4 Jun 2026
The Importance of Private Markets: A Conversation with Jack Brennan & Mario Giannini
Episode Summary
This webinar features Jack Brennan, CIS Founding Chair & Chairman Emeritus, The Vanguard Group, and Mario Giannini, Executive Co-Chairman & Former Chief Executive Officer of Hamilton Lane, as they share their perspectives on private markets — why they matter, how they fit within a long-term institutional portfolio, and what Catholic investors should be thinking about in today's environment.
The information in this Communication is provided herein is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer or a solicitation to buy, hold, or sell an interest in any CIS Fund offering. Alternative investments in private equity and hedge funds are subject to substantial risks including the potential loss of principal. Fund interests are illiquid and should be considered speculative investments. Investors are encouraged to read the offerings documents for the fund offerings discussed in this presentation carefully before investing.
All data is sourced to Catholic Investment Services or other third-party sources and compiled by Catholic Investment Services. Information contained herein that has been obtained from third parties is believed to be reliable for the purposes for which it is used herein.
Opinions and general information provided herein, including guest speaker(s), are current to the date of this presentation and are subject to change without notice. There can be no guarantee that the funds will achieve their investment objectives. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Financial forecasts and investment returns in this letter may significantly differ from actual results. Certain information contained in this report constitutes "forward-looking statements," which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "target," "project," "estimate," "intend," "continue" or "believe," or the negatives thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. Furthermore, any projections or other estimates in this report, including estimates of returns or performance, are "forward-looking statements" and are based upon certain assumptions that may change. Due to various risks and uncertainties, actual events or results or the actual performance of the funds may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements. Moreover, actual events are difficult to project and often depend upon factors that are beyond the control of the general partner of the relevant fund and its affiliates.
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Keywords
Private Equity, Private Markets, Private Credit, Institutional Investing, Asset Allocation, Portfolio Construction, Venture Capital, Growth Equity, Buyout Funds, Secondaries, Illiquidity Premium, Diversification, Long-Term Investing, Alternative Investments, Hamilton Lane, Catholic Investment Services, Endowments, Foundations, Investment Strategy, Risk Management, Liquidity, Public Markets, Private Debt, AI Investing, Venture Investing, Investment Governance
Episode Highlights
00:05:25–00:08:23 – Mario explains the fundamental case for private markets and why investors receive an illiquidity premium.
00:08:47–00:10:48 – The evolution of private equity from leverage-driven transactions to governance-driven value creation.
00:10:48–00:14:05 – Why private companies increasingly remain private longer and what public market investors are missing.
00:14:40–00:16:14 – Building a successful private markets portfolio through disciplined commitment pacing.
00:16:47–00:17:55 – Persistence of manager performance in private equity and venture capital.
00:18:13–00:19:40 – The importance of relationships and access in private market investing.
00:19:40–00:23:32 – Why investors often overvalue liquidity and how liquidity can become a source of investment mistakes.
00:24:32–00:25:19 – The dangers of market timing in private equity investing.
00:26:27–00:28:27 – Current distribution trends and the growing role of secondary markets.
00:31:24–00:35:05 – Understanding recent private market performance relative to public markets and the impact of AI-driven concentration.
00:35:54–00:39:18 – The case for private credit and how the landscape is changing as banks re-enter lending markets.
00:39:46–00:42:17 – Addressing common misconceptions around private equity valuations.
00:42:34–00:43:51 – How Catholic Investment Services integrates faith-consistent investing into private market strategies.
00:44:10–00:47:22 – Venture capital, buyouts, and growth equity: understanding the differences and opportunities.
00:47:48–00:49:26 – Why Mario believes private investments in retirement plans may present significant challenges for retail investors.
