TSG TIME with Pat and Doug

TSG Time Podcast with Pat and Doug

The TSG Time podcast is a monthly podcast that tackles all things performance measurement, in 30 minutes or less.

Co-hosted by Patrick W. Fowler and Douglas Spaulding of TSG.

Pat and Doug sit down with legends of performance measurement on this monthly podcast.

Episode 14 – 3/15/24

Chris Lourens

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In Episode 14, Pat and Doug interview Chris Lourens of Solve Consulting. Chris has a 30-year tenure in the financial markets and over 24 years of involvement in the GIPS® standards. Last year, Chris participated in a webinar with David Spaulding titled “The GIPS Standards and The South African Market: What You Need to Know,” and he shares some of the key takeaways from that event. He discusses GIPS myths, the GIPS Compliance Thinktank, and the benefits of compliance for asset owners. “But I honestly believe that even from an asset owner point of view, the value they get out of implementing GIPS is making sure they go through all the steps and that everything is correct, so that at the end of the day, you know you’ve got a clean system, you’ve got clean processes, and things are working.” In the lightning round, Chris talks about his favorite risk measure, the book he recommends everyone read, and the movie he’s watched the most.

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-lourens-management-consultant/.

Next Month:

Episode 15 – 4/15/24

Frances Barney

Next month’s episode will feature Frances Barney.

If you have a question for Frances, please submit it by clicking on the Question box below, or email Doug at DougSpaulding@TSGPerformance.com.
And let us know who you’d like us to feature on future episodes.

Previous Episodes

Episode 13 – 2/15/24

Arun Muralidhar

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Arun Muralidhar sits down with Pat and Doug for Episode 13. Arun is Co-Founder of Mcube Investment Technologies LLC, and Co-Founder and Client CIO of AlphaEngine Global Investment Solutions.  In 2016, Arun won the Dietz Award for his article “Attribution Hears a Who! The Case for Decision Maker-Based Attribution.” He talks about how he came up with the idea for this article during a conversation at a conference dinner in the Netherlands. “By the next morning, I had a draft of the paper, so sometimes, it’s just pure luck that you happen to sit next to somebody, and that’s why conferences are great.” Arun tells us about his new book on risk-adjusted performance and its importance for finance theory and practice, and he provides writing advice for other performance professionals.
 

Episode 12 – 1/15/24

Melissa Ahern

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Melissa Ahern joins us for our first episode of 2024! Melissa is product manager for performance & analytics, including asset owner private market services at State Street, and she has over 20 years of experience in the performance industry. She shares her performance measurement origin story with us and talks about the importance of the CIPM exam for those beginning their performance journey. Melissa discusses the future of ESG, the Performance Measurement Forum, and how asset owners benefit from GIPS compliance. “I think being confident in the data that’s being reported is certainly a benefit, and knowing that best practices are being followed and that there’s consistency.” In the lightning round, Melissa touches on Superman, Jody Picoult, and the last song she downloaded.
 
Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissaahern/.
 
For more information on the Performance Measurement Forum: https://tsgperformance.com/events/performance-measurement-forum-asset-owner-roundtable/.

Episode 11 – 12/15/23

Alex Serman

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In the final episode of the year, Pat and Doug sit down with Alex Serman. Alex has been with First Rate for seven years and is currently a managing director responsible for the strategic direction and growth of the Wealth Bank/Trust and Institutional markets. Alex attended the Performance Measurement Forum meeting in Porto, Portugal in November where he presented a topic on artificial intelligence. He shares some of the key takeaways with us, including when AI is coming, the risks, and the impact. “So, like any other tool, depending on how you use it, it could be good, it could be bad. It’s really up to you as a user to make sure that you integrate that properly, you mitigate all those risks.” Alex also talks about his recent blog post, “5 Performance Measurement Methodologies to Master After-Tax Benchmarking,” the Whiskey and WealthTech podcast, which he hosts, and his love of languages. In the lightning round, Alex tells us about his go-to feel-good dinner and shares his favorite holiday memory from childhood.
 
Connect with Alex on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-serman-cipm-b04002a2/.

For more information on the Performance Measurement Forum: https://tsgperformance.com/events/performance-measurement-forum-asset-owner-roundtable/.

Episode 10 – 11/15/23

Irina Almeida

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Irina Almeida joins Pat and Doug for Episode 10 of TSG Time. Irina is a Principal at Mercer where she leads the European Investment Performance Monitoring Team. She discusses her preparation process for the CIPM exam, provides advice for those planning to take the exam, and talks about what she likes most about performance measurement. “You deal with so many people, within your company and outside of your company. I think it’s a profession that actually creates bridges. Being with clients, being with colleagues from the company, so it allows us to have this broader perspective of the investment world and industry.” Irina also touches on travel planning, her favorite risk measure, and in the lightning round she recommends books and shares what she is most grateful for.

Connect with Irina, https://www.linkedin.com/in/irinaalmeida/.

Episode 9 – 10/15/23

Claude Giguère

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In this episode of TSG Time, Pat and Doug interview Claude Giguère. Claude is the CEO and Co-Founder of Robust Technologies, an industry leader in investment performance software. He has 35 years of experience in performance measurement and was inducted into the Performance & Risk Measurement Hall of Fame in 2020. Claude talks about how he developed his passion for performance early on in his career and provides advice to entrepreneurs. “Believe in your abilities, don’t shy away from doing difficult things.”  Claude, who spearheaded TSG’s Data Quality Working Group,  discusses his upcoming article based on the group’s findings. In the lightning round, Claude tells us about one change he’s made that has made his life better.

Claude’s article will appear in the Fall 2023 issue of The Journal of Performance Measurement. Sign up for your free subscription now, https://tsgperformance.com/free-journal-of-performance-measurement/.

Connect with Claude on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claude-gigu%C3%A8re-8b37082/

Episode 8 – 9/15/23

Diane Robertson

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Diane Robertson joins Pat and Doug for Episode 8 of TSG Time. Diane is Vice President, Head of Global Performance, Analytics, and Reporting at T. Rowe Price. She has 25 years of experience in the financial industry and is a 2022 recipient of TSG’s Outstanding Women in Performance & Risk Measurement award. At PMAR 2023, Diane was a part of our “Talent Recruitment and Retention” panel. She shares some of the key takeaways from that discussion. She talks about the inaugural Women in Performance Measurement (Wipm) meeting and the group’s future plans. “It’s a unique experience for women to be able to come into a room and talk with each other about the balance of your professional career aspirations and your home life, and have a real, authentic and candid, sometimes vulnerable, conversation.” In the lightning round, Diane touches on random acts of kindness and the best piece of advice she’s ever been given.
 
For more information on Women in Performance Measurement (Wipm), visit https://tsgperformance.com/events/women-in-performance-measurement/.
 

Episode 7 – 8/15/23

Elske van de Burgt

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Pat and Doug sit down with Elske van de Burgt for Episode 7 of TSG Time.  Elske has been with Ortec Finance for over 25 years and is the managing director of the Investment Performance group. She discusses a second position she’s recently taken on managing the climate and ESG team. Elske talks about the 2002 Dietz Award-winning article, “Decision-based Evaluation of the Performance of a Hierarchically Structured Investment Process,” which she co-authored with Jeroen Geenen, Marc Heemskerk, and Michiel Heerema, and provides some information on her upcoming speaking engagements and her research process. In the lightning round, Elske touches on overcoming fears and her favorite summertime activity. 

Connect with Elske, https://www.linkedin.com/in/elske-van-de-burgt/.

Episode 6 – 7/15/23

James Cardamone

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James Cardamone of FactSet joins Pat and Doug for Episode 6 and discusses his recent article, “Measurable Ways for Performance Teams to Add Value in ESG Investing,” which was published in the Winter 2022/2023 issue of The Journal of Performance Measurement. James talks about ESG composite scoring and the considerations that go into constructing one, and the use of carbon analytics in performance style reports. James also touches on modern classical music and the most meaningful book he’s ever read, “The Art of Happiness.”

Connect with James, https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-cardamone-5b663814/.

Sign up for a free subscription now, https://tsgperformance.com/free-journal-of-performance-measurement/.

Bonus Episode 5.5
(TSG Half Time) – 7/3/23

Patrick Fowler

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Doug interviews Pat in this bonus episode of TSG Time. Pat celebrated his 25th anniversary at TSG in June. In this episode, he shares some of the highlights of his career, discusses how the company became the leader in the performance and risk measurement conference space, and tells us why Dublin, Ireland is his favorite place to visit with TSG. The Performance Measurement Forum recently held its 100th meeting in the US and 101st meeting in Europe, and Pat, who has overseen the group from the beginning, contrasts the US and EMEA Forums. In the lightning round, he touches on golf and music. 

Connect with Pat, https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-fowler-755685/.

For more information on the Performance Measurement Forum, click here, https://tsgperformance.com/events/performance-measurement-forum-asset-owner-roundtable/.

Episode 5 – 6/15/23

Susan Agbenoto, CIPM

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In Episode 5, Susan Agbenoto of Opus Investment Management joins Pat and Doug and discusses the overarching blocks of performance in GIPS compliance. She shares highlights from the inaugural Women in Performance Measurement event, which was held on May 23rd in New Brunswick, NJ, and talks about increased opportunities for women in the field. During the lightning round, Susan tells us where she would go if she could travel back in time, and ends with a snapshot of an ordinary moment that brings her great joy.

Connect with Susan, https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-agbenoto-cipm-3b3b7256/

For more information on Women in Performance Measurement (Wipm), visit https://tsgperformance.com/events/women-in-performance-measurement/.

Episode 4 – 5/15/23

Stephen Campisi, CFA

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In this episode, Pat and Doug sit down with Stephen Campisi of The Pensar Group to discuss his recent Journal article, “Evaluating Benchmark Misfit Risk” as well as his upcoming PMAR presentation based on that article, and his current research topic on the role of passive investments in asset owner portfolios.  He talks about how performance analysts can gain a greater presence, and shares his thoughts on the direction of the performance function. Steve, who is a classically trained musician, also discusses the correlation between math and music. 

“Evaluating Benchmark Misfit Risk” was published in the Fall 2022  issue of The Journal of Performance Measurement. Sign up for a free subscription now, https://tsgperformance.com/free-journal-of-performance-measurement/.

The 21st annual PMAR Conference will take place on May 24 and 25th, and there’s still time to register. For more information, visit https://tsgperformance.com/events/pmar/

Episode 3 – 4/15/23

Carl Bacon, CIPM

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Carl Bacon of Confluence joins us for Episode 3 and discusses the 3rd edition of his book, Practical Portfolio Performance Measurement and Attribution (Wiley, 2022). He goes over some of the changes and additions readers can expect to see in this edition, including a new, chapter on attribution and an expanded chapter on risk. The book also features a section on the asset management industry and covers the GIPS® 2020 revisions. He talks about his preference for geometric attribution, his love of space opera, and tells us about his favorite American football team, the New England Patriots, and how he became a fan.

 

Practical Portfolio Performance Measurement and Attribution, 3rd Edition is available now, https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Practical+Portfolio+Performance+Measurement+and+Attribution%2C+3rd+Edition-p-9781119831969

Connect with Carl, https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-bacon-86984b101/.

Episode 2 – 3/15/23

Dan DiBartolomeo

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In episode 2 of TSG Time, Pat and Doug interview Dan diBartolomeo, president and founder of Northfield Information Services, Inc. Dan discusses his upcoming PMAR conference presentation and Journal article, “Performance Evaluation and Risk When Returns Aren’t Normally Distributed,” and touches on his research and writing process. He talks about his analytical work that helped uncover the Madoff investment fraud, provides solid advice to those starting out in the investment industry, and shares the story of his dog’s encounter with a bear.
 
Dan’s article will appear in the Winter 2022/2023 issue of The Journal of Performance Measurement, which will be published early next week. Sign up for a free subscription now, https://tsgperformance.com/free-journal-of-performance-measurement/.
 

Episode 1 – 2/15/23

David D. Spaulding, DPS, CIPM

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In our first episode, Pat and Doug sit down with the founder and CEO of TSG, David D. Spaulding, DPS, CIPM to discuss his career in performance measurement, the growth of the industry, his passion for performance, and his thoughts on the new SEC marketing rule.

Dave shares his favorite Performance Measurement Forum moment and city, and talks about the differences between the US and European Forums. We conclude the interview with a lightning round of questions.

Click here to begin your free subscription to The Journal of Performance Measurement.

Connect with Dave, https://www.linkedin.com/in/daviddspaulding/

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