June 20, 2025

E177:How a Small Endowment Invests like Harvard w/Rip Reeves

46 minutes

In this episode, I speak with Rip Reeves, CEO of Institutional Investor and former CIO of AEGIS Insurance Services. Rip brings over four decades of experience across investment management, insurance, and endowments. We discuss his unconventional path from Salomon Brothers to leading one of the most iconic platforms in the investment world, his views on the OCIO model, portfolio construction, the “art” of manager selection, and why he believes building authentic relationships matters more than ever in this industry.

We also cover his deep ties to LSU, how he uses qualitative signals (like waiting room conversations) in manager evaluations, and the future of Institutional Investor in a changing GP-LP landscape.

Highlights:

Why LSU’s endowment chose the OCIO model with Cambridge Associates

Rip’s view on optimal allocation for endowments — and why 40/30/30 isn't as rigid as it looks

The surprising importance of culture and hallway conversations when vetting asset managers

How Institutional Investor uses experiential events (like raft races) to build real trust

Rip’s perspective on how the public vs. private market divide is blurring — and what that means for allocators

Why fixed income is “back” for the first time since the GFC

The hidden value of his wife Susie’s honest feedback in his investment thinking

The one thing GPs should never do at an Institutional Investor event

Guest Bio:

Rip Reeves is the CEO of Institutional Investor, a leading global platform serving allocators, asset managers, and consultants through content, community, and convenings. Before joining II in 2023, he spent over 11 years as CIO and Treasurer of AEGIS Insurance Services. Prior to that, Rip was Global CIO of Argo Group and held senior roles at BNY Mellon Asset Management, J.P. Morgan Investment Management, and Salomon Brothers.

Rip serves on the LSU Foundation Board, teaches finance at LSU, and is an advisor to Northern Trust Asset Management and Preferred Mutual. A Louisiana native, he holds a B.S. in Marketing and an MBA from Louisiana State University.

Our Podcast now receives more than 300,000 downloads a month. Are you interested in sponsoring an episode? Please email David Weisburd at [email protected].

Stay Connected:

X / Twitter:

David Weisburd: @dweisburd

LinkedIn:

David Weisburd: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dweisburd/

Rip Reeves: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rip-reeves-1b725717/

Links:

Institutional Investor: https://www.linkedin.com/company/institutional-investor/

Questions or topics you want us to discuss on How I Invest? Email us at [email protected].

(0:00) Episode preview

(5:27) Importance of portfolio construction over manager selection

(11:23) Qualitative factors and company culture in manager selection

(21:59) Building relationships with asset managers

(24:58) Rip Reeves on Institutional Investor magazine's impact and event value

(31:33) David Weisburd's closing remarks and subscription call-to-action

(36:37) Best practices for GP and LP relationship building

(41:55) Touch points and allocations between GPs and LPs

(44:18) Leveraging Institutional Investor for GP benefits

(45:36) Learning about Institutional Investor with Rip Reeves

(46:01) Closing remarks

...more

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By David Weisburd

4.4

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