NEHRA’s Quarterly Financial Markets Update - July 2021

NEHRA’s Financial Markets Update will run each quarter, and was created to help today’s human resource and benefits professionals stay abreast of the economy and recent market trends. Graystone Consulting has a wonderful approach of breaking down complex material into easy to understand visuals. Free to NEHRA members, we know that you won't want to miss this new informative program.

Al Hammond, CRPS®, CIMA®

Senior Vice President, Institutional Consulting Director

Graystone Consulting

Al is a process-driven institutional consultant with more than 29 years of experience. Throughout Al’s tenure as an Institutional Consulting Director, he has helped plan sponsors improve outcomes for both their company and employees. Today Al and his team are proud to manage more than $6 billion (as of 4Q20).

Throughout his storied and successful career, Al has earned a reputation for providing strategic and tactical solutions with high-touch service that is tailored towards each client’s individual needs. His clients respect his ability to dissect, resolve, and articulate issues in a clear and concise manner.

Area of focus: Fund Lineup Analysis, Investment Manager Selection, Customized Asset Allocation Strategies, Investment Policy Statement Development, Establishing Fiduciary Processes, Financial Wellness

As a member of the Red, White and Blue Alliance of the Home Base organization, Al has been an ardent supporter of Veterans care. Prior to joining Home Base, Al served on the board of directors for Hospitality Homes providing much needed housing for financially challenged health care patients in the Boston area. Al is also proud to coach his daughter as she pursues competitive lacrosse & golf.

Matthew McLaughlin, CRPS®, CIMA®

Senior Vice President, Institutional Consulting Director, Corporate Retirement Director

Graystone Consulting

Matt has spent a 27 year career devoted to helping plan sponsors create an environment for participants to succeed in reaching their retirement goals. Matt leverages his experience and knowledge to help a select number of mid to large organizations strategically improve their retirement benefits. Employers that want to offer the best retirement plan for their employees look to Matt’s vision and insight to help them and their employees reach a higher level of success.

Upon graduating Cornell in 1993 with a BS in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Matt took an engineering position in Los Angeles, CA. Shortly after, Matt grew passionate for investing and altered his career path by moving into the finance industry. His engineering background has provided a base upon which he has built up his investment proficiency. Today, Matt has attained the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®) designation through the Wharton School of business and the Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist (CRPS®) designation through the College for Financial Planning.

Areas of focus: ESG Investing, Investment Policy Statement Development, Customized Asset Allocation Strategies, Investment Manager Selection, Plan Design Initiatives, Participant Behavior, Financial Wellness

Matt volunteers his time coaching hockey and soccer for Andover’s youth programs, which his two children have been a part of for more than 10 years. He has also served as President of the Andover Hockey Association over the past two years.