37. Locked In for the Long Term: The 2026 Outlook with SWIB Executive Director/Chief Investment Officer Edwin Denson (Feb. 11, 2026)

For long-term institutional investors like SWIB, 2025 reinforced the importance of maintaining a diversified portfolio, managing risk carefully, and staying disciplined through market cycles. Rather than reacting to short-term headlines, the focus remained on fundamentals, valuation, and the long-term objectives of the Wisconsin Retirement System. In this episode of The SWIB Podcast, we welcome back SWIB Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer Edwin Denson. We’ll look back at how global financial markets performed in 2025, a year shaped by easing inflation pressures, shifting interest-rate expectations, and continued uncertainty across economies and geopolitics. Looking ahead to 2026, we’ll discuss the themes SWIB is watching closely — from the trajectory of economic growth and monetary policy to how public and private markets may respond to evolving conditions. We’ll also talk about where opportunities may emerge, how risks are being assessed, and how SWIB positions portfolios to remain resilient in a range of possible outcomes. Edwin will share perspective on how SWIB approaches uncertainty, balances near-term market dynamics with long-term responsibilities, and continues to invest with a focus on meeting the retirement promises made to Wisconsin’s public employees and retirees.