
12:00 – 2:00 PM

Keynote Luncheon: Afsaneh Beschloss, CEO, Rock Creek Group and Former Treasurer and Chief Investment Officer, World Bank

Current Global Political and Economic Climate and its Impact on Institutional Investors

2:00 PM

Conference Adjourns

Hotel Monaco Chicago
225 North Wabash Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Tel: (312) 960-8500


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Kelli Schrade Named 2012 Rising Star of Public Funds

CHICAGO, March 16, 2012 – Marquette Associates, Inc. today announced that Kelli Schrade, managing partner and director of manager research, has been chosen by industry peers and the publishers of Institutional Investor as one of the 2012 Rising Stars of Public Funds.

“We’re all very proud of the careful due diligence with which Kelli leads manager research for Marquette,” said Brian Wrubel, CEO and president of Marquette. “It’s great to see her stewardship recognized by the institutional investing community she serves.”

Kelli Schrade is among a select group of 13 emerging industry leaders to be chosen as a 2012 Rising Star of Public Funds, an up-and-coming professional in the public fund community who has achieved demonstrable success in their career to-date. She will be honored at Money Management Intelligence‘s 11th Annual Public Pension Fund Awards, to be held March 25 at the Park Hyatt Aviara in Carlsbad, CA. The ceremony is held in conjunction with IMN’s Public Funds Summit, a major gathering of the U.S. public pension fund investment community.

In her role at Marquette, Kelli Schrade serves as the director of manager research, with primary oversight of the domestic equity managers. In addition, she is an owner of the firm and oversees the other asset classes as chair of both the Traditional and Alternative Search Committees. Before joining Marquette, Kelli was an investment advisor with Christian Brothers Investment Services. She also served as a managing editor and fund analyst at Morningstar, Inc. for seven years, specializing in domestic-equity funds. Kelli has been quoted as an expert on the mutual fund industry throughout the national media, including Barron’s and The Wall Street Journal. Education: A.B. English, Kenyon College. Kelli is also a member of the CFA Institute, the CFA Society of Chicago, NASP, and serves as a board member for Women Investment Professionals – Chicago.

About Institutional Investor
For more than 40 years, Institutional Investor has recognized people and companies in the U.S. and around the world for performance and professional excellence. The integrity of Institutional Investor’s editorial and research-supported rankings and awards have earned the highest regard in the industry and continue to set the standard by which excellence is measured.

About Marquette Associates
Marquette Associates is an independent investment consulting firm that guides institutional investment programs with a focused three-point approach and careful research. For 25 years, Marquette has served this mission in close collaboration with clients – enabling institutions to be more effective investment stewards. Marquette is a completely independent and 100% employee-owned consultancy founded with the sole purpose of advising institutions.

For more information, please contact Brian M. Wrubel at 312.527.5500 or bwrubel@marquetteassociates.com.

Increased Appetite for Private Equity

Over the past two decades there has been a steady decline in the number of companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges. In 1996, during the dot-com peak there were more than 8,000 public companies, but this has declined to just over 4,300 as increased regulation and consolidation has more than offset the number of IPOs and corporate spinouts. Over 2,000 companies were delisted between 1997-2003 as the maturity, composition, and fundamentals of these businesses were not able to attract institutional capital and thus failed to meet the listing standards of U.S. exchanges.

Meanwhile, the perception of the private equity industry continues to evolve as more capital and managers gravitate towards the space. There are over 7 million businesses in the U.S. and the number of private equity-backed companies has steadily increased to now over 7,100 companies. Investors continue to be attracted to the return potential, alignment, and innovation within the private markets. With nearly $1 trillion of dry powder in the private equity industry and near record fundraising we are almost certain to see the number of private equity-backed companies increase over the next decade.

Furthermore, it will not be surprising to see investors shift more of their allocations into private equity. Private markets offer a larger and growing opportunity set, and further upside than the fully valued equity markets. With both the number of managers and investment options increasing, we are likely to see a widening range of returns produced by the industry which will make manager selection even more critical for investors.

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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.

Don’t You Know, We’re Talking About An Evolution? Addressing The New Challenges Facing The Diverse Manager Community

In recent years, some proactive and thoughtful pieces have spurred constructive dialogue within the investment consulting and plan sponsor communities on the measurable benefits of incorporating “diverse” investment firms within their various investment programs. In short, a diverse investment manager can be defined as a firm that is women owned, minority owned, or a combination of the two.

This newsletter strives to enhance the ongoing series of constructive discussions and solutions featuring Marquette, the diverse investment manager community, and the plan sponsors who wish to advance diverse manager initiatives. It is Marquette’s view that broader conversations about the diverse manager community should deliberately acknowledge the existence of newer structural headwinds that diverse managers face in today’s market. By focusing on these material hurdles – some of which are highlighted in this newsletter – the plan sponsor, diverse manager and consultant communities will be in a stronger position to formulate practical solutions to these challenges.

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