Digital Assets

Introduction to Private Equity for Pension Trustees & Institutional Investors

Total Course Length: 4 Hours (2 Hours Per Day)

Course Overview

This executive-level course is designed to provide pension trustees, institutional investors, and investment committee members with a practical introduction to private equity investing. The course focuses on fiduciary oversight, institutional portfolio considerations, private equity fundamentals, risk management, and current trends shaping the private markets landscape.

The condensed format prioritizes high-level education and actionable insights for board members and institutional decision-makers.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the fundamentals of private equity investing

• Recognize major private equity strategies and structures

• Understand how institutional investors allocate to private equity

• Interpret basic private equity performance metrics

• Identify key risks, governance responsibilities, and due diligence considerations

• Evaluate current trends impacting private markets and pension funds

Target Audience

• Pension Trustees

• Institutional Investors

• Investment Committee Members

• Public Fund Officials

• Foundation & Endowment Representatives

Course Format

• Executive Education Style

• Pre-recorded Masterclass

• Institutional Case Examples

• Practical Fiduciary Focus

Day 1 — Private Equity Fundamentals & Institutional Allocation

Total Time: 2 Hours

Session 1: Introduction to Private Markets (30 Minutes)

Topics Covered

• Public vs. Private Markets

• Growth of Private Equity

• Why Pension Funds Invest in PE

• Overview of Alternative Investments

Key Takeaways

Participants will understand:

• The role of private equity within institutional portfolios

• Why private markets have become increasingly important to long-term investors

Session 2: Private Equity Structures & Strategies (45 Minutes)

Topics Covered

• How Private Equity Funds Work

• General Partners (GPs) vs. Limited Partners (LPs)

• Capital Calls & Distributions

• Buyouts

• Growth Equity

• Venture Capital

• Co-Investments & Secondaries

Key Takeaways

Participants will:

• Understand the lifecycle of a PE investment

• Learn differences between major PE strategies

• Recognize varying risk and return profiles

Session 3: Portfolio Construction & Institutional Allocation (45 Minutes)

Topics Covered

• Strategic Asset Allocation

• Diversification Benefits

• Vintage Year Diversification

• Liquidity Considerations

• The J-Curve Effect

• Long-Term Portfolio Planning

Key Takeaways

Participants will:

• Understand how PE allocations are built over time

• Learn the importance of pacing and liquidity management

• Evaluate how PE fits within pension portfolios

Day 2 — Governance, Performance & Risk Oversight

Total Time: 2 Hours

Session 4: Fees, Performance & Due Diligence (45 Minutes)

Topics Covered

• Management Fees & Carried Interest

• Understanding IRR, TVPI, DPI & MOIC

• Benchmarking Challenges

• Manager Selection Basics

• Operational Due Diligence

• Key Questions Trustees Should Ask

Key Takeaways

Participants will:

• Interpret core PE performance metrics

• Understand fee structures and alignment incentives

• Learn foundational due diligence principles

Session 5: Governance, Fiduciary Oversight & Risk Management (45 Minutes)

Topics Covered

• Fiduciary Responsibilities

• Governance Best Practices

• Transparency & Reporting

• Liquidity Risk

• Valuation Risk

• Economic & Market Cycles

• ESG & Regulatory Considerations

Key Takeaways

Participants will:

• Strengthen governance oversight skills

• Identify major PE risks

• Understand best practices for institutional oversight

Session 6: Current Trends & Interactive Case Discussion (30 Minutes)

Topics Covered

• Growth of Private Markets

• AI & Technology Investment Trends

• Continuation Funds & Secondary Markets

• Institutional Investor Trends

• Case Study Discussion

Interactive Exercise

Participants will review a simplified institutional PE allocation scenario and discuss:

• Risks

• Governance considerations

• Allocation rationale

• Key due diligence questions

Suggested Supplemental Materials

Recommended Organizations

• Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA)

• CAIA Association

• CFA Institute

Suggested Reading

• King of Capital

• The Masters of Private Equity and Venture Capital

Course Deliverables

Participants may receive:

• Course Slides

• Glossary of Private Equity Terms

• PE Performance Metric Guide

• Institutional Due Diligence Checklist

• Certificate of Completion

Final Outcome

At the completion of this executive course, participants will have a stronger foundational understanding of private equity and greater confidence fulfilling their fiduciary responsibilities when evaluating private market investments.