Tag: ESG Investing

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Improving Alpha: Devana Cohen on Driving Investment Conviction for Improved Endowment Portfolio Performance

Improving Alpha: Devana Cohen on Driving Investment Conviction for Improved Endowment Portfolio Performance

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Can prior career opportunities help you discover your true potential in institutional investing even if they’re not related to the finance sector? Maybe it reveals that ideal ‘a-ha’ moment that sets your future course. 

In our latest episode of the Improving Alpha podcast, we welcome Devana Cohen, Chief Investment Officer of the United Jewish Appeal Federation, (UJA) to discuss her three-pronged mission approach, which manages $2 billion in assets. Listen in as Devana shares her journey from modeling electrons flowing through silicon as a semiconductor R&D analyst to careers in finance at The Ford Foundation, California Endowment, and then landing at the UJA.

Host Michael Oliver Weinberg and Devana Cohen cover the following key takeaways and more: 

  • How are current geopolitics impacting the UJA’s mission today.
  • The prevailing thoughts on value investing strategies at the UJA and how Devana adds downside protection to the portfolio.
  • The engineering mindset and how her process-oriented approach helps in manager selection, especially when thinking about ESG.
  • Given the recent U.S. administration changes, how does the UJA view ESG investments, like carbon capture and sequestration.
  • Does distressed credit offer attractive yields for the UJA portfolio today, and could Europe offer some unique options.
  • Could there be less demand for venture capital in the future which will level the playing field and provide more early-stage opportunities.
  • Real thoughts on co-portfolio managers and the challenges that exist with this model.
  • And more!

Connect with Michael Oliver Weinberg: 

Connect with Devana Cohen:

About Our Guest:

Devana Cohen is the Chief Investment Officer for the UJA-Federation of New York’s Endowment and Retirement Plans. Before joining UJA-Federation of New York in 2013, Ms. Cohen spent five years managing public market investments at the Ford Foundation and The California Endowment.  Ms. Cohen was an Asset-Liability Manager at Toyota Motor Sales, where she also served as a member of the investment team that managed the pension plan assets. Before starting a career in investments, she was a Design Engineer developing semiconductor devices for International Rectifier.  Ms. Cohen graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with dual BS degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and earned an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, specializing in Finance and Entrepreneurial Studies. Ms. Cohen is a CFA charterholder.

The information covered and posted represents the views and opinions of the guest and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Vidrio Financial, and/or our host, Michael Oliver Weinberg. The Content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional investing advice. Always seek the advice of your financial advisor or other qualified financial service provider with any questions you may have regarding your investment planning.

The release date may not correspond to the recording date.

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Improving Alpha: Koray Caliskan on the ‘Data Money’ of cryptocurrency and future applications

Improving Alpha: Koray Caliskan on the ‘Data Money’ of cryptocurrency and future applications

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Back in the 16th century, when paper money made its debut in Venice, skeptics doubted it could ever replace the clinking of metal coins. Fast forward to today, and we find ourselves seamlessly blending paper, coins, and cryptocurrency. This cutting-edge currency has skyrocketed to a market capitalization of $2-$3 trillion and continues to surge. Just last month, Bitcoin values were on the brink of reaching the monumental $100K milestone.

In our latest Improving Alpha podcast, host Michael Oliver Weinberg sits down with Koray Caliskan, Co-Director, MS Strategic Design and Management, The New School Parsons to discuss more on crypto, taxation, governance, and social innovation. 

Koray highlights the following: 

  • why are there losers and survivors in cryptocurrency and how can allocators navigate the nuances of these systems when making strategic asset allocations.
  • how will the regulation of cryptocurrencies need to evolve for wider adoption and can you tax crypto with normal paper and metal money.
  • his views on social innovation and why it’s so important for his students to pay attention to when choosing a career path.
  • where will artificial intelligence and LLMs feature in institutional investing and how are his students applying best practices today.
  • And more

Connect with Michael Oliver Weinberg: 

Connect with Koray Caliskan:

About Our Guest:

With 25 years of experience in research and design, Koray is a scientist and designer who works in economies, management, and societies. His latest book is Data Money: Inside Cryptocurrencies and their Communities, Blockchains and Markets (Columbia UP). It is based on his award-winning multi-methods research, which was selected as the Scientific Breakthrough of the Year in Social Sciences and Humanities by the Falling Walls Foundation in 2021. He is also a co-founder of Mamame, a social enterprise that empowers under-represented women’s labor, and a former filmmaker whose work has been shown at the Cannes Film Festival. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Design Strategies and an Associate Editor of the Journal of Cultural Economy.

The information covered and posted represents the views and opinions of the guest and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Vidrio Financial, and/or our host, Michael Oliver Weinberg. The Content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional investing advice. Always seek the advice of your financial advisor or other qualified financial service provider with any questions you may have regarding your investment planning.

The release date may not correspond to the recording date.

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Improving Alpha: TC Wilson on Advancing the Practice of Good Medicine through Better Asset Allocation Strategies

Improving Alpha: TC Wilson on Advancing the Practice of Good Medicine through Better Asset Allocation Strategies

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Today there’s tremendous focus around the practice of good medicine, the advancement of healthcare innovations, and positive patient outcomes. One company that embodies these characteristics and provides services to the healthcare industry is The Doctor’s Company. The Doctors Company began in 1976 during a crisis period in medical malpractice claims that were skyrocketing. Formed out of historic legislation for the time, and starting with only 450 members this organization has grown to over 90,000 members.

As the nation’s largest physician-owned medical malpractice insurance company it takes a steady hand and solid grasp of the balancing that needs to occur in both the underwriting and asset allocation areas of the business. 

Join Michael Oliver Weinberg, host, Improving Alpha Podcast, as he sits down with TC Wilson, Chief Investment Officer, The Doctors Company. Learn more about TC’s journey and the balancing of investments and underwriting to help generate alpha. 

TC highlights the following: 

  • the generation of alpha opportunities across US investment grade and non-traditional investments and how they differ from an endowment or foundation.
  • how he’s looking at private credit and private equity and where the innovation and creativity lie today.
  • how The Doctors Company integrates ESG considerations and supports California’s climate and carbon initiatives in asset allocation strategies, governance, monitoring, and due diligence.
  • what does the organization known as California Organized Investment Network, (COIN) do for environmental benefits in California?
  • how does the challenging regulatory environment impact TC’s diversification strategies in managing his shop? Does he believe that they might be getting penalized prematurely for other players’ bad market moves?
  • steps for identifying red flags in investment strategies and culture.
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with TC Wilson:

Connect with Michael Oliver Weinberg: 

About Our Guest:

Chief Investment Officer and Senior Vice President TC Wilson joined The Doctors Company as its first Chief Investment Officer in 2017. Mr. Wilson is responsible for the development, management, and oversight of the company’s strategic investment program. He also ensures that overall investment and growth objectives are met in support of the company’s underwriting profile and operating results. He contributes to The Doctors Company’s strategic growth plan as it relates to investment review and assessment of new partnerships and opportunities. On a day-to-day basis, Mr. Wilson oversees the company’s investment portfolio with the goal of preserving and growing surplus. He also serves as Chairman of The Doctors Company’s 401(k) Committee. Prior to joining The Doctors Company, Mr. Wilson served as Head of Institutional Consulting for The Optimal Service Group (OSG), an investment consultant that specializes in investment advice to the medical malpractice industry. At OSG, he was the lead investment consultant to The Doctors Company from 2000 through 2017. Mr. Wilson has nearly 30 years of investment and consulting experience, including his initial five-year stint with one of the nation’s leading benefits consulting firms in Richmond, Virginia.

The information covered and posted represents the views and opinions of the guest and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Vidrio Financial, and/or our host, Michael Oliver Weinberg. The Content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional investing advice. Always seek the advice of your financial advisor or other qualified financial service provider with any questions you may have regarding your investment planning.

The release date may not correspond to the recording date.