11. 70 Years of Service: A Look Back at the History of the State of Wisconsin Investment Board

This year, the State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB) is celebrating 70 years of service to the state of Wisconsin. A lot has changed over the past 70 years. And, while our world has and continues to change, one thing that has remained a constant is SWIB’s commitment to helping provide retirement security for hundreds of thousands of current and former state and local government employees and their families, who rely on the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS). Since its creation in 1951, SWIB has grown into a premier asset manager recognized around the world for its innovation and success, strong leadership, dedicated staff, and a forward-thinking culture. In this episode, we're going to talk with Rochelle Klaskin, SWIB's deputy executive director and chief administrative officer, as we look back at how a unique partnership led to the creation of SWIB. Hear how, with the help of government leaders and system participants, SWIB has over the past seven decades met the challenges posed by a vastly changing investment industry to keep the WRS among the only fully funded public pension systems in the country. We'll also look ahead at what SWIB’s next 70 years might hold.