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Meet The Team
Jeffrey Swanson
Principal and Senior Consultant.
Jeff Swanson brings over 30 years of experience in investment consulting and alternatives research. Prior to joining Southeastern in 2007, he worked for Bank of America and Merrill Lynch. Jeff has tremendous experience serving the unique needs of public pension funds in the Southeast. Jeff’s passion is private investment, and he has been investing personally in alternative strategies for over 25 years.
Jeff earned a graduate degree from Florida State University with a B.S. in Finance. He is a member, and former speaker of the Florida Public Pension Trustees’ Association (FPPTA), the Georgia Association of Public Pension Trustees (GAPPT) and the Texas Association of Public Employee Retirement System (TEXPERS). Jeff resides in Atlantic Beach, FL and is a Guardian for the St. Augustine Historical Society.
Jeff Swanson brings over 30 years of experience in investment consulting and alternatives research. Prior to joining Southeastern in 2007, he worked for Bank of America and Merrill Lynch. Jeff has tremendous experience serving the unique needs of public pension funds in the Southeast. Jeff’s passion is private investment, and he has been investing personally in alternative strategies for over 25 years.
Jeff earned a graduate degree from Florida State University with a B.S. in Finance. He is a member, and former speaker of the Florida Public Pension Trustees’ Association (FPPTA), the Georgia Association of Public Pension Trustees (GAPPT) and the Texas Association of Public Employee Retirement System (TEXPERS). Jeff resides in Atlantic Beach, FL and is a Guardian for the St. Augustine Historical Society.
Kurt Lofters
Managing Director & Senior Consultant.
Kurt Lofters brings over 20 years of experience in investment consulting and financial services. As Managing Director, Kurt is responsible for management of all operations at Southeastern. Kurt also has client-facing responsibilities as lead consultant to both defined benefit and defined contribution clients.
Prior to Southeastern, Kurt served as a managing director and senior investment consultant at Consequent Capital Management. In prior employment, he has also served as an investment consultant and investment specialist for firms such as Merrill Lynch and Invesco.
Kurt earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Master of Public Administration degree from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. He holds a Series 66 license from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). He is a member and an active supporter of the Georgia Association of Public Pension Trustees (GAPPT). Kurt resides in Atlanta, GA where he recently completed his second term as a board member for a non-profit organization serving adolescents in underprivileged communities in Atlanta.
Kurt Lofters brings over 20 years of experience in investment consulting and financial services. As Managing Director, Kurt is responsible for management of all operations at Southeastern. Kurt also has client-facing responsibilities as lead consultant to both defined benefit and defined contribution clients.
Prior to Southeastern, Kurt served as a managing director and senior investment consultant at Consequent Capital Management. In prior employment, he has also served as an investment consultant and investment specialist for firms such as Merrill Lynch and Invesco.
Kurt earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Master of Public Administration degree from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. He holds a Series 66 license from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). He is a member and an active supporter of the Georgia Association of Public Pension Trustees (GAPPT). Kurt resides in Atlanta, GA where he recently completed his second term as a board member for a non-profit organization serving adolescents in underprivileged communities in Atlanta.
Ademir Zećo, CAIA
Director of Research & Senior Consultant.
Ademir Zećo brings over 20 years of experience in the investment industry. At Southeastern, Ademir leads due diligence, selection, and monitoring efforts pertaining to traditional and alternative strategies. Ademir also serves as the lead investment consultant for defined benefit, operating fund, and VEBA clients.
Ademir was previously the Managing Director of Manager Research and Alternative Investments at Consequent Capital Management. He was also a Senior Research Consultant at Aon Hewitt, focusing on hedge fund due diligence. Ademir earned a Bachelor of Science, Financial Services Management, Johnson & Wales University and holds certification as Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA). Ademir resides in Atlanta, Georgia.
Ademir Zećo brings over 20 years of experience in the investment industry. At Southeastern, Ademir leads due diligence, selection, and monitoring efforts pertaining to traditional and alternative strategies. Ademir also serves as the lead investment consultant for defined benefit, operating fund, and VEBA clients.
Ademir was previously the Managing Director of Manager Research and Alternative Investments at Consequent Capital Management. He was also a Senior Research Consultant at Aon Hewitt, focusing on hedge fund due diligence. Ademir earned a Bachelor of Science, Financial Services Management, Johnson & Wales University and holds certification as Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA). Ademir resides in Atlanta, Georgia.
Kit Connick
Senior Analyst.
Kit Connick joined Southeastern Advisory in 2007 and currently serves as a Senior Investment Analyst. Kit brings over 30+ years of investment and financial services experience with both investment consulting firms and institutional investment management firms. Throughout her career, her main focus has been in creating and maintaining client reporting systems, developing training programs for new analysts, as well as assisting consultants with the technical interpretation of client reports. She earned her BA degree in Marketing from Mercer University. Kit lives near Denver, Colorado.
Kit Connick joined Southeastern Advisory in 2007 and currently serves as a Senior Investment Analyst. Kit brings over 30+ years of investment and financial services experience with both investment consulting firms and institutional investment management firms. Throughout her career, her main focus has been in creating and maintaining client reporting systems, developing training programs for new analysts, as well as assisting consultants with the technical interpretation of client reports. She earned her BA degree in Marketing from Mercer University. Kit lives near Denver, Colorado.
Wallace Wilson
Senior Consultant.
Wallace Wilson is a Senior Consultant with Southeastern Advisory Services, Inc. He joined the firm in May 2003 after having been a Consulting Actuary for approximately
30 years, most of them with Watson Wyatt Worldwide in Miami. Wally has spent the majority of his time consulting on design, administration, and funding of all types of retirement programs. For Section 529 plans, he has focused on funding and investment issues. Wally has worked with many other types of organizations including corporations, public entities, and foundations.
Wally has significant experience in all actuarial matters including asset liability modeling and actuarial consulting with public entities. Working closely with investment consultants, he has developed a working knowledge of investment related matters.
Wally has a Bachelor of Science degree from Bucknell University where he majored in mathematics. He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Conference of Consulting Actuaries. Wally resides in Orlando, FL.
Wallace Wilson is a Senior Consultant with Southeastern Advisory Services, Inc. He joined the firm in May 2003 after having been a Consulting Actuary for approximately
30 years, most of them with Watson Wyatt Worldwide in Miami. Wally has spent the majority of his time consulting on design, administration, and funding of all types of retirement programs. For Section 529 plans, he has focused on funding and investment issues. Wally has worked with many other types of organizations including corporations, public entities, and foundations.
Wally has significant experience in all actuarial matters including asset liability modeling and actuarial consulting with public entities. Working closely with investment consultants, he has developed a working knowledge of investment related matters.
Wally has a Bachelor of Science degree from Bucknell University where he majored in mathematics. He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Conference of Consulting Actuaries. Wally resides in Orlando, FL.
Hilda Thompson
Senior Consultant.
Hilda Thompson is a Senior Consultant with Southeastern Advisory Services, Inc. She has been with the firm since 2003 after having been an investment consultant for over 17 years with Watson Wyatt Investment Consulting and a predecessor firm. Hilda serves as a senior consultant and advises clients on asset allocation, investment policy guidelines and manager structures, as well as providing performance evaluation reviews and recommendations. She has worked with many types of organizations including corporations, public entities, Section 529 organizations, and endowments. She has conducted numerous investment manager searches, trustee/custodian searches and GIC placements. Hilda received her Bachelor of Science degree from North Georgia College. Hilda resides near Atlanta, Georgia.
Hilda Thompson is a Senior Consultant with Southeastern Advisory Services, Inc. She has been with the firm since 2003 after having been an investment consultant for over 17 years with Watson Wyatt Investment Consulting and a predecessor firm. Hilda serves as a senior consultant and advises clients on asset allocation, investment policy guidelines and manager structures, as well as providing performance evaluation reviews and recommendations. She has worked with many types of organizations including corporations, public entities, Section 529 organizations, and endowments. She has conducted numerous investment manager searches, trustee/custodian searches and GIC placements. Hilda received her Bachelor of Science degree from North Georgia College. Hilda resides near Atlanta, Georgia.
Shawn Welch
Senior Advisor on Alternative Investments.
Shawn Welch brings over 30+ years of principal investing, investment banking and operational experience. He has advised on, underwritten or invested over $30 billion of capital during his career, while serving on or advising over 30 Board of Directors. He founded his own principal investing firm, Midtown Capital Advisors, LLC in 2006, after serving as a managing director with Roark Capital Group for 5 years and Banc of America Securities prior to this. Shawn graduated with highest honors from Georgia Institute of Technology with an B.S. in Industrial Management in 1989. He resides in Atlanta, GA and is active in local charities while managing his own family office.
Shawn Welch brings over 30+ years of principal investing, investment banking and operational experience. He has advised on, underwritten or invested over $30 billion of capital during his career, while serving on or advising over 30 Board of Directors. He founded his own principal investing firm, Midtown Capital Advisors, LLC in 2006, after serving as a managing director with Roark Capital Group for 5 years and Banc of America Securities prior to this. Shawn graduated with highest honors from Georgia Institute of Technology with an B.S. in Industrial Management in 1989. He resides in Atlanta, GA and is active in local charities while managing his own family office.
Open Analyst Position
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