Macro Minds
Hi Friends and Happy New Year,
This past year, I created a non-profit, Macro Minds, to help raise money for charitable organizations that focus on improving educational opportunities for children from disadvantaged families and communities in the NY area. The initiative is based on two primary ideas. First, education shortfall for families is self-reinforcing. One compelling stat: the children of college-educated parents are seven times as likely to go to college as the children of high school dropouts. Can we help break the cycle? In addition, we all know that the world is growing increasingly competitive. It takes more expertise to succeed and the set of skills required is becoming harder to acquire. The more educational access we can provide to children from unfavorable circumstances, the better. We all win.
The second idea behind Macro Minds is that the finance community is at its best when it is engaging in dialogue on all the difficult questions out there. We know what they are! Negative rates and chronic disinflation, geopolitical instability, crowded trades and the 2020 election are some of the risks. Set against these, what are the asset class, geographical and style considerations relevant to portfolio construction? What’s the next big thing in finance and markets? These are important, complex topics that are best explored through in-person and collaborative interaction with focused market professionals.
With these two ideas in mind, I decided to create Macro Minds. Our goal is simple: first, find partner charitable organizations with a demonstrated track-record for providing children from disadvantaged households with expanded access to education. Second, host an inspiring event that supports these causes and allows our finance community to contribute, learn, strengthen relationships and, importantly, have fun!
We will host our first annual symposium on Thursday, April 23rd at the Times Center in New York. Our program will feature investment industry luminaries who share their views on markets, risk, policy, trades and the economy. While we are still a ways from the date, Ben Melkman, founder and CIO of Light Sky Capital, has agreed to speak. He launched his fund with backing from Steve Cohen and Dan Loeb among other prominent hedge fund founders and is considered one of the sharpest macro thinkers in markets.
The event will raise money for iMentor, CodeNation and Mount Pleasant Blythedale School. I’ve worked closely with each of these organizations and their leadership over the last several years and cannot say enough about how each is making a huge impact on children and families.
We will provide updates as our program comes together and we open the event up to ticket sales.
I wish you a prosperous 2020 and thank you for your support.
Sincerely, Dean