Suggestions
Tom Brakke
Principal at The Investment Ecosystem
Tom Brakke is an experienced investment professional and consultant based in Excelsior, Minnesota. He currently serves as a Member of the Board, Treasurer, and Chair of the Investment and Finance/Audit Committees at Southwest Initiative Foundation, a position he has held since July 2018.1
Professional Background
Tom Brakke is the Principal at The Investment Ecosystem, a role he has occupied since May 2003. In this capacity, he provides consulting services to investment organizations and institutional investors, focusing on decision-making and competitive advantage.1 His work involves:
- Analyzing and advising asset owners, asset managers, and advisory firms
- Creating innovative and practical ideas for continuous improvement in the investment industry
- Offering consulting, training, and coaching services
Other Roles and Experience
- Board Member: Brandenburg Prairie Foundation (since August 2010)1
- Former Professional Advisor: Carlson School of Management (September 2000 - May 2004)1
- Various Positions: American Express Financial Advisors (June 1983 - March 1998)1
Education and Qualifications
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), obtained from CFA Institute (1984-1986)1
- BSB in Management from the University of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management (1980-1983)1
Areas of Expertise
Tom Brakke is known for his insights on:
- Investment strategy and decision-making
- Industry practices and ongoing changes in the investment ecosystem
- Active vs. passive fund management debates2
- Alternative investment strategies, including hedge funds and private credit3
Through his work at The Investment Ecosystem, Tom Brakke continues to provide valuable insights and advice to various entities in the investment industry, leveraging his extensive experience and knowledge of market dynamics.1
Highlights
Narratives about the culture of an organization can mask the reality. Often unauthorized accounts are closer to the truth than authorized ones. Take, for example, Carrie Sun's memoir 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘌𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘺 , which is examined in this posting.
"Investing with Neural Networks: A Case Example."
You might expect to see such a headline today, but it actually is from a CFA continuing education publication regarding the blending of quantitative and traditional forms of equity analysis. It came out in . . . 1994.
It was authored by an investment manager in the pension department of Deere, the manufacturer of farm equipment. The firm had started to use neural networks to help its grain harvester machines "adjust themselves autonomously" and thought the ideas could translate over to investments.
Fast forward thirty years. Deere builds machinery with incredible electronic capabilities and AI is all the rage.
The article is an interesting read, including the challenges that are outlined, some of which still apply today. One quote: "You cannot hire a newly graduated AI expert and expect an effective model six months later."
(I wish I could share the piece, but it's not available from CFA Institute. Another example of the problem I wrote about here: https://lnkd.in/dGg2sjGN.)
