Mark Okada is co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of Highland Capital Management, LP (HCM), a registered investment advisor based in Dallas, Texas with roughly $19bn in assets under management. HCM originated in 1993 with a focus on credit, particularly the bank loan space, and actually launched the first Collateralized Loan Obligation in 1996, which is now a $1 trillion asset class. Since then, HCM has expanded from its credit specialty to include a diverse range of strategies, including offering alternative mutual funds to retail investors and launching the second ETF in the bank loan space.
In this Opalesque.TV interview, Mark talks about his firm’s vision to turn the bank loan space into a true fixed income alternative asset class at a time when there were only a few players buying and trading bank debt. He also describes why HCM shifted into retail offerings over 10 years ago, and why massive outflows from traditional asset classes, changes to the U.S. mutual fund business, and shifting RIA roles favor alternative mutual funds going forward. Hear Mark speak about:
- Highland's roots in buying undervalued assets during the S+L crisis: From salary-based compensation to a global $19bn asset manager
- Turning the bank loan space into a true fixed income alternative asset class
- Launching the first CLO in 1996 and its growth to a $1 trillion asset class
- Why credit strategies have outperformed equity hedge funds
- HCM's diversified alternative investment offerings
- Why alternative mutual funds? How to bring alternatives to retail investors
Mark Okada, CFA
Co-Founder, Chief Investment Officer
Mr. Okada is Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Highland Capital Management, L.P. and is responsible for overseeing Highland’s investment activities for its various strategies. Mr. Okada is a pioneer in the development of the bank loan market and has over 25 years of credit experience. He is responsible for structuring one of the industry’s first arbitrage CLOs and was actively involved in the development of Highland’s bank loan separate account and mutual fund platforms. Mr. Okada received a BA in Economics and a BA in Psychology, cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles. He has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Mr. Okada is a Director of NexBank, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Common Grace Ministries, Inc. and is on the Board of Directors for Education is Freedom.
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Mark Okada is co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of Highland Capital Management, LP (HCM), a registered investment advisor based in Dallas, Texas with roughly $19bn in assets under management. HCM originated in 1993 with a focus on credit, particularly the bank loan space, and actually launched the first Collateralized Loan Obligation in 1996, which is now a $1 trillion asset class. Since then, HCM has expanded from its credit specialty to include a diverse range of strategies, including offering alternative mutual funds to retail investors an
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