Speakers

Brett Deits


Brett is a senior portfolio manager on Russell Investments’ private markets platform and oversees all private capital multi-manager funds and separate accounts across buyouts, venture, distressed, credit and natural resources. Additionally, Brett is a portfolio manager for multiple real estate multi-manager vehicles and separate accounts. He is a voting member of the Russell Investments Alternatives Subcommittee and serves on numerous Limited Partner Advisory Committees for fund managers in the United States and Europe. Prior to becoming a portfolio manager, Brett led Russell Investments’ private markets research across private equity, credit, natural resources and multi-manager products. Brett joined Russell Investments in 2010. Prior to joining Russell Investments, Brett was a vice president in the Seattle office of BlackRock Alternative Advisors, where he was part of Quellos Private Capital Markets prior to its acquisition by BlackRock. He was responsible for sourcing, evaluating and monitoring fund investments and co-investments across the private markets spectrum, including real estate and real asset strategies. Prior to joining Quellos Private Capital Markets, Brett worked in a variety of different capacities for Quellos’ ultra-high net worth wealth management and advisory business. He received his MBA at Cornell University and his BA in Accounting at the University of Washington.


Erik Ristuben


Erik is the global chief investment strategist for Russell Investments. His team’s responsibilities include the creation and management of integrated client investment strategies for Russell institutional and retail clients globally, as well as the creation of Russell’s global economic and market outlooks. In his role he manages the global Client Portfolio Manager team. That team works directly with clients on the implementation of investment strategies for both our individual and institutional clients. Erik serves as a principal spokesperson, representing Russell’s investment process and insight with clients, industry conferences and the media. He is a frequent guest on television and radio networks such as CNBC, Bloomberg TV, and Bloomberg Radio. He is quoted frequently in national business and trade publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, InvestmentNews and USA Today. As a senior member of the investment division, Erik is a Director of Russell Investments Funds Management LLC and a member of RITC (Russell Investments Trust Committee) Trust Investment Committee and the RITC Board. Prior to assuming the chief investment strategist role in 2011, Erik was the CIO, Client Investment Strategies and CIO of North America. From 2003 to 2008, as managing director of client investment strategies, Erik led the investment team responsible for all U.S. balanced funds, Russell’s LifePoints® Target Risk funds, Target Date funds and model strategies. Erik has held a number of senior positions focused on the creation of client investment strategies at Russell.  He has been with Russell since 1985. He received his B.B.A. in Finance at Pacific Lutheran University and is a Licensed Registered Representative, FINRA Series 7 and 63.