NAIC Perspectives

The fund-raising process can be a daunting one for first-time fund managers. It requires a target, a reasonable goal and a way to get there. In this edition of Perspectives, NAIC’s video series, Marene Jennings, Managing Director, Alternative Investments & Manager Selection (AIMS) for Goldman Sachs Asset Management, offers actionable advice for managers raising for that initial fund. Her guidance includes understanding that the process often takes longer than expected, setting up milestones and metrics to be able to measure success and being aggressive appropriately to move the conversation forward. AIMS provides diversified and customized portfolio solutions in addition to a range of advisory services.

While it may lack the allure of deal-making, human resources and talent management are critical parts of any alternative investment management firm. In this edition of Perspectives, NAIC’s online video series, Marene Jennings, Managing Director, Alternative Investments & Manager Selection (AIMS) for Goldman Sachs Asset Management, shares her insights on how best to assemble a firm’s initial team. She also discusses the importance of clearly defined responsibilities and having procedures in place for compensation and benefit structures, onboarding, recruiting and other essential HR-related aspects. AIMS provides diversified and customized portfolio solutions in addition to a range of advisory services.

The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) announced plans last year to invest an additional $3 billion with Emerging Managers over 3-5 years. This came on top of an existing $5.8 billion TRS has already invested with emerging managers since 2005. In this installment of Perspectives, NAIC’s video series, Jarvis Hollingsworth, Chairman of the TRS Board of Trustees, provides his insight into the diverse manager space, explaining why he hopes to see more diverse managers grow their funds, land larger allocations from TRS, and have a greater positive impact on its portfolio.

How can a young professional or student looking to get a foothold into the financial services industry best position themself for success? In this installment of Perspectives, NAIC’s video series, Brent Gledhill, Managing Director, Global Head of Investment Banking, William Blair, shares some of his recommendations to aspiring professionals, including conducting thorough research as specific areas of the industry are best suited for different personality types and skillsets.

For there to be greater business and career opportunities for those diverse groups that have historically been excluded, there must be increased representation within boardrooms. In this installment of Perspectives, NAIC’s online video series, Hershel Harper, UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust’s Chief Investment Officer, discusses the significance of a diverse boardroom and how the Trust and its members have benefitted from it.

Decision-makers within institutional investors and consulting firms often have preconceptions or biases when it comes to looking at smaller asset managers. In this installment of Perspectives, NAIC’s online video series, Angela Matheny, Director of Investment Staff & Diverse Manager Equity at Colonial Consulting, discusses why the firm sets aside those biases to focus on talent and performance when performing their required due diligence.

John W. Rogers, Jr., Chairman, Co-CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Ariel Investments, believes that to create more opportunities for diverse-owned businesses and their communities, there must first be greater diverse representation in the boardroom working to see that opportunities flow into these communities. In this installment of Perspectives, NAIC’s online video series, Rogers shares his thoughts on why it is ‘critically important’ that there are more diverse professionals on corporate and non-profit boards.

What will it take to increase the level of diversity on public plan trustee boards? In this installment of Perspectives, NAIC’s online video series, Jarvis V. Hollingsworth, Chairman of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), explains some of the processes keeping many diverse candidates out of the running for these appointed positions and how preparing the next generation of professionals to enter the pipeline can lead to increased representation.

The San Francisco Foundation, one of the largest community foundations in the country, supports thousands of nonprofit organizations each year to advance racial and economic equity in the Bay Area. In this installment of Perspectives, NAIC’s online video series, Mark Doherty, Director of Investments, explains what the foundation looks for in an asset manager. The San Francisco Foundation has approximately 30% of its assets deployed with women or people of color.

One of the leading advisors for diverse asset managers, William Blair has led approximately $30 billion in buy/sell transactions with these firms. In this installment of Perspectives, NAIC’s online video series, John R. Ettelson, President & Chief Executive Officer of William Blair, explains the value of instituting an effective policy and culture for diversity and inclusion and how the global financial services firm has benefited as a result.