Beyond Traditional Indexes – FTSE Russell – 11.17.26

Summary:

Panel 1: Private Markets Indexes

Private markets are becoming a core component of diversified portfolios, yet benchmarking remains complex. This session will explore the challenges of performance measurement, data quality, and valuation, while highlighting how private market indices can support portfolio construction, Total Portfolio Approach, and evergreen fund due diligence.

Panel 2: Derivative Income Indexes

Derivative income ETFs are reshaping how investors pursue yield in today’s market. This panel will explore the mechanics, investment objectives, and tradeoffs of auto callable and covered call strategies, helping investors understand their use cases, risk profiles, and portfolio applications.

Accepted for 1 CFP / IWI / CFA CE Credit

Panelists:

Rohan Desai has over a decade of experience across alternative investments, with a focus on private markets strategy, research, and due diligence. At FTSE Russell, he aids in the development and execution of the firm’s private markets offerings, leading initiatives across product strategy, implementation, and ongoing innovation.

Rohan brings institutional expertise in evaluating alternative investments. Prior to joining LSEG, he led the Alternative Investment Due Diligence function within Goldman Sachs’ Custody Solutions, where he oversaw manager selection, risk assessment, and platform construction for private market strategies. Earlier in his career, he was part of the Quantitative Manager Research team at Charles Schwab Advisory Solutions, developing analytical frameworks used to assess investment managers and their funds.

He holds a Bachelor of Science from the NYU Stern School of Business and is a CFA charter holder.

Mr. Johnson is the Chief Technology Officer for StepStone Group, overseeing the firm’s data and technology strategy and the collection of data and technology platforms used across the organization (both proprietary and third-party).

Previously, Mr. Johnson was Co-Head of the firm’s data and software engineering department, which is responsible for building and managing the firm’s proprietary data and technology platform, SPI by StepStone. Simultaneously, Mr. Johnson was Co-Head of the firm’s data science function, leveraging StepStone’s extensive proprietary datasets to create innovative models and analytics.

Prior to these roles, Mr. Johnson was on the private equity investment team, conducting due diligence on primary, secondary, and co-investment opportunities, focusing primarily on middle- and large-market buyouts in the US. Mr. Johnson graduated with a BS from San Diego State University and is a CFA charter holder.

Arne Noack is Head of Equity & Multi-Asset Indices, Americas at FTSE Russell, part of LSEG, where he supports the development and positioning of equity and multi-asset benchmarks used by institutional investors, ETF providers and other index-oriented investors.

Previously, he served at DWS (formerly known as Deutsche Asset Management) as Head of Xtrackers, Americas, based in New York, with responsibility for the region’s Xtrackers ETF and index-mandate offering across asset classes. Prior to that role, he was DWS’ Americas Co-Head for Product across the full range of investment solutions in the region and Americas Head of Product for Xtrackers.

Before moving to New York in 2015, he was Xtrackers’ Product Development Head in EMEA based in London, where, since early 2007, he was responsible for developing listed and unlisted investment products for Deutsche Bank and Deutsche Asset Management.

Simeon Hyman joined ProShares in 2013 and is currently the firm’s Global Investment Strategist and Head of Investment Strategy. Mr. Hyman leads a team of investment professionals engaged in portfolio analysis, product research and development, education, and the delivery of investment strategies using the company’s ETFs. He and his team are also responsible for the development and publication of research, white papers, and other content to present ProShares as a leader in the ETF industry.

Prior to ProShares, Mr. Hyman spent several years at Bloomberg, where he was Chief Investment Officer for Bloomberg’s technology-driven wealth management business, BloombergBlack. He also served as Chairman of the Investment Committee and led the team of investment professionals tasked with the continuous delivery of investment advice, research content, and strategic and tactical asset allocation guidance. Before joining Bloomberg, Mr. Hyman was Head of Investment Strategy and Due Diligence for UBS. There, he established asset allocation and investment strategies for the $300 billion UBS U.S. Wealth Management business and directed due diligence for the $50 billion separately managed account business. Prior to UBS, Mr. Hyman served as the Chief Investment Officer of Lehman Brothers Trust Company.

Mr. Hyman earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in economics from the University of Connecticut and an MBA from Columbia Business School. He holds Series 7, 24, 63, and 66 FINRA registrations and the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.