The Allocators Playbook

Former Publica CIO Stefan Beiner joins host Muskan to unpack repo as a liquidity tool, why geopolitical risk sharpens diversification questions rather than driving big allocation shifts, and the governance discipline behind long-term pension investing.00:00 – Intro00:24 – Introduction to Stefan Beiner00:47 – Building on PUBLICA’s Investment Strategy02:52 – Expanding into Private Markets05:27 – Man...

Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System CEO and CIO Tim Reese discusses the investment philosophy behind the pension system's evolving portfolio, including his approach to emerging managers, why he favors lower- and middle-market private credit over private equity, how a total fund view has reshaped the system's fixed income portfolio and why PMRS is building AI fluency from the top down...

After nearly four decades overseeing investments for the West Virginia Investment Management Board, Craig Slaughter has learned that staying independent means avoiding being “whipsawed by politics.” The longtime CEO and CIO discusses why public funds stumble when governance breaks down, how history helps investors keep their cool in turbulent markets and why he prefers to hire people smarter than...

Migros Pension Plan CIO Stephan Bereuter joins Allocators Playbook to break down how the CHF 30bn Swiss fund turned a 2023 insurance-linked securities trade into one of its best contrarian bets — bought when everyone else was selling — and why he's not chasing the next "ILS moment." He also talks through where MPK is hunting for opportunities now: cooling conviction on data centers d...

With September and October typically times of market volatility, this episode will give tips on preparing a strategic portfolio in time for defensive and opportunistic investments. State Investment Officer Matt Clark, a self-described contrarian, is storing cash and waiting to invest at the bottom of the market. According to his team’s research, only a few times in history have markets been this e...

How should institutional investors think about portfolio construction in an era of market concentration? Dawn Jia, president and CEO of UBC Investment Management, joins The Allocators Playbook with an unusual answer: stop investing by the label. Just as a diet isn't really about meat, carbs and vegetables but about protein and vitamins, Jia argues portfolio construction should look past asset clas...

Henrik Olejasz Larsen, the chief investment officer at €47B Sampension is rebuilding the portfolio for a world where falling rates are no longer a given,

What matters most, governance structure or market insight? In this in-depth conversation with up-in-coming CIO Hall of Famer honoree, John Skjervem, learn his leading takeaways from doubling the AUM in Oregon, what it was like to switch to a 97% funded Utah Retirement System, and how he helped to ready Northern Trust for institutional clients.  TimeStamps: 00:12 - Introduction to John Skjervem and...

What's better at predicting markets, quant, practiced intuition or deep analysis? How would you track it? Similar to what was seen on the hit show Billions, CIO Mark Steed discusses his proven, high conviction method for pension fund investment teams that has gotten the team to top decile returns and one of the fastest growing funds in the USA. The New Strategy Award winner also discusses due dili...

Part 2: CIO Hall of Famer Ash Williams discusses the changes he made once he returned to the Florida SBA after the Great Financial Crisis, and fields questions from CIOs in the industry.

Part 1: After becoming one of the most nominated CIOs in the history of the Markets Group peer nominated CIO Hall of Fame Award, we conducted a special session with Ash Williams as part of his induction. In Part 1, hear about the key decisions he made during his life and career, and his sound advice for allocators throughout the industry.

Jeb Burns, Chief investment officer of Michigan MERS, living in a U.S. manufacturing hub, shares insights on tailwinds, where investors are leaning in, humans vs. AI, and getting his investment team out of siloes.

Inflation isn't the anomaly, it's the norm. Defense is getting a new seat at the ESG table. And private equity may be finding its edge again. Recorded onsite at our Nordic allocator roundtable in Denmark, this episode features Cecilia Kellner and Jakob Carlsson on how one of Sweden's largest investors is positioning for what comes next: navigating inflationary cycles and geopolitical r...

Jon Braeutigam, CIO of the State of Michigan Department of Treasury, reflects on how a long-term, data-driven investment philosophy has helped guide the portfolio through major market cycles. In this in-depth discussion with Markets Group Deputy Editor Lauren Bailey, Braeutigam explains the fund’s shift from equity-heavy positioning in a low-rate environment to a more diversified mix of equities,...

OCERS CIO Molly Murphy joins Markets Group to discuss the hidden AI trade building across institutional portfolios, why OCERS favors infrastructure over private credit, and how the pension system is using technology, dynamic asset allocation and scenario testing to prepare for stagflation, geopolitical volatility and an increasingly uncertain macro environment.

How did a small Canadian pension plan outperform while others abandoned defined benefit plans? Markets Group Lifetime Achievement Award winner Blair Richards shares the bold investment decisions, early move into alternatives, and “micro-Maple Model” strategy that delivered decades of strong returns that recently culminated in a landmark deal guaranteeing retirees a 4% annual COLA for life.

In this episode of The Allocators Playbook, Danny Popescu, founder and CEO of Harbourfront Wealth Management, shares how he transformed the firm from a founder-funded startup into a nationally recognized wealth advisory firm. Hear his insights on advisor empowerment, strategic acquisitions and expanding access to alternative investments the alchemy powering Harbourfront’s rapid growth.

How venture-backed Savvy Wealth’s CIO Sharma increased AUM 4.5x in 2025.

In this episode, Markets Group Deputy Editor sits down with Thom Williams, the recently retired Executive Director of the Hawaii Employees’ Retirement System (ERS), to reflect on a transformative decade at the helm of one of the nation’s most closely watched public pension funds. Williams shares how he rebuilt the organization by shifting investment decision-making from the board to a newly formed...

Join us in Ohio to hear him live during his strategy award discussion. Or, next best thing: listen here to how CIO Farouki Majeed stayed in the top 2% of earnings while being one to the top funds in Private Equity in 2025.   03:21 - Navigating Financial Crises: A Journey Through Experience 12:04 - Current Market Insights and Future Risks 17:50 - Market Outlook and Economic Risks 19:44 - Investment...

Being awarded with a lifetime achievement award at our DACH Retreat in May, Martin Roth, CEO of Pensionskasse Manor has witnessed multiple financial cycles in his career. This conversation explores his plans for 2026, what he learnt and advice for Gen Z leaders.

How San Bernardino County Employees' Retirement Association's CIO, Don Pierce, engineered a credit strategy designed to perform in any market environment.

RFG Advisory Chief Investment Officer Rick Wedell, who is being honored this month for his innovative approach to providing sophisticated investment opportunities for mass affluent retail clients and the advisors who serve them, sat down with Markets Group to share his take on tech, markets and global currency dynamics.

CIO Peter Madsen’s research-driven strategy — blending private market insight with defensive positioning — has strengthened the Utah School and Institutional Trust Funds portfolio, driving 61% growth over FY2014–FY2023 and record distributions. He shares his data-driven approach with Markets Group

Join us in this exciting conversation about whether private credit is in a bubble or whether this is a good time to hike investments in public equity. CIO and DCEO Mark Delaney has an interesting viewpoint.