Who We Serve

Endowments, Foundations, and Other Non-Profit Investors

In the highly specialized world of non-profit investment management, attracting, retaining, and motivating top talent is essential to sustaining long-term performance. At Michael Oak Advisors, we bring an exclusive focus on the investment industry—and a deep understanding of how to design compensation programs that are competitive, mission-aligned, and a genuine strategic advantage.

We work with some of the most respected endowments, foundations, and other non-profit investors, guiding them through the complexities of compensation design without defaulting to “off-the-shelf” or overly peer-driven approaches. While we value market insight, we believe the most effective programs are those deliberately tailored to an organization’s strategy, governance, and culture—supporting not only retention but also investment results and organizational purpose.

Tailored Strategies for Unique Non-Profit Needs

No two investment organizations are alike, and neither should their compensation strategies be. We go beyond surface-level benchmarking—building peer groups that reflect each client’s true talent market, often spanning multiple industries and data sources. We know when to align with market norms and when to deviate with purpose, always with a clear rationale grounded in your mission and strategy.

Our expertise includes selecting and calibrating performance metrics that reinforce the right behaviors. Whether comparing against a policy benchmark, assessing relative performance versus peers, or integrating qualitative elements, we help clients understand the trade-offs and design incentive plans that align the investment function with the broader mission—in both principle and practice.

Support from Start-Up to Maturity

Whether you are building an investment office from the ground up or refining a long-standing program, we help ensure your compensation strategy evolves with your organization’s needs. Our work anticipates the inflection points in growth—balancing flexibility with governance, competitiveness with stewardship, and short-term needs with long-term sustainability.

As long-term partners, we don’t just deliver a plan and walk away. We provide ongoing strategic counsel to help non-profit investment offices navigate leadership transitions, market shifts, and changes in governance. Our enduring relationships reflect our commitment to discretion, practicality, and results that stand up to both internal and external scrutiny.

A Trusted Partner for Enduring Success

With deep sector expertise and a relationship-driven approach, Michael Oak Advisors is a trusted advisor to boards, CIOs, and investment leadership teams across the non-profit landscape. We understand the governance, political, and reputational considerations unique to mission-driven investors. More than benchmarking, our work builds systems that align talent, performance, and purpose—turning compensation from a cost center into a catalyst for lasting impact.

 Navigating the Complexities of Public and Corporate Pension Systems

Pension funds—whether public retirement systems or corporate plan sponsors—operate in complex compensation environments. These in-house investment offices must attract and retain exceptional talent while balancing market competitiveness, fiduciary responsibility, transparency, and alignment with organizational values.

At Michael Oak Advisors, we understand these dynamics from every angle. We work with boards, investment committees, and senior leadership to develop compensation strategies that can withstand public and stakeholder examination, integrate with broader corporate frameworks, and compete effectively for top-tier investment talent.

Our work spans:

• Competitive Pay Benchmarking – Defining robust, defensible peer groups that reflect the realities of both public and private markets. We align pay levels with the specialized responsibilities of investment teams while ensuring internal equity within the broader organization.
   
• Clear Pay Philosophies – Establishing principles that guide decisions and can be communicated with confidence to all stakeholders, from beneficiaries to shareholders.
   
• Performance-Based Incentive Design – Crafting cost-conscious, transparent plans that reward genuine long-term value creation—whether measured by market outperformance, funded status improvements, risk-adjusted returns, or other mission-critical outcomes.
   

We bring deep experience in navigating stakeholder sensitivities, political environments, internal equity considerations, and evolving governance requirements. Our approach bridges industry best practices with the unique cultural and strategic context of each client—whether that means operating in the “fishbowl” of public service or meeting shareholder and regulatory expectations in the corporate arena.

The result is a compensation program that is competitive, mission-aligned, and credible—reinforcing talent retention, fiduciary excellence, and sustained investment performance.

 Specialized Strategies for Health Care Funds, Impact Investors, Family Offices, and OCIOs

Beyond traditional pensions and non-profits, we serve a diverse set of mission-driven investment organizations with unique structures, stakeholders, and performance objectives. From health care systems managing long-term reserves, to family offices balancing legacy preservation with growth, to OCIOs and impact investors aligning portfolios with measurable outcomes—each requires a compensation strategy tailored to its distinct purpose and talent market.

Our expertise includes designing long-term incentive programs that support multi-year investment horizons, as well as carried interest and phantom carry structures that reward value creation without requiring equity transfer. We help calibrate these programs to reflect both market norms and the organization’s governance, risk appetite, and performance philosophy.

We understand that in these environments, compensation is not just about attracting top-tier talent—it’s about reinforcing alignment between leadership, stakeholders, and beneficiaries. Our approach blends competitive market insight with deep structural design expertise, ensuring your programs drive performance, reward the right behaviors, and remain credible with all stakeholders.