Aoifinn Devitt (Moneta Group) “Finding Clarity“

Successful Investors

Aoifinn Devitt compares her career journey to a “patchwork quilt”, each with a unique meaning and purpose. Her continual quest for knowledge is evidenced in her approach to investing, community-building, and continuing education. Aoifinn currently serves as CIO at Moneta Group. She also founded The Fiftyfaces Podcast in 2020, a series dedicated to sharing the untold stories of individuals in the investment world.

As an avid learner, Aoifinn approaches life with a healthy dose of curiosity. Whether she is performing manager due diligence, interviewing a guest on her podcast, or exploring the role of psychological safety in decision-making, Aoifinn keeps asking questions until clarity is found. Her astute listening abilities help her to identify inconsistencies and uncover truth.

“I don't want to hear all about the wins, I want to hear about the losses, I want to hear about the lessons learned. I want to see some humility in that manager's discussion of what went wrong. I want to see realism.”

In this episode we discuss:

1. How making the complex clear elevates the quality of communication

2. The importance of bringing a healthy dose of skepticism to every conversation

3. The benefits of continually seeking more education and knowledge

4. How producing The Fiftyfaces Podcast has influenced Aoifinn’s leadership style

Aoifinn Devitt is the Chief Investment Officer at Moneta, a St. Louis-based independent RIA with more than $20 billion in AUM. Her background includes investment banking, consulting, and corporate law. In addition to Aoifinn’s formal education in business and law, she holds an MSc in Applied Neuroscience from Kings College London. She is currently continuing her study of neuroscience through a part-time PhD at King’s College. Aoifinn continues to produce and host The Fiftyfaces podcast; this generous contribution to the investment community includes over 200 interviews with investment professionals.

Resources:

· The Fiftyfaces Podcast | Turning the Tables

· The Fiftyfaces Podcast | On the Pulse of a People-Driven Industry

· The Fiftyfaces Podcast | Sustainability as a Recurring Theme and Driving Force

Listen to Other Successful Investors:

· Shannon O’Leary (Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation) | Saying It Out Loud

· Ted Seides (Capital Allocators) | Compelling Narratives

· Matt Earl (Shadowfall) | Policy of Truth

Chapter Summaries:

[00:03:40]

Simplifying Complexity

[00:07:43]

Working in Corporate Law

[00:10:50]

Experiencing Booms and Busts

[00:13:47]

Introducing Skepticism

[00:18:05]

Entering Investment Consulting

[00:23:30]

Launching Clontarf Capital

[00:30:23]

CIO at the Chicago Police Pension

[00:35:45]

Transitioning to Federated Hermes

[00:37:00]

Bringing Neuroscience to the Investment Arena

[00:42:43]

Producing Fiftyfaces

Disclaimer: This podcast is not investment advice, and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions. All content in this podcast reflects the opinions and views of the speakers. This podcast is for informational purposes only, without representation as to accuracy or completeness. The guest(s) on this episode did not have a client relationship with SEI Novus at the time of recording.