E101: Lessons from University of Texas ($70B) and Stanford Endowment ($40B)
Oct 8, 2024
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Mark Shoberg, CIO & Partner at Capital Creek Partners and a veteran of top endowments like University of Texas and Stanford, shares insights on institutional investing. He discusses the optimal size for endowments and strategies for crafting the perfect investment platform. Mark emphasizes the significance of strong partnerships and team dynamics in managing investments. He also explores market timing, portfolio construction, and the challenges presented by national debt, offering wisdom on adapting strategies for both large endowments and family offices.
Assessing organizational dynamics and team cohesiveness is crucial for mitigating risks and achieving long-term investment success.
Investors should consider flexible asset allocation strategies, including real estate and hedging, to navigate rising national debt and inflation risks.
Deep dives
The Importance of Organizational Cohesion in Investments
The podcast highlights the critical role of organizational stability in successful investment outcomes. Relationships built over long periods, often spanning a decade or more, tend to yield better returns even when faced with challenges. In contrast, investments that suffer capital losses frequently stem from organizational breakups, likened to a divorce in a long-term partnership. This underscores the need for investors to closely assess the organizational dynamics and cohesiveness of the teams managing their funds to mitigate risks.
Optimal Check Sizes for Investment Flexibility
The discussion suggests that the ideal check size for investments lies between $10 million to $30 million, which balances the ability to deploy capital effectively while maintaining flexibility. This range allows for significant opportunities in diverse asset classes without overly constraining investment choices. When managing substantial portfolios, like those of $500 million to $600 million across alternatives, this check size enables the accumulation of a robust total investment pool. The calculations imply that managing a fund between $5 billion and $10 billion in assets could strike an effective balance in investment dynamics.
Navigating Organizational Risks in Asset Management
The podcast delves into organizational risk as a significant concern in asset management, underscoring the need for alignment among team members. Changes in team dynamics or the departure of key individuals can create operational pitfalls that impair the management of investments. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the culture and cohesiveness of teams, especially in an era of remote work where partnerships can be more fragile. Effective management requires thorough skepticism and assessment of these dynamics to ensure long-term relational stability and performance.
The conversation reflects on the pressing issue of national debt and its implications for investment strategies. While many investors acknowledge the threat posed by rising debt levels, few actively adapt their portfolios to address this concern. The speaker advocates for a diverse asset allocation that incorporates hedging strategies, including real estate and possibly Bitcoin, to mitigate inflation risks. Ultimately, maintaining a flexible investment approach can help navigate the uncertainties posed by macroeconomic factors and capital market fluctuations.
Mark Shoberg, CIO & Partner at Capital Creek Partners sits down with David Weisburd to discuss the keys to successful institutional investing, how large should an endowment be for optimal returns, and how to build the perfect investment platform for family offices and endowments.
The 10X Capital Podcast is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: turpentine.co
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X / Twitter:
@dweisburd (David Weisburd)
@shoberg (Mark Shoberg)
@CapitalCreekTX (Capital Creek Partners)
Questions or topics you want us to discuss on The 10X Capital Podcast? Email us at david@10xcapital.com
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TIMESTAMPS:
(0:00) Episode Preview
(2:19) Comparing solo and team approaches in investment management
(4:18) Venture investments and the allure of spinouts
(6:57) Analyzing the pros and cons of anchoring a fund
(8:29) Exploring first call alpha and the dynamics of LP relationships
(11:29) Balancing economic arrangements between LPs and GPs
(14:29) The critical role of partnerships in successful investing
(17:06) Strategies for portfolio construction in large endowments
(18:15) Delving deeper into market timing and portfolio allocation
(21:40) Tailoring real estate investments for tax-exempt entities
(24:26) Understanding scale in endowments and its impact
(28:38) Introducing Capital Creek Partners and their objectives
(30:04) Customized portfolio construction for diverse clients
(31:51) The art of sourcing managers and managing legacy relationships
(34:57) Closing remarks
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