Nareit’s Ed Pierzak, senior vice president of research, and David Sullivan, senior vice president of investment affairs, visited the University of Wisconsin–Madison on Oct. 15 to discuss the role of REITs in institutional investment portfolios.
The guest lecture, titled “Institutional Investors and REITs Today,” was hosted by the Wisconsin School of Business’s James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate. The session brought Nareit’s research and investment expertise to students, faculty, and alumni at a university recognized by U.S. News & World Report for its top-ranked real estate programs.
Pierzak and Sullivan presented four case studies illustrating how institutional investors incorporate REITs into their investment strategies, including approaches that combine publicly traded REITs and private real estate investments.
The presentation also explored how REIT performance compares with other real estate investment vehicles, differences in public and private real estate valuations, and Nareit’s efforts to communicate the benefits of real estate investment to retirement plan sponsors.
The visit provided an opportunity to engage with the next generation of real estate investment professionals and demonstrate the role publicly traded REITs can play in diversified institutional portfolios.
While in Madison, Pierzak and Sullivan also met with members of the real estate investment team at the State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB), which manages approximately $178 billion in assets. Discussions included SWIB’s investment activities across publicly traded REITs, private real estate funds, and joint ventures with real estate companies.
The university visit and SWIB meeting reflect Nareit’s ongoing efforts to strengthen relationships with institutional investors, advance understanding of REIT investment strategies, and engage with future leaders in the real estate industry.