The Market’s Biggest Whales are Making Huge Changes: Total Portfolio Revolution | Steve Novakovic of CAIA

This episode is brought to you by CAIA.nxt. Learn more about their alternatives education courses for investment advisors and get 10% off with code MMTEN: https://caia.org/content/welcome-monetary-matters-and-other-peoples-money-listeners Steven Novakovic, Managing Director of Educational Programs at CAIA, discusses the monumental shift from strategic asset allocation to the Total Portfolio Approach (TPA), a change recently highlighted by major moves at CalPERS. The conversation explores the evolving landscape of private markets, specifically how secondary markets are providing crucial liquidity and entry points for investors dealing with slowed distributions and the "denominator effect". Novakovic also provides a candid look at the friction between hedge fund fees and beta-heavy returns, arguing that sophisticated limited partners will not pay for beta. As alternative investments become more accessible to retail wealth, he emphasizes the critical need for education regarding evergreen funds and the unique risks of private market liquidity. Finally, the episode looks forward to 2026 educational initiatives at CAIA.Follow Steve Novakovic on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-novakovic-caia/ Follow Max on X: https://x.com/maxwiethe Follow Other People’s Money on:Apple Podcast https://bit.ly/4e7QJ1M Spotify https://bit.ly/3Yhaazi YouTube https://bit.ly/3C63VXR X https://x.com/opmpod Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Governance Changes in Pension Plans 00:45 Strategic Asset Allocation vs. Total Portfolio Approach 03:24 Early Adopters and Global Trends in TPA 05:06 Benchmarking and Decision-Making Shifts 09:58 CalPERS Case Study: Governance and Tactical Opportunities 17:32 Impact on Managers and Investment Strategies 22:08 Current Market Trends and Private Credit 25:54 Private Equity Distributions and Secondary Markets 35:32 Reinvesting Portfolio Proceeds 36:39 Understanding Secondary Market Buyers 37:09 Benefits of Secondary Allocations 39:14 Challenges and Strategies in Secondary Markets 45:03 Hedge Funds vs. Equity Markets 46:35 Evaluating Hedge Fund Performance 49:02 Active Management and Fee Structures 56:53 Educating Investors on Alternatives 01:03:00 CAIA's Educational Resources 01:05:44 Upcoming CAIA Programs