City of Austin Employees Retirement System

Voting is currently taking place for Institutional Investor’s 𝟵𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀’ 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀. Cast your vote now: https://okt.to/timMQs Who exemplifies leadership, credibility, intellectual rigor, and integrity in the industry? Make your voice heard by voting today! Get involved now: https://okt.to/oP4e6w Institutional Investor is proud to recognize and celebrate outstanding talent across the following category: 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗜𝗢 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 The finalists include: ⭐ Kent Custer, CFA, CIO, Illinois Police Officers' Pension Investment Fund ⭐ Steve Davis, CFA, CAIA, CIO, Sacramento County Employees' Retirement System ⭐ David Kushner, CIO, City of Austin Employees Retirement System ⭐ Andrew J. Spellar, CIO, Fairfax County Employees' Retirement System ⭐ Ted W. (Wright), CIO, Connecticut Retirement Plan and Trust Funds, and Erick Russell, treasurer of Connecticut Learn more about this year’s exceptional finalists here: https://okt.to/pYKLqt Congratulations to all the individuals and organizations nominated. Winners will be honored at the 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀’ 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿, held on Thursday, September 17th, at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City. #AllocatorsChoiceAwards #AllocatorsChoiceAwards2026 #AssetAllocation #Allocators #AssetManagement #InstitutionalInvestor

Proud to recognize our incredible Finance Team—dedicated professionals who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the integrity and accuracy of our pension fund assets. Their commitment, attention to detail, and expertise in public accounting make a meaningful impact every single day. Thank you for your hard work and unwavering dedication—job well done!

Reflecting on the success of the Financial Wellness Forum hosted by the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System (COAERS), I want to recognize Executive Director Christopher Hanson, Deputy Executive Director Russell Nash and the outstanding COAERS staff for their leadership and effort in building lifelong financial confidence for our workforce. The diverse curriculum coordinated by the staff delivered a highly effective, multi-generational toolkit spanning four essential areas: -Managing Today's Finances: Overcoming spending challenges and securing emergency reserves in coordination with Foundation Communities Prosper Centers. -Understanding Core Pension Benefits: Delivering clear instructions on service credit, vesting rules, and how a lifetime annuity is structured. -Rethinking Longevity: Addressing how personal health and intentional social connections intersect with long-term financial stability. -Proactive Security: Navigating legal directives and cybercrime awareness with AARP to protect hard-earned assets. The entire COAERS staff deserves ongoing credit for their commitment to serving those who serve our city. While the event took place earlier this spring, educational resources continue to support our members daily. City employees are encouraged to take control of their financial path by utilizing the Moneywise resource hub or logging into MemberDirect to build custom benefit estimates and review upcoming educational opportunities. Resource hub and portal: www.coaers.org

Yesterday's Chief Officers Summit afternoon concurrent sessions gave attendees the opportunity to connect with peers and explore the issues shaping the future of public pension leadership and investment management. https://bit.ly/4uFBB46 CEO Track: Public pension leaders joined Patty Shipp, (Arkansas Public Employees’ Retirement System - APERS) and Prabesh Prakash (NYCERS), moderated by Amy Fecher (APERS), for a discussion on the practical applications of AI within pension organizations. Speakers shared real-world use cases, implementation lessons, and governance considerations, while encouraging attendees to start with specific challenges they are trying to solve. As Patty noted, understanding the fundamentals and identifying where AI can add value is often the best place to begin. The conversation continued with Colleen Gardner (NYSLRS - New York State & Local Retirement System) and Prabesh, moderated by Bill Betts (Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System), who explored strategies for modernizing technology systems without disrupting day-to-day operations. Attendees exchanged ideas on technology planning, governance, and aligning technology investments with long-term organizational goals. CIO Track: Investment professionals gathered for a discussion featuring Amit Thanki, (SBCERA) and Divyesh Shah, (Dallas Police & Fire Pension System), moderated by Georgina Tzanetos (CAIA Association), on bringing the total portfolio approach from policy into practice. Speakers explored governance structures, implementation challenges, and ways to better align asset allocation, risk management, and decision-making across the portfolio. Chris Olsen (Drive Capital) and Miles Bredenoord, (WCM Investment Management), moderated by Amit, shared perspectives on how organizations are evaluating and applying AI in practice. The discussion highlighted both the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into investment workflows while maintaining strong governance and human oversight. From AI and technology modernization to governance and portfolio management, attendees left the afternoon sessions with practical insights and valuable perspectives. More opportunities to learn, connect, and collaborate are ahead. https://bit.ly/4uFBB46 #NCPERS #PublicPensions #NCPERSsummit #Leadership #CEO #CIO