4th Annual Symposium: Opening Remarks from TIIP CEO, William Burckart
At TIIP’s 4th Annual Symposium on System-Level Investing, we had the privilege of celebrating a major milestone—our 10-year anniversary.
We marked the occasion by unveiling a suite of new resources, including the launch of SAIL 2.0, the latest version of our enterprise management platform. Designed to support institutional investors at every stage of their journey, SAIL offers step-by-step guidance for building system-level investment beliefs and putting them into practice through robust, scalable strategies.
We also proudly introduced the inaugural System-Level Investing Awards, recognizing the outstanding contributions of leaders who are shaping the future of system-level investing.
Our speakers delivered powerful, thought-provoking insights throughout the event—insights we’ll be sharing in the months ahead. For this newsletter, we’re excited to highlight the clip below featuring opening remarks from TIIP CEO William Burckart, where he introduces SAIL’s newest AI-powered capabilities and reflects on the state of the field—and where it’s headed next.
✨ Get Early Access to SAIL 2.0
Be among the first to subscribe to SAIL 2.0 – the Systems Aware Investing Launchpad. This subscription-based, AI-enhanced platform helps institutional investors—especially asset owners, investment consultants, and asset managers operationalize system-level strategies across the portfolio. Rather than starting from scratch, SAIL provides the infrastructure you need to take action on the systemic issues shaping your portfolio’s long-term value.
So, Why SAIL?
System-level risks—from climate instability and economic exclusion to market short-termism—aren’t abstract. They are real threats to investment performance. And yet, many investors still lack the tools to translate systems thinking into practice.
What Makes SAIL Different?
SAIL is AI-enhanced, but human-led. SAIL reflects TIIP’s decade of research, field-building, and advising more than 150 institutional investors. With SAIL, you get:
- Strategy tools that don’t require starting from scratch
- Investor benchmarking that doesn’t take weeks
- Reporting that doesn’t create more work
- A community of peers tackling shared system-level challenges
The Outcome?
You no longer have to choose between complexity and clarity. It’s everything in one place—because system-level investing deserves an integrated platform.
🚢 Ready to Set SAIL?
Join the movement to move from reactive reporting… to proactive regeneration. Don’t forget that Symposium attendees receive 25% off subscriptions if signed up before June 1.
To schedule a demo, or subscribe, email us today!
TIIPs Revamped Consulting Services
In 2015, TIIP’s Steve Lydenberg and William Burckart coined the term system-level investing.
Since then, TIIP has been a driving force behind this transformative approach—publishing pioneering research and supporting some of the world’s leading investors in integrating system-level strategies.
Why System-Level Investing?
System-level investing moves beyond traditional, sustainable and impact investing. It recognizes large-scale risks and opportunities, expands conventional investment strategies, and applies advanced techniques to foster resilient, adaptable, and healthy environmental, social, and financial systems.
Today, this approach is shaping institutional investment strategies globally. It is integral to the UN PRI’s “Pathway B,” distinguishing itself from traditional ESG integration (Pathway A) and impact strategies that may or may not consider systemic effects (Pathway C). (Source: UNPRI.org, “What is system-level investing?”, October 3, 2024.)
How TIIP Can Help
TIIP is uniquely positioned to support investors in adopting system-level investing. We provide tailored guidance across three key areas:
1. Total Portfolio Activation- We help investors assess readiness and build a strong foundation for system-level investing through:
- Applying the TIIP’s Score Methodology: Our approach leverages our proprietary method for evaluating preparedness and progress over time—identifying challenges, opportunities, and a process for deepening the integration of system-level investing.
- Designing Customized Training: Our bespoke training programs for Boards, Trustees, and leadership teams deepen their understanding of system-level investing and the implications for their work.
- Supporting Governance & Oversight: Our tailored guidance helps investors establish and manage governance structures for system-level investing to oversee implementation.
2. Total Portfolio Implementation – We provide practical tools and support for integrating system-level strategies into investment policies and practices, including:
- SAIL (Systems Aware Investing Launchpad): A subscription to our enterprise management platform, SAIL, offers step-by-step guidance based on the six-part process from 21st Century Investing: Redirecting Financial Strategies to Drive Systems Change, the book that introduced the discipline of system-level investing.
- Investment Integration: Personalized assistance in embedding system-level investing into:
- RFPs, Statements of Investment Beliefs, and asset allocation.
- Shareholder engagement, targeted investment programs, and manager selection/monitoring.
- Advanced approaches related to opportunity generation, investment enhancement, and field building.
- Customized Solutions: Tailored engagements constructed for foundations, pension funds, family offices, and investment consultants, considering their unique priorities, capabilities, and governance structures.
3. Total Portfolio Reviews – We help investors assess and refine their strategies through:
- Comprehensive Portfolio Analysis: Assessments use our proprietary system-level investing measurement framework.
- Asset Manager Evaluations: Assessments evaluate alignment with system-level investing principles and progress.
- Benchmarking & Visibility: Optional inclusion in TIIP’s Benchmark Database—a premier, subscriber-only resource profiling leading investors in system-level investing.
Join the Leaders in System-Level Investing
Our expertise has helped inform and support the strategies of pioneering institutions, including CalSTRS, Domini Impact Investments, the Surdna Foundation, University Pension Plan (UPP), Wespath Benefits and Investments, and more.
Are you ready to evolve your investing approach? Let’s take your policies, programs, and practices to the system level.
Follow us on LinkedIn to keep up with the latest TIIP news and find out how to join the system-level investing movement. Have questions about system-level investing? Email us at [email protected].
