Archived Insight | April 30, 2019

Segal Marco Advisors Client Conference: How Did It Go?

Segal Marco is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019 and used that occasion for the client conference theme, titled “Looking Back to Guide the Future”. The conference was held from March 28 to 31, 2019. We were thrilled to have more than 150 clients representing 56 plan sponsors in attendance for three days of educational presentations and group discussions.

Client Conference 2019

Segal Marco President & CEO John DeMairo kicked off the conference with the video below. The world has undergone many changes since 1969, and Segal Marco has grown and changed as well. However, what has not changed is our longtime commitment to serving our clients.

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Key Takeaways from the Conference

  • The conference focused on the state of economies and markets ten years after the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), as well as the new challenges faced by investors in the current environment.
  • Consultants and research team members discussed Segal Marco’s outlook for various asset classes and global markets.
  • Team members addressed topics ranging from ESG and sustainability, investing in alternatives, and opportunities and challenges of investing in global and emerging market strategies

Presentation Highlights:

  • Sue Crotty and Michael Joyce discussed the many factors that led to the 2008 GFC and that, while some causes of the crisis have been addressed, there are risks to markets now that investors should not ignore.
  • Nick Trella and John Ross talked about where markets are now, and Segal Marco’s outlook in continuing uncertain times
  • Seth Almaliah and Benji Patzik said that geopolitics continues to play a major role in global capital market risks and opportunities.
  • Don Sheridan and John Hume noted that fixed income portfolios have pushed farther out on the risk curve to help plans meet their return obligations. That doesn’t mean investors should be complacent in assessing and monitoring those risks.
  • Linda McDonald and Ryen Sherman discussed the firm’s manager research process, and talked about our approach to evaluating active and passive strategies.
  • Tim Barron and Catherine Hickey identified some of the trends now underway in the investment management and consulting world, and how these industries might be transformed in coming years.

Other presentation highlights included a discussion of sustainability and governance by Marc Procek and Maureen O’Brien, a primer on the opportunities and challenges of alternatives investing by Peter Gerlings and Julian Regan, and a market outlook presentation by guest speaker Olga Bitel, global strategist at William Blair.

The information and opinions herein provided by third parties have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. This article and the data and analysis herein is intended for general education only and not as investment advice. It is not intended for use as a basis for investment decisions, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the needs of any particular investor. On all matters involving legal interpretations and regulatory issues, investors should consult legal counsel.

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