DFW Institutional Investment FORUM


 Renamed in 2018 from the Dallas Chapter of the Society of Pension Professionals
Contact: John E. Thompson, Jr., President – 214-577-0095

Luncheon Registration


We meet at the Park City Club
11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at 5956 Sherry Lane on the 17th Floor

 

2025 Proposed Meetings:


  Early 2025 Special Meeting 2025 US & Texas Economic Outlook“,  
  3/18/25 Meeting “TBA, Panel discussion
  4/15/25 Meeting “TBA“, A
  6/17/25 Meeting “TBA“, B
  7/15/25 Meeting “TBA”, C
  9/16/25 Meeting “TBA”, D
10/21/25 Meeting “TBA”, E

2024 Meetings:


  2/06/24 Special Meeting 2024 US & Texas Economic Outlook“,  Dr. Pia Orrenius of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and Bill Adams, Chief Economist, Comerica Bank
  3/19/24 Meeting “How AI’s Changing the Investment processYin Luo, Wolfe Research; Gareth Shepherd, Voya Machine Intelligence; and Henry To, Texas Health
  4/16/24 Meeting “Emerging Markets, where are we now?“, Josh Snyder, GQG Partners; Dan Schmidt, MFS Investment Mgt; and Kris Katarski, Marquette Associates
  6/18/24 Meeting “Small vs Large Cap Equity“, Stephen Haines, Fund Evaluation Group; Conrad Doenges, Ranger Investment Management; Robert Almeida, MFS Investment Mgt; and Brendan McAndrews, Dimensional Fund Advisors
  7/16/24 Meeting “How Big Change and Geopolitical Shifts Affect Investments and What to Do”, Derrick Dagnan, Fort Worth Employees’ Retirement Fund and Dee Smith, Strategic Insight Group
  9/17/24 Meeting “What’s the best plus in Core Plus?”Jason Kelley, Toyota Financial Services; Peter Palfrey, Loomis, Sayles & Company; and Mike Cudzil, PIMCO
10/15/24 Meeting “Investing in Innovation: the Promise of Biotechnology”, Steve Thieme, HighGround Advisors; Tai-Li Chang, Kalehua Capital; and Joe LaBate, Ranger Investment Management

2023 Meetings:


  1/13/23 Special Meeting 2023 US & Texas Economic Outlook“, Dr. Pia Orrenius of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and Bill Adams, Chief Economist, Comerica Bank
  3/21/23 Meeting “The Great Inflation Debate – Update, Mark Freeman, Socorro Asset Mgt; Gilbert Garcia, Garcia Hamilton Assoc; and Derrick Dagnan, Fort Worth Employees’ Retirement Fund.
  4/18/23 Meeting Asset Allocators react to Inflation Steve Orr, Texas Capital Bank, Tim Bray, GuideStone Cap, Alex Ruehle, American Airlines, and Helge Rokenes, HighGround Advisors.
  6/20/23 Meeting Texas Fixed Income Managers speak” Kurt Daum, Victory Income Investors, Chet Pai, Barrow Hanley Global Investors, Thomas Urano, Sage Advisory Services, Matt Peden, American Beacon Advisors
  7/18/23 Meeting “Alternative Credit Opportunities”, Avi Tolani, Voya Investment Management, Chris Gudmastad, Loomis Sayles, Matt Underwood, Ares Management, Tom Gale, Former Meadows Foundation (Retired)
  9/19/23 Meeting “Real Estate”, Coleman Brown, Stonelake Capital; Mathew Kirschner, Cohen & Steers; Catherine Minor, DWS; Chris Cunningham, The Townsend Group,
10/10/23 Special Meeting “State of the US banking sector”, Dana Peterson, Conference Board, (meeting at the Federal Reserve Bank in Dallas)
10/17/23 Meeting “Fossil Energy”, Billy Bailey, BP Energy Partners; Ben Davis, Energy Spectrum Capital; Terry Gottberg, Merit Energy; Ross Campbell, Barrow Hanley Global Investors

2022 Meetings:


  1/14/22 Virtual Meeting 2022 US & Texas Economic Outlook“, Dr. Pia Orrenius of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and Julia Coronado, Macro Policy Perspectives 
  3/08/22 MeetingThe Great Inflation Debate – Part1“, Mark Freeman, Socorro Asset Mgt; Gilbert Garcia, Garcia Hamilton Assoc; Nathan Shetty, Nuveen; and Derrick Dagnan, Fort Worth Employees’ Retirement Fund.
  4/19/22 Meeting
The Great Inflation Debate – Part2“, Derrick Dagnan, Fort Worth Employees’ Retirement Fund, Tim Bray, GuideStone Cap, Alex Ruehle, American Airlines, and Helge Rokenes, HighGround Advisors.
  6/21/22 Meeting “Communication with Stakeholders – Part1″ Consultants share their insights:  John Thompson, President at DFW ii FORUM, Adam Strumpf, Consultant and Chief Compliance Officer at DeMarche, Alan Bergin, Consultant at Fund Evaluation Group, and Kevin Vandolder, Consultant at AndCo Consulting
  7/19/22 Meeting “Communication with Stakeholders – Part2” Allocators discuss challenges: John Pickett, CAPTRUST Financial Advisors, Tom Tull, Employees Retirement System of Texas (Retired), Tom Gale, Meadows Foundation (Retired), Joe Wright, HighGround Advisors (Retired)
  9/20/22 Meeting 60/40 discussion Part 1 “The Evolution of the 60/40 Portfolio and where it’s headed” – Jim Hille, retired CIO, TCU, Matt Peden, Director, Investments at American Beacon,
Bryan Hedrick, Director of Pension Fund Investments at DFW Airport Pension, and Laurie Dotter, Employee Retirement System of Texas investment Advisory Committee.
10/18/22 Meeting 60/40 discussion Part 2 “In Search of Diversification – the Tool KitSteve Orr, Chief Investment Officer at Texas Capital Bank, Erin Schuhmacher, Managing Director, E&F Practice at Cambridge Associates, Amit Sinha, Head of Multi Asset Design at Voya
11/8-9/22 2022 Summit, 27th Annual National Pension & Institutional Investment Summit 
12/15/22 MEETING “Holiday Networking & Planning”

2021 Meetings:


  1/15/21 VIRTUAL Special “2021 US & Texas Economic Outlook” Dr. Robert Dye (Comerica Bank) and Dr. Pia Orrenius (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas)
  1/19/21 VIRTUAL
“How Digital Transformation is creating New Investment Opportunities in Small Cap”, Troy Renauld and Rob Forker, Polen Capital
  3/16/21 VIRTUAL Roundtable “Ensemble approach to Security Selection” roundtable with John Shanklin, Lee Schneider, and James Francis
  4/20/21 VIRTUAL Roundtable
“Infrastructure Investing; What a Global Pandemic has Taught us About the Asset Class”, Scott Freeman, LCG, Jenny Chan, Macquarie, Pradeep Killamsetty, Manulife
  6/15/21 VIRTUAL Roundtable Navigating Credit markets in a post-pandemic world“. Tim Bray, GuideStone; Blair Faulstich, Franklin Templeton; Richard Jander, Maranon; Justin Slatky, Shenkman. 
  7/20/21 VIRTUAL Roundtable 
Fallen Angels or Rising Stars – what to expect from High Yield during the ongoing economic recovery” Keith Berlin, FEG Advisors; Sonali Pier, PIMCO; Manuel Hayes, BNY Mellon.
  7/28/21 VIRTUAL Roundtable The Mechanics of Inflation Protection in Timber and Infrastructure” Stafford Capital Partners: Ashley Marlow, VP, Matthew McPhee, Partner Infrastructure, and Eric Rama, Principal Timberland

  8/11/21 VIRTUAL Roundtable Practical Application of Analyzing Asset Allocators Liabilities through Financial Risk Models“ Celeste Reese, Celanese Corp; David Phillips, Parametric ; James Gannon, Vanguard; Stas Meinikov, SAS
  8/17/21 VIRTUAL Roundtable Private equity investing in a covid recovery environment” Mark Andes, DeMarche; Meena Gandhi, JP Morgan; Ben Moe, Osceola Capital; Bryan Nelson, Pathway Capital
  9/21/21 MEETING “Global Macro as a True Portfolio Diversifier” Dori Levanoni, First Quadrant

10/19/21 VIRTUAL Roundtable “Global Macro Strategy” Jon Levy, Former Federal Reserve Strategist now at Loomis Sayles, and Moderator: Henry To, Director of Public Markets Investments at Texas Health Resources
11/10/21 2021 Summit, 26th Annual National Pension & Institutional Investment Summit, at HALL Arts Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton.
12/14/21 MEETING “Holliday Special – Networking and 2022 Planning session”. bring your ideas and suggestions.

 

2020 Meetings:


1/17/20 2020 US & Texas Economic Outlook” Dr. Pia Orrenius, Federal Reserve Bank and Dr. Robert Dye, Comerica Bank
  1/21/20Growth Investing in the Age of Innovation”, Brian Foersterand Joe Graham, Investment Strategist, Lord Abbett
  3/04/20 “Non-Traditional Income
”, Nelly Xavier and Sam Weiss, Fiera Capital
  3/25/20 CANCELLED “In-depth review of the private markets in the industry”, Hamilton Lane
  4/21/20 CANCELLED
Opportunities in International Small Cap”, Victory Capital Management, Inc.
  6/03/20 VIRTUAL HAPPY HOUR “Discuss what you are doing differently with your assets”

  6/16/20 VIRTUAL “Financial Distancing” A behavioral exploration of potential investment process flaws, Fred Speece, Speece Thorson Capital Group
  7/21/20 VIRTUAL 
“Why Stick with Value Investing?”, Wes Crill, Dimensional Fund Advisors
  9/02/20 VIRTUAL HAPPY HOUR
“CAGE Match – VALUE vs. Growth” Mark Giambrone vs. Hollie Briggs with John Pickett as Referee
  9/15/20 VIRTUAL “Why Bank Loans/High Yield Bonds Make Sense in the Current Market Environment”, Nick Losey and Chet Paipanandiker, Barrow Hanley
10/08/20 VIRTUAL HAPPY HOUR “Rethinking the Value Premium and Exploring Innovation”, Lord Abbett
10/20/20 VIRTUAL
“State of Global Fixed Income markets”, David Wilson, Nuveen
11/10/20 VIRTUAL 2020 Summit Cancelled due to COVID, 26th Annual National Pension & Institutional Investment Summit
12/03/20 VIRTUAL HAPPY HOUR “Convertible Bond Update- Equity-Like Returns with Less Risk“, David Hulme and Karen Richardson, Advent Capital
12/15/20 VIRTUAL “Private equity investing”, Christopher Philips, Vanguard
12/17/20 VIRTUAL Holiday Gathering 
“Texas & DFW Economic outlook, with forecast contest”, Chris Slijk, Research Economist at the Dallas Federal Reserve

2019 Meetings:


1/15/19 “The Compelling Case for Value”, Ryan Myers, Causeway Capital  (Revised)
  1/18/19
“2019 State of the Economy & Outlook” Dr. Mine Yucel, Federal Reserve Bank and Dr. Robert Dye, Comerica Bank
  3/19/19
“ESG for Skeptics – Can ESG Factors Really Benefit Your Portfolio?”, Dan Nielsen, Great Lakes Advisors
  4/16/19
“Real Estate Betas and the Implications for Asset Allocation”, Shannon Morton and David Moore, Northern Trust
  6/18/19 “Rate, Curve & Credit Outlook, and Opportunities in the Current Markets”, Tim Paulson, Lord Abbett
  7/16/19
“Institutional Crypto Investments”, Matt Hougan, Bitwise Asset Management
  9/17/19
“Exploiting the Low Volatility Anomaly in Equity Markets” , Alex Pire, PM with Seeyond / Natixis
10/15/19
“Institutional Asset Allocation: Vital Changes Ahead”, Bryan Poston, Fidelity
11/5-6/19 2019 Summit, 25th Annual National Pension & Institutional Investment Summit
12/17/19
“Diving Deeper Into the EM Opportunity Set: Finding Fortune in the Forgotten”, Chuck Knudsen, T. Rowe Price

2018 Meetings:


1/16/18  “Where is technology taking us?”, Greg Bohlin, Union Grove Venture Partners
  1/26/18 “2018 State of the Economy & Outlook” Dr. Mine Yucel, Federal Reserve Bank and Dr. Robert Dye, Comerica Bank
  2/13/18 EXTRA “Global Private Natural Resources” Sean Goodrich, Aether Investment Partners
  3/20/18 “The Hidden Cost of Indexing”, Wei Dai, PhD, Dimensional Fund Advisors
  4/17/18 “An Alternate Twist to Traditional Beta”, Sean Heron, Glenmede Investment Mgt
  6/19/18 “Risks and Opportunities in the Global Fixed Income market”, Bill Adams, CIO at MFS Investment Management
  7/17/18 “Fixed Income Market Update & Trends in Institutional ETF Usage”, Evan Teiger, BlackRock
 9/18/18 “Trends in Commercial and Industrial Real estate lending across the US” Derek Jenkin, Romspen Investment Company
10/16/18 Passive vs. Active Investing… 2 years later”, Scott Gates, CIO, Friess Associates
11/14/18 the 2018 Summit, 24th Annual National Pension & Institutional Investment Summit
12/18/18 “Investing in Volatile Markets”, Wes Crill, Dimensional Fund Advisors

2017 Meetings:


1/17/17 “Transition Management today” David P. Choate, SVP, Capital Institutional Services (CAPIS)
  1/27/17 “2017 State of the Economy & Outlook” Robert Dye and Mine Yucel  (Special Meeting at the Fed)
  3/21/17 “Real Estate Update” Austin Kahn, CIO, Ethika Investments
  4/18/17 “Improving Portfolio Performance amidst Today’s Market and Issues”, Dory Wiley, Commerce Street Capital
  6/20/17 “Inflation: The Forgotten Investment Risk”, Michael Simon and Robert Holt, Holt Capital Partners, L.P.
  7/18/17 “Pension Management and Asset Allocation Outlook”, John O’Callaghan, Fidelity Investments
  9/19/17 “Evolution of Risk Management”, Josh Howard, Director of Investment Risk, RBC Global Asset Management
10/17/17 “Global & US Earnings Outlook: What to expect going forward”, Bill Ketterer and Kenneth Wallace, Smith Group
11/13-14 the 2017 Summit at the Marriott Las Colinas, 23rd Annual National Pension & Institutional Investment Summit
12/19/17 “ESG – Passing Fad or a Legitimate Investing Tool?”, Dan Nielsen, Great Lakes Advisors, LLC

2016 Meetings:


 1/19/16 “Portfolio Management: manager selection, due diligence, and transitions.”, Michael Paolucci, Mercer
  1/29/16 “2016 State of the Economy & Outlook” Robert Dye and Mine Yucel  (Special Meeting at the Fed)
  3/15/16 “Illiquid Lunch?”, Linh Pham, BlackRock
  4/19/16 “US Late Cycle Indicators Rising…Is Inflation Next?”, Austin Litvak, Senior Analyst, Fidelity Investments
  6/21/16 “Benefitting from Opportunities in US Middle Market Senior Lending”, Shai Vichness, TIAA
  7/19/16 “The State of Venture Capital”, Peter Denious, Head of Global Venture Capital, Aberdeen Asset Management
  9/20/16 “Undiscovered Managers”, Sam Austin, FIS Group, Inc.
10/18/16 “Case for Active Management in a Transformational World”, Scott Gates, CIO, Friess Associates
10/31-11/1 the 2016 Summit at the Marriott Las Colinas, 22nd Annual National Pension & Institutional Investment Summit
12/20/16 “Trends in Analyzing Multi Asset Class Investing”, Josh Smith, Co-Founder and CEO, Solovis, LLC

2015 Meetings:


1/09/15 “2015 State of the US Economy and Outlook”, Robert Dye and Mine Yucel  (Special Meeting at the Fed)
  1/20/15 “Shale Revolution and the American industrial Renaissance” Libby Toudouze, President, Cushing Asset Management
  3/17/15 “Hidden Risks and Opportunities for Long-Term Investors” John Keshner, Managing Director, Multi-Manager Solutions Northern Trust
  4/21/15 “Emerging Markets” Tim Devlin, JP Morgan
  6/16/15 “Currency in international investing and how institutional investors are approaching it” Gary Klopfenstein, Berenberg Asset Management
  7/21/15 “Economic and Market Review: Time to Put This Bull Out to Pasture?” Bryan Sullivan & Francesca Smitherman, Regions Investment Mgt
  9/15/15 “Global Real Assets” Bernie McNamara, JP Morgan
10/20/15 “DC Perspectives” Paula Smith, Head of DC Investments at Voya
11/16-17 the 2015 Summit at the Marriott Las Colinas, 21st Annual National Pension & Institutional Investment Summit
12/15/15 “Liquidity and evolution of the Bond Market” David LaRusso, Dimensional Fund Advisors

2014 Meetings:


1/17/14 “2014 State of the US Economy and Outlook”, Robert Dye and Mine Yucel  (Special Meeting at the Fed)
  1/21/14 “Regulatory and Legislative update for Retirement Plans” Drew Carrington, Franklin Tempelton
  3/18/14 “Is this another market bubble?” – Robert Almeida, MFS
  4/15/14 “Is the Run on Bank Loans Over, and Will We See a Repeat of 2008/2009?” John Bailey, AEGON USA
  6/17/14 “Time for Venture Capital?” – Greg Bohlen, Morgan Creek Capital
  7/15/14 “The trend toward physician owned hospitals and what that means to the investment community”, Todd Furniss, glendonTodd Capital LLC
  9/16/14 “Strategic Beta” – Ellen Blix and Linh Pham, BlackRock
10/21/14 “Approach to Alternative Investments” – Kevin Lion, Aberdeen
11/10-11 the 2014 Summit at the Dallas Marriott Las Colinas, 20th Annual National Pension & Institutional Investment Summit
12/16/14 “Impact of increasingly complex portfolios on institutional investors”, Steve Benjamin, Pyramis Global