54: On Aon’s Navigating Volatile Markets as an Institutional Investor with Bryan Ward and Heather Myers

Institutional investors in today’s market face a host of unprecedented challenges in managing their investment programs. Organizations are seeking ways to effectively govern and implement their strategies, but how can they better understand the opportunities and risks as well? In this episode of the “On Aon” podcast, host and Aon’s Senior Partner and Global CIO, Russ Ivinjack, welcomes Aon’s Senior Partner and U.S. Head of Solutions and Sales Bryan Ward and Aon’s Partner and Non-Profit Solutions Leader Heather Myers for a discussion about navigating volatile markets. They also examine the role of the Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO).

• [1:58] Heather and Bryan each highlight their roles and responsibilities at Aon.
• [4:20] Major challenges currently facing institutional investors.
• [6:54] The benefits and difficulties of the evolving role of investment consultants.
• [9:01] Appreciation of the role of an OCIO in non-profit organizations.
• [10:41] Strategies for better understanding risk exposures and identifying potential areas for increased diversification.
• [13:30] Opportunities for a broader market focus and improvements in the near future.

Additional Resources:

Aon’s website

Retirement and Investment Insights--North America

The Optimal Outsourced Chief Investment Officer

The One Brief: An OCIO Can be the Answer in Volatile Times

Tweetables:

• “We need to work really closely with our clients in order to understand their level of risk tolerance.” — Heather Myers
• “As we go through periods with a lot of uncertainty and economic stress in the system, you get a lot of regulatory and legislative impacts to the markets too.” — Bryan Ward
• “The investment industry has not gotten any easier. It’s so much more complex than it was even a decade ago.” — Heather Myers
• “We’re dealing with a market environment right now that many have not experienced before.” — Bryan Ward
• “Where there are risks, there are opportunities.” — Heather Myers

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Diversification does not ensure a profit nor does it protect against loss of principal. Diversification among investment options and asset classes may help to reduce overall volatility.

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