TSG Time with Pat and Doug

In Episode 26, Pat and Doug interview Lance Dial, a partner and member of the Asset Management and Investment Funds practice at K&L Gates. Lance has experience advising asset managers and broker-dealers in all areas of the business. At the PMAR Conference this May, Lance will be on an SEC Marketing panel, and he provides us with a sneak peek of the the presentation. He gives us a snapshot of a day in his life as an investment performance lawyer. "The great thing about what I do is it's always unexpected. There are so many different things that I get involved with. We've got a ton of great clients with lots of great issues, and it's a job that requires creativity and thinking on the fly all the time." He also discusses the recent Journal article that he co-authored with Mike Caccese, titled "What Could Have Been: The Presentation of Hypothetical Performance."  In the lightning round, Lance shares the historical event he'd like to experience and the historical figure he'd choose to have dinner with. For more information on the PMAR Conference, visit https://tsgperformance.com/events/pmar/.Connect with Lance on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/lancedial/.

Michael Margulis joins Pat and Doug for Episode 25 of TSG Time. Michael manages the broker-dealer performance reporting team at Ameriprise Financial, responsible for maintaining the infrastructure to support the presentation of invest­ment performance to approximately 10,000 financial advisors and millions of mostly retail clients. He reflects on the most significant industry change he's witnessed over the past 25 years, shares the most valuable experiences of his career so far, and offers advice to those beginning their careers in performance. A member of the Data Quality Working Group, Michaels gives us a summary of the work the group did. "I was one of the folks who proposed that we put together a working group focused on putting out a set of ideas, recommendations, and suggestions on how the firms should go about validating and ensuring that the data that they put out is accurate." In the lightning round, Michael tells us about what he dreams of one day achieving and the kindest thing someone's ever done for him.Connect with Michael on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-margulis-8a1b455/.

Jennifer Barnette joins Pat and Doug for Episode 24 of TSG Time. Jennifer is Senior Vice President at TSG and a member of our Verification Dream Team. Jen discusses some of the biggest surprises she's experienced as a verifier and the challenges that she's overcome since taking on this position. She tells us what she likes most about her career, shares the number one recommendation she gives clients, and talks about what she's most excited about in the years to come. "I would say artificial intelligence. I'm most excited to see how that transforms not only performance measurement and reporting at RIAs or any asset manager or asset owner but also internally at TSG."  In the lightning round, Jen is asked questions that Pat and Doug pull from a deck of cards, and the topics covered include childhood dreams and new experiences she's tried and didn't quite enjoy.Connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-barnette-b3715343/. 

In Episode 23, Pat and Doug sit down with Chi Tu. Chi is a senior manager at UC Investments, responsible for performance and reporting, and he has over 20 years of experience in the industry. UC Investments recently became GIPS® compliant, and Chi discusses the verification process and provides advice to firms that are considering compliance with GIPS. He talks about his most influential mentors, the challenges he foresees in the industry, and how the field of performance has evolved since the start of his career. “It went from quarterly, monthly, and now to daily, and I think that is huge. Before it was just quarterly reporting, then monthly, and now it’s daily, and the future is, of course, real-time.” In the lightning round, Chi tells us about his favorite pastimes and hobbies, and gives us a snapshot of an ordinary moment that brings him great joy.Connect with Chi on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/chi-t-315aa75/.GIPS® is a registered trademark of the CFA Institute. 

Debi Rossi joins Pat and Doug for Episode 22 of TSG Time. Debi is President of Kyza Performance Consulting, LLC, and she has over 25 years of experience in the performance measurement industry. Debi tells us about what inspired her to start her own business and discusses the biggest challenge she faced when she became an external consultant after working for an investment manager. At this year's PMAR Conference, Debi and Christine Iannacone of Prudential gave a presentation on "Essential Skillsets of the Performance Professional," and Debi shares some of the key points and takeaways from the discussion. "The next part is being able to communicate and convey those numbers into a story so that people can understand what they mean." She talks about some of the most challenging steps firms face on their way to compliance and provides advice to firms that are considering compliance with the GIPS standards. Connect with Debi on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/debi-rossi-cipm-b8867b2/.

Matt Swan sits down with Pat and Doug for Episode 21 of TSG Time. Matt is Senior Director of Performance Measurement and Analytics at the Investment Management Corporation of Canada (IMCO), and he serves as 1st Vice-Chair of the Canadian Investment Performance Council (CIPC). He talks about his journey at IMCO and the process of building and leading a strong performance team. “Institutional investors are hungry for analytics to support their investment decision-making process, and building a team that’s constantly enhancing the offering and always improving the stakeholder experience is the key to our success.” He discusses his involvement with the CIPC and shares some of the group’s current initiatives, including artificial intelligence applications for investment performance analysis. He also shares his performance measurement origin story and provides advice to those starting their career in the field of performance.  In the lightning round, Matt tells us who he’d cast in a movie based on his life.Connect with Matt on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-swan-cfa-937273/.

John Longo joins us for Episode 20 of TSG Time. Dr. Longo is a Distinguished Professor of Finance & Economics at Rutgers Business School and Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager at Beacon Trust. John co-authored Buffett’s Tips: A Guide to Financial Literacy, and he discusses how he came up with the idea for the book, the writing process, and the experience of writing a book with his son, Tyler. John talks about the trips he’s gone on with Rutgers students to meet Warren Buffett in Omaha, Nebraska. “For many years, Buffett met with students on a Friday afternoon, roughly around ten or twelve times a year, and we got to go for free. There was Q&A for a couple of hours, he took us out for lunch, and we got a tour of his businesses in the area.” In the lightning round, John tells us about the historical event he’d like to witness, and talks about the two people who have had the most profound impact on his life.Connect with John on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-longo-5625657/.

Nicholas Mirlocca joins us for Episode 19 of TSG Time. Nick is the Senior Product Manager for GIPS® at FactSet. He discusses FactSet's GIPS solution, the hurdles firms face on their way to compliance, and the impact outsourcing will have on GIPS professionals. "That additional level of validation needs to happen. If you're relying on a third party to send you your performance after they've done the operations and closed the books, you can't just lean on that. The performance team and the validation process are still key." He also talks about the latest trends in performance and provides advice to firms that are interested in becoming compliant. In the lightning round, Nick shares the top three items on his bucket list and the three items he'd bring to a deserted island.Connect with Nick on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-mirlocca-cipm-1300775/.

Cynthia Shaw-Pereira joins us for Episode 18 of TSG Time. Cynthia is Vice President and Head of Asset Owner Solutions at CIBC Mellon. She’s responsible for establishing strategic priorities for her firm’s asset owner segment and services for institutional investors active in the Canadian Market. A 2024 recipient of the Outstanding Women in Performance & Risk Measurement award, Cynthia tells us what the award means to her and reflects on her experiences in the industry.  Cynthia was part of the “Performance Challenges with Private Equity” panel at the PMAR Conference in May and she provides us with a summary and key points, and shares some of her favorite memories from the event. “I enjoyed all of the sessions. I found them all really good and timely in terms of the topics. I really enjoyed the sidebar chats that you have with people and firms when you’re at the conference.” She provides advice to other women in the industry, and talks about what the certificate in ESG Investing study and testing process was like for her. In the lightning round, Cynthia tells us what the theme song of her life would be and what fictional world she’d want to live in.

Theo Bell, Head of AI Product at Rimes Technologies, discusses leveraging AI for data management in the asset management industry. She shares insights on productivity, personalization, and strategies for AI adoption. Theo also talks about the Rimes AI lab and her admiration for her brother's career. A lighthearted lightning round covers funny pet sleeping positions and music preferences.