As the complexity in alternative financial markets grows, is the bridge between academia and institutional investing being stretched to a point of collapse? Both researchers and investors deal with similar problems in institutional investing. Solution approaches may differ, but could a value be found in combining points of view, so that investors benefit from greater combined intelligence and portfolio performance gains?

In our latest episode of the Improving Alpha podcast, we welcome Assistant Professor of Finance, Simon Mayer, from Carnegie Mellon University. Alternative investors who are wondering where academic theory and practitioner insights intersect will gain a tremendous view of the synergies that can be achieved today.

Catch the latest as host, Michael Oliver Weinberg, and Simon Mayer cover these synergies and trends across digital assets, ESG investing, continuation vehicles, and SPACs.

Highlights include:

• What new developments are emerging when it comes to private capital markets?
• What is the attraction to stablecoins, and how will it impact the larger financial ecosystem, especially in light of the Genius and Clarity Acts?
• Why do private equity continuation vehicles exist, and just how great is the risk of zombie CVs and/or GPs sitting on both sides of the deal table?
• What is the current state of ESG today, failures, passive investment when allocators wish to go greener, and shareholder activism?
• What can be learned from the previous SPAC boom? Are they still useful, and how should you ride this roller-coaster for future strategic investments?
• What does Simon believe will occur with the tokenization of other alternative assets as the market evolves?
• And more.

Connect with Simon Mayer:

• Website: Carnegie Mellon University
• Website: Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University

Connect with Michael Oliver Weinberg:

• Michael Oliver Weinberg
• Vidrio

About Our Guest:

Simon Mayer joined Carnegie Mellon University as an Assistant Professor in Finance in summer 2023. Prior to joining CMU, Simon has been faculty at HEC Paris and a research fellow at Chicago Booth. He received his PhD in Financial Economics in 2021 at Erasmus University Rotterdam. His research interests include Corporate Finance, Financial Intermediation, Private Capital Markets, and Financial Technology. Simon has published in leading academic journals, including the Journal of Finance, Review of Financial Studies, and the Journal of Financial Economics. At Tepper, he is teaching courses on Corporate Finance and Financial Markets.

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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When examining sole fiduciary states, such as North Carolina, the direction of pension plans and other asset pools typically consolidates under a single elected official, typically the State Treasurer. Combine that setup with disappointing investment performance, and the stage begins to get set to reform both governance and investment operations. This is what happened in 2025 when Brad Briner, the Treasurer of North Carolina, began to implement reforms to adopt best practices in institutional investments and lay out the new organization known as the North Carolina Investment Authority.

For this episode of the Improving Alpha podcast, host Michael Oliver Weinberg welcomes Kevin SigRist, Chief Investment Officer, North Carolina Investment Authority, to discuss the $200B pension portfolio. Kevin covers not only the performance future of the plan, but the risk profile, governance, views on inflation, and other current allocator trends.

Additional key highlights include:

• How will the significant governance reforms of 2025 impact the pension for this year and beyond, and what does Kevin expect from the asset liability study being concluded in February?
• What is the biggest dial today that will change the pension’s risk profile and reduce the conservative approach that the plan has taken in the past with regard to high-grade fixed income and cash?
• As the plan shifts from risk in manager selection to more of a market risk focus, how will diversification be impacted across the portfolio?
• Why are private market allocations so appealing, and why are co-investment levels getting the plan a lot of attention?
• How is AI being deployed for investment operations and improving collaboration across the team at the North Carolina Investment Authority?
• Why is manager alignment so important for future allocations?
• How are advanced modeling and portfolio scenario analysis looking at inflation for their pool of retirees?
• and more.

Resources:

• Book: Running and Being by George Sheehan

Connect with Kevin SigRist:

• LinkedIn: Kevin SigRist
• State Treasurer of North Carolina

Connect with Michael Oliver Weinberg:

• Michael Oliver Weinberg
• Vidrio

About Our Guest:

Kevin SigRist is Chief Investment Officer at the North Carolina Investment Authority, where he oversees the investment strategy for approximately $200 billion across pension, defined contribution, and state asset pools. He has spent decades in institutional investing, with prior roles including CIO positions at the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer, senior leadership at the Florida State Board of Administration, and work in global investing with SAMA’s investment subsidiary. Kevin’s background spans public markets, private markets, asset liability management, and governance reform, with a career focused on aligning long-term investment decisions with real funding and fiduciary objectives.

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.

Source