Your Life Simplified: A Financial & Wealth Management Podcast Think Mariner Is Just for Individuals? Think Again.
Oct 14, 2025
Mike Welker, Head of Mariner Institutional and a seasoned CFA® professional, shares his journey from basketball to finance. He reveals how Mariner collaborates with diverse organizations, focusing on services like asset allocation and fiduciary oversight. Listeners will learn about the evolution of institutional consulting, the importance of long-term investment strategies, and common pitfalls to avoid. Mike also emphasizes the need for emotional discipline in investing and offers advice on how institutional practices can benefit retail clients.
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Unexpected Path Into Institutional Advisory
- Mike Welker fell into institutional advisory after aiming to be a buy-side analyst and portfolio manager in college.
- A mentor recruited him from asset management into consulting, launching a 25+ year institutional career.
From Reporting To Holistic Advisory
- Institutional consulting evolved from performance reporting to broad advisory and fiduciary services over decades.
- Today consultants often extend services into individual-level support to reduce the number of providers institutions must manage.
Delegate With Clear Benchmarks
- Delegate discretionary responsibilities when trust and performance justify handing them off to an OCIO.
- Hold advisors accountable with policy statements, benchmarks, and risk‑adjusted goals.
