With over 25 years of dedicated experience in public pension investments, Chris Tobe, CFA, CAIA, has emerged as a leading authority in the field. As the Chief Investment Officer of the Hackett Group, a Woman/Minority-owned Public Pension Consultant, Chris brings a wealth of expertise and a commitment to excellence to his role.

Strategic Consulting and Audits:

• Chris has led major investment reviews and audits for prominent public pension systems across the country. In 2021, he completed a comprehensive review of the Chicago Police Pension System, showcasing his ability to provide strategic insights and recommendations to optimize investment performance.
• He previously conducted investment audits for the $40 billion Maryland System in 2016 and performed an investment performance review of the $26 billion Utah Retirement Systems in 2015, further solidifying his reputation for delivering impactful analysis and guidance.

Trustee Experience and Governance:

• From 2008 to 2012, Chris served as a Trustee and on the Investment Committee for the $13 billion Kentucky Retirement Systems, gaining invaluable experience in overseeing pension fund operations and governance.
• As a public pension trustee, Chris completed the prestigious Program for Advanced Trustee Studies at Harvard Law School in 2010 and the Fiduciary College at Stanford University in 2011, enhancing his fiduciary expertise and commitment to best practices.

Consulting and Advisory Work:

• Chris has provided consulting services to numerous public pension plans across various states, including Oklahoma, Missouri, Michigan, and the District of Columbia, during his tenure as a Senior Consultant with NEPC from 2008 to 2009.
• He has also consulted major public DC plans in Texas and Maryland through his firm Stable Value Consultants, demonstrating his ability to offer tailored solutions to complex pension challenges.

Thought Leadership and Education:

• Chris is the author of “Kentucky Fried Pensions,” a seminal work shedding light on pension fund mismanagement and advocating for reform.
• He holds an MBA in Finance and Accounting from Indiana University Bloomington and an undergraduate degree in Economics from Tulane University. Chris has also taught the MBA investment course at the University of Louisville and served as President of the CFA Society of Louisville, underscoring his commitment to education and professional development.

Chris Tobe’s extensive experience, strategic insights, and dedication to excellence make him a trusted advisor and thought leader in the realm of public pension investments, driving positive outcomes for pension systems and their beneficiaries nationwide.

• Michigan Association of Public Pension Plans  May  2015 Kentucky Fried Pensions​
• Alternative Assets in Public Pension Plans  Aug 2014   National Association of State Legislators  Minneapolis
• Kentucky  Rotary March 2013-2014  Kentucky Fried Pensions​
• Public Pensions at  Governing Magazine Conference at  – National Press Club  Washington DC February 2014​
• Federal Reserve Cleveland November 2013 ​
• DePaul Univerisity -Truth in Accounting Pension Governance October 2013​
• Ohio State Law School Public Pension Conference​
• IMN’s Illinois Public Employee Retirement Systems Summit  May 2012  Chicago, IL​
• Pension Reform Update  OMNI – New Orleans LA April 2012​
• Reform,Risk,Return for Public Pensions  Buttonwood OMNI – St.Louis MO March 2012​
• Public Trustee Roundtable Reform,Risk,Return – OMNI  Washington DC    November  2011​
•  Target Date Funds   NAGDCA WebCast    July 2010  ​
• Stable Value in Target Date Funds September 2008  NAGDCA  Public DC Conference​
• www.nagdca.org/documents/Stable_Value_Final.ppt

 BOOKS​

• Wall $treet Corruption in State & Local Government  TBA  2019​
• Public Pensions – Secret Investments  February 2018 https://www.amazon.com/Public-Pensions-Secret-Investments-Chris/dp/198396011X​
• Kentucky Fried Pensons  –  January 2018 Edition https://www.amazon.com/Kentucky-Fried-Pensions-2018-Chris/dp/1981779027   ​
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• Consultants Guide to Stable Value  August 2015   https://www.amazon.com/Consultants-Sponsors-Guide-Stable-Value/dp/1515055345​
• Kentucky Fried Pensions  2013 –  book 232 pages   http://www.amazon.com/Kentucky-Fried-Pensions-Detroit-Edition/dp/1493630318/ref=oosr​ ​

ARTICLES​

• Transparency Times Secret Contracts in Public Pensions  March 2018  https://issuu.com/andyagathangelou/docs/transparency_times_march_2018​
• Lexington Herald-Leader   LTE   Level $ Funding  February 2018  http://www.kentucky.com/opinion/op-ed/article202461134.html​ ​
• http://www.marketwatch.com/story/pensions-fleeced-by-wall-street-hedge-funds-2014-06-09​
• http://www.marketwatch.com/story/2-big-myths-about-illinois-pension-reform-2013-12-03​
• http://www.marketwatch.com/story/rhode-islands-pension-pirates-2013-10-24​
• http://www.marketwatch.com/story/detroit-is-pension-reforms-whipping-boy-2013-09-24​
• http://www.marketwatch.com/story/shareholders-should-have-more-control-2013-09-10​
• http://www.marketwatch.com/story/wall-street-bailout-for-detroit-2013-08-08​
• http://www.marketwatch.com/story/detroit-not-alone-public-pensions-vulnerable-2013-07-24​
• http://www.marketwatch.com/story/hedge-fund-fee-machines-retirees-beware-2013-07-19​
• http://www.marketwatch.com/story/teachers-put-hedge-funds-in-detention-2013-04-24​
• http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-lavish-lifestyles-of-placement-agents-2013-03-25​
• http://www.marketwatch.com/story/retirement-savings-need-more-oversight-2013-03-22​
• http://www.marketwatch.com/story/feds-indict-public-pension-placement-agent-2013-03-20​
• Stock Return Rates​
• http://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-much-do-stocks-really-return-2013-02-22​
• http://www.marketwatch.com/story/inconvenient-truths-and-interest-rates-2013-02-15​
• http://www.marketwatch.com/story/municipal-bond-safety-questioned-2013-02-01​
• http://www.maysville-online.com/news/opinion/editorial/rural-areas-also-feel-economic-effect-of-kentucky-state-pension/article_f6645d0b-cd00-5527-b80d-665e47ae36b2.html​
•  RFPs Needed to Prevent Corruption  BY PENSIONS & INVESTMENTS | DECEMBER 10, 2012​
• http://www.pionline.com/article/20121210/PRINTSUB/312109982​
• Impact on Louisville of Kentucky State Pension Crisis  February 6, 2013 http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2212510​
• No RFP’s for Kentucky Pensions- all back room deals.​
• http://news.lawreader.com/2012/09/17/chris-tobe-financial-counselor-questions-practices-of-ky-retirement-systems/​
• Non-Government Entities in Public Pensions? September 10, 2012 http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2144365​
• I killed a Hedge Fund      July 23, 2012    http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2115652​
• Did the SEC and S&P Let 14 States Destroy Their Pensions? Stable Value Consultants Whitepaper June 10, 2012  http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2081150​
• Broken ARC, Broken Promises Stable Value Consultants May 3, 2012​
• http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2050758​
• Report of Independent Counsel to SEC: Placement Agent Abuses at Kentucky Retirement System  http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2112594  March 12, 2012​
• ‘The Value of the Chartered Financial Analyst Designation’ Perspectives from a Survey of Public Employee and Teacher’s Retirement Systems  Financial Analyst Journal, Vol. 55, No. 2, March/April 1999 Christopher Tobe and Kenneth Miller  Kentucky State Auditor’s Office ​How Should Plan Sponsors Approach AIMR-Performance Presentation Standards​
  The Journal of Performance Measurement, Vol. 3, No. 2, Winter 1998/1999​
  Christopher Tobe Kentucky State Auditor’s Office (Reprinted in Level III CFA Readings 2000-2002)​
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