The Allocators Playbook

Where investors are leaning in, with CIO Jeb Burns, Mich.MERS

Jeb Burns, Chief investment officer of Michigan MERS, living in a U.S. manufacturing hub, shares insights on tailwinds, where investors are leaning in, humans vs. AI, and getting his investment team out of siloes.

Navigating Inflationary Cycles and Geopolitics with Nordic Allocators

Inflation isn't the anomaly, it's the norm. Defense is getting a new seat at the ESG table. And private equity may be finding its edge again. Recorded onsite at our Nordic allocator roundtable in Denmark, this episode features Cecilia Kellner and Jakob Carlsson on how one of Sweden's largest investors is positioning for what comes next: navigating inflationary cycles and geopolitical risk, building climate-smart indices and green bonds without sacrificing returns, and finding private equity's edge again. Request the Nordics Investors Retreat (June 16-18, 2026) agenda for the full speaker lineup and sessions: https://info.marketsgroup.org/nordics-investors-retreat-2026?utm_source=LinkedIn&utm_medium=LinkedInxTAPxNordicsRetreatJune3 [https://info.marketsgroup.org/nordics-investors-retreat-2026?utm_source=LinkedIn&utm_medium=LinkedInxTAPxNordicsRetreatJune3]

Finding Balance: Repositioning a Pension for a New Regime

Jon Braeutigam, CIO of the State of Michigan Department of Treasury, reflects on how a long-term, data-driven investment philosophy has helped guide the portfolio through major market cycles. In this in-depth discussion with Markets Group Deputy Editor Lauren Bailey, Braeutigam explains the fund’s shift from equity-heavy positioning in a low-rate environment to a more diversified mix of equities, fixed income, and absolute return strategies as rates rose and funding levels improved. He also shares his views on AI, fiscal risk in the U.S., and why relationships and perspective remain central to success in institutional investing.

OCERS CIO Molly Murphy on dynamic investing in volatile markets

OCERS CIO Molly Murphy joins Markets Group to discuss the hidden AI trade building across institutional portfolios, why OCERS favors infrastructure over private credit, and how the pension system is using technology, dynamic asset allocation and scenario testing to prepare for stagflation, geopolitical volatility and an increasingly uncertain macro environment.

Inside the Halifax Port ILA/HEA Pension Plan’s ‘Micro Maple 8’ Strategy

How did a small Canadian pension plan outperform while others abandoned defined benefit plans? Markets Group Lifetime Achievement Award winner Blair Richards shares the bold investment decisions, early move into alternatives, and “micro-Maple Model” strategy that delivered decades of strong returns that recently culminated in a landmark deal guaranteeing retirees a 4% annual COLA for life.