I was fortunate to be involved in CAIA’s early stages and had the pleasure of working with Craig Asche, Florence Lombard and Tom Schneeweis. This triumvirate of investors, academia, and the alternative investment community set the stage for me and CAIA as it is today. Given the smaller size, there was a personal nature to CAIA as most candidates knew each other and had a direct connection with at least one of directors. The distribution of the “parchment” was done in a ceremony attended by the current and new charter holders in New York or Boston. I was in the second wave and was # 147.
The concurrence of a visit from Craig Asche, my working on and completing an AIMA’ s Due Diligence Questionnaire (DDQ) and presenting as a university guest lecturer on the futures markets set the stage for pursuing my CAIA. The curriculum covered new topics for me beyond financial derivatives and addressed private equity, which was a fraction of what it is today.
I determined that expanding my knowledge base and credentials beyond my CPA license, exchange memberships and FINRA supervisory registrations was critical to growing my career. Each job move had to leverage the skills and contacts made from the previous ones. The institutional asset management business was evolving rapidly, and investors were breaking out true manager “alpha” and looking to index “beta” at fees much lower than what they were willing to pay for demonstratable performance.
CAIA’s curriculum provided the content and knowledge base to work with institutional investors, fund complexes and the growing number of custodian service providers now having to value and report on alternative assets. CAIA filled the educational void that fund managers, exchanges and service providers had in the hedge fund, commodity trading and fund of fund space. CAIA’s growth kept pace with the second wave of alternatives including private equity, real estate, private credit and other derivatives.
My career advancement and job changes had to leverage the skills and contacts made from the previous ones. CAIA provided educational content, human connections and the designation which facilitated my journey and roles to prepare me as an independent Fund Director. CAIA has kept me current and connected to Alternative Assets and solidified the connection those markets have with traditional assets.
The partnerships between the organization and companies, higher educational institutions and CAIA charter-holders, including myself, carry on today and are postured for days ahead. I’m grateful for the collaboration with Bill Kelly, as he reached out early on in his mandate to glean what members wanted for CAIA and want to recognize him and his tireless efforts promoting CAIA and leading its global growth. John Bowman continues the work and has clearly set the stage for the years ahead. He connects with our industry, the CFA society and his skills as a panel moderator position him for leadership.
The journey continued having just attended the ALTSCHI event and it was great spending time with Adele Kohler and Aaron Filbeck, hearing their presentation and consuming the World Rewired content. The global reach and forward view of what’s important to investors clearly shows CAIA’s role and educational stature in the industry. The reception following cemented my intentions to contribute to the Chicago Chapter, giving back to CAIA and staying connected with the nest generation of candidates and the alternative Industry itself.
Harlan Moeckler, CAIA, CPA
Harlan is an independent fund director, financial matters expert and audit committee chair to SEC 40 Act Funds and a consultant to a Miami based RIA and FINRA Broker Dealer. He recently retired as CFO and fund director after 20 years with a Chicago and London based proprietary trading firm and hedge fund manager. His background covers Big 4 auditing, senior sales and operations roles at leading investment banks and providing fund administration and risk products to institutional investors and major fund complexes with a global custodian. Going forward, he is seeking to serve on additional boards as director or trustee, and bring his alternative asset expertise, credibility with regulators and C Suite experience to SEC 40 Act and private funds.
Outside of work, Harlan has earned “Elite” status from Vitalant Blood Center for over ten years in a row by donating platelets at least 12 times a year and promoting others to give blood and save lives. Prior to moving to Chicago, Harlan was a regular platelets and whole blood donor with the New York Blood Center.
He has been a CAIA Member since 2004.