How does a sovereign wealth fund navigate the current investment waters for over 35 million Australians, in relation to governance, investment decisions, technology, data and more? We take a deep dive into the Future Fund and how a blank paper mentality helps drive innovation on a total portfolio level basis.

In this episode, Michael Oliver Weinberg, co-founder, Improving Alpha Podcast Series is joined by Ben Samild, Deputy Chief Investment Officer, Portfolio Construction, Future Fund. Together they discuss improving alpha from an investment standpoint, and how to push the boundaries of typical investment opportunities. 

Listen to hear Ben discuss:

• Established in 2006, what is the Future Fund, and how does it benefit Australians today?
  
• How global paradigm shifts influenced Ben’s portfolio strategy, especially coming out of the pandemic, in terms of construction, risk/reward calculations, and individual opportunity level.
  
• How the Future Fund balances exclusions versus engagements, and the connection with investment decisions.
  
• In a world of heightened volatility, how do you get your governance, decision making processes, technology and data to align?  
  
• What are some of the largest red flags in manager selection, and how culture can way into performance returns.
  
• In running a past hedge fund, how did Ben strike a balance to the work that was really interesting versus work that had a clear upside, and if recorded as a failure how did he turn that life lesson from a negative into a positive.
  
• And more!
  

Ben’s book suggestions:

• Song of Solomon
  
• God of Small Things
  
• San Fransicko
  

Connect with Ben Samild:

• Ben Samild
  
• Future Fund
  

About Our Guest:

Ben Samild joined the Future Fund in 2013. As Deputy Chief Investment Officer, Portfolio Strategy, he will lead work on portfolio construction and dynamic asset allocation, the integration of overall portfolio insights with sector specific opportunities and development of views on emerging markets. Prior to this, he was the Future Fund’s Head of Alternatives with responsibility for the investment of over $30 billion of capital across a range of hedge fund and other skill based absolute return strategies. Before joining the Future Fund he had a ten-year career in the hedge fund industry, and four years as Head of Investment Strategy at Industry Super Fund LUCRF Super. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne majoring in behavioral finance, psychology and history. He also worked as a research fellow while completing a Masters in Applied Finance.

Connect with Michael Oliver Weinberg:

• Michael Oliver Weinberg
  
• Vidrio
  

About Our Host:

For three decades Michael has invested directly at the security level and indirectly as an asset allocator in traditional and alternative asset classes. Most recently he was a Managing Director, Head of Alternative Alpha, on the Investment Committee and a board member at APG, a Dutch pension provider. Previously he was the Chief Investment Officer at MOV37 and Protege Partners. Michael is also an Adjunct Professor of Economics and Finance at Columbia Business School, where he teaches Institutional Investing, an advanced MBA course that he created.

Michael is a published author, having written for The New York Times, international investment books and other publications. Michael has been interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, CNBC, Bloomberg and Reuters. He is a frequent panelist, moderator and lecturer for investment banks, institutional and family office organizations and business schools. 

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.