Dakota Live! Podcast: Investment Manager Research with Vanguard

In the latest episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, Robert Morier welcomes Matt Piro, Global Head of Oversight and Manager Search at Vanguard. With a staggering $9 trillion in global assets under management, Vanguard stands at the pinnacle of the investment world, and Matt gives us an exclusive look behind the scenes of managing the firm’s approximately $700 billion in subadvisory assets.

Matt shares his extensive journey of over two decades at Vanguard from a phone representative on the direct client desk to leading Vanguard’s subadvisory investments, overseeing 24 subadvisors, and nearly 80 mandates across more than 50 funds globally. His transition through roles in ESG product strategy, Vanguard’s European leadership, and manager research provides a unique lens into the complexities and nuances of global investment management and the inner workings of Vanguard.

This episode offers a treasure trove of insights on:

• The evolution of active and passive investments: Where is the industry heading over the next five to ten years?
  
  
• The meticulous process of manager research and selection at Vanguard, and how it shapes the investment landscape.
  
  
• The significance of transparency and relationship management in sustaining long-term partnerships with investment managers.
  
  
• Vanguard's venture into private equity and alternatives, aiming to democratize access to these traditionally exclusive asset classes.
  
  
• The pivotal role of mentorship in Matt's career and the profound impact of personal tenacity and work ethic learned from his mother's entrepreneurial spirit.
  
  

Whether you're a seasoned professional in the finance industry or an individual investor looking to understand the gears that drive the investment world, this episode provides invaluable perspectives from one of the leading manager research professionals in the industry at the world's largest mutual fund provider.