The traditional 60/40 stock/bond portfolio is on pace for its worst performance in 80 years and Treasury bonds might register their worst performance in 200 years! Investor anxiety seems to be rising in lock-step with interest rates.
All this contributes to a high level of uncertainty for those who oversee endowments and foundations.
In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis help investment committees (or any nonprofit leader overseeing investments) combat market uncertainty through four key action items.
You will learn the following:
Why good stewards need to separate today’s news from the noise
Important considerations regarding expected investment returns moving forward
Insights into alternative asset classes, especially in light of higher interest rates
An important step in ESG investing that many organizations are overlooking
High-performing organizations are characterized by strong leadership, a clear goal, and strategic investments.
In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis speak with Jeffery Perry, founder & CEO of Lead Mandates LLC. They discuss the major drivers of success for high-performing organizations (especially nonprofits).
You will learn the following:
The importance of having a clear sense of purpose for your organization
Evolution in asset allocation strategies and endowment management
The key to authentic ESG investing (and the impact of the “peanut butter approach”)
Personal leadership insights for nonprofit leaders
Jeff is the Founder & CEO of Lead Mandates LLC, an advisory firm that helps organizations improve business and leadership performance. He is a global strategic business advisor with relevant experience that spans 20 years combined as partner at Ernst & Young LLP (EY) and A.T. Kearney. He is a highly skilled and passionate leader in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), integrations, divestitures, and business transformations, linking strategy to purpose-led leadership and execution.
Jeff is a member of corporate and non-profit boards including: Board Director, Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. (NYSE: FBHS); Independent Director (Trustee), Equitable Funds; Board of Trustees Chair, Babson College; Board Chair, Chicago Children’s Museum; Former Board Chair, INROADS Inc.; Board Director, National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Chicago Chapter; Board Director, Harvard Business School African-American Alumni Association; Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) Council of Board Chairs. In addition, he is included in Savoy Magazine 2021 Most Influential Black Corporate Directors and Financial Times Agenda Diversity 100.
Jeff received his B.S. in Marketing/Quantitative Methods, with high distinction, from Babson College and M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
When raising funds for a new project, are you factoring in operating costs? What type of board and investment committee members do you recruit? How has spending and investing changed in 2022?
These are just some of the questions nonprofit leaders are asking today.
In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis speak with Dr. Jim Reynolds, president at Millikin University. Having worked in higher education for over three decades, Dr. Reynolds shares his experience in advancing an organization’s mission by adapting endowment management, fundraising, and spending policies to the current environment.
You will learn:
Why it’s important to raise for maintenance during capital campaigns
The role of higher-ed institutions in bridging the income gap for its students
How to build well-balanced committees with diverse members
Steps taken by Millikin’s investment committee to improve its ESG efforts
And more!
Tune in to unpack key considerations for nonprofit leaders today, in higher education and beyond!
Dr. James Reynolds is the president of Millikin University, a Decatur-based private institution with a diverse population of about 2000 students. Millikin University consistently receives recognition as one of the nation’s best colleges and is on Princeton review’s Best in the Midwest list, Forbes America’s top colleges rankings, and others. Prior to becoming Millikin’s 16th president in 2020, Dr. Reynolds served as president of Wilmington College in Ohio, where he led the creation of a new campus-wide strategic planning process. Over his career, Dr. Reynolds’ scholarly work has been published extensively and his classroom excellence has resulted in six teacher-of-the-year awards.
Today, we have Jim Thomas, the CFO of the Clerics of Saint Viator, share timely investment insights for nonprofit investment leaders!
The Clerics of Saint Viator is an international Roman Catholic religious congregation.
In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis interview Jim about his experience in managing finances for a religious order. They also dive into several best practices for effective investment portfolio management that are relevant in today’s complex financial landscape.
You will learn:
The concept of perpetuity and how to prepare your portfolio for long-term success
How to rebalance your portfolio and ensure consistent asset allocation
Ways to ensure a more accurate screening of your portfolio for mission-aligned investing
Reasons to maintain a continuous dialogue with your organization’s stakeholders
And more!
Tune in to discover investment best practices that can help you emulate the success of the Clerics of Saint Viator!
Jim Thomas is CFO of the Clerics of St. Viator, an international Roman Catholic religious congregation headquartered just outside of Chicago. The Order has a vast footprint with numerous churches and schools throughout Illinois, other parts of the U.S., South America and beyond. Jim holds an MBA from Northwestern and degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University. Prior to joining the order, Jim served in numerous roles in the for-profit world including being COO of an aerospace/defense company, president of a consumer products company and a change agent at other organizations.
Nonprofits seek to attract, retain and reward great people – an attractive retirement plan is part of the solve.
In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis speak with Vin Smith, partner and practice leader of the nonprofit defined contribution practice at Fiducient Advisors. They help nonprofit leaders better design their 403(b) plans, create efficient investment menus, and evaluate their existing fee structures to remain relevant.
You will learn:
How retirement plans for nonprofits have evolved, and how to optimize yours
How to create a fee structure that is fair for all plan participants, and helps avoid litigation
Best practices to optimize both governance and fund selection for 403(b) plans
Ways to incorporate ESG investing into your 403(b) plan
And more!
Tune in to learn how you can help your nonprofits remain relevant in the 403(b) landscape!
As a Partner and Senior Consultant in our Boston Office, Vin services institutional clients by providing advice and counsel on all areas of fund oversight including policy, asset allocation, manager research, portfolio structure, portfolio rebalancing, performance monitoring and overall investment policy. He serves on the firm’s Defined Contribution Business Council and the Defined Contribution Discretionary Committee. Vin joined Fiduciary Investment Advisors, LLC in 2011, which combined with Fiducient Advisors in 2020. Prior to joining the firm, he was a senior member of the consulting teams at Cammack LaRhette Consulting and Longfellow Advisors. He earned his BSBA from Stonehill College and is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary®. Vin serves on the Board of Directors for Mentor Rhode Island, an affiliate of a national organization focusing on creating quality youth mentorship programs. His personal interests include running and fishing.
If you’re looking for investment strategies that help your nonprofit stay relevant in today’s ever-changing markets, then this episode is for you.
In this show, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis speak with Brad Long, CFA, partner and research director at Fiducient Advisors, who oversees the firm’s global public markets. They discuss crucial investment considerations for endowments, such as active versus passive investing, portfolio diversification, and mission-aligned investment.
You will learn:
How to construct an optimal portfolio using both active and passive asset management
The need to diversify, especially now – and how allocation strategies can evolve over time
How your nonprofit can achieve mission-aligned investment objectives
Tips for investment committees to overcome emotions and make rational decisions
And more!
Tune in to learn how you can help your nonprofits prosper by making prudent investment decisions!
As Partner and Research Director at Fiducient Advisors, Brad Long oversees the firm’s Global Public Markets research efforts with responsibility for global equity, global fixed income, and global real assets. He is also a voting member of the firm’s Investment Committee, member of the firm’s Discretionary Committee, Research Forum, Capital Markets Team, and Mission-Aligned Investing Committee. In 2019, Brad was named a “Rising Star” in City Wire’s annual Professional Buyer publication for his contributions in the investment manager research industry.
Oftentimes, the best way to communicate your nonprofit’s core values and mission to your audience is through storytelling.
In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis are joined by Park Howell, founder of Business of Story, brand storytelling strategist, and international keynote speaker. As the world’s most industrious storyteller, Park discusses how charitable organizations can craft and leverage compelling stories to communicate their investment strategies, exceed their fundraising goals, optimize their mission-aligned message, and ultimately amplify their impact.
You will learn:
How storytelling can improve your message to your endowment stakeholders
The ABT (And, But, Therefore) narrative that adds meaningful context to financial data
How storytelling turns your nonprofit into a purpose-driven brand that resonates strongly
Why stories are a crucial component of ESG investing
And more!
Tune in to learn how you can help your nonprofit prosper using the art of storytelling!
Park Howell is the founder of Business of Story, through which he has helped thousands of purpose-driven leaders master business storytelling and grow through a crystal clear vision and mission. As the world’s most industrious storyteller and a 30+ year veteran of branding, marketing and sales, Park works internationally with brand leadership, their marketers and sales teams to help them craft and tell endearingly authentic stories that sell. In addition to being an expert storytelling coach, Park also hosts the popular Business of Story podcast ranked among the top 10% of downloaded shows in the world.
