Since starting my career in investments, I have been drawn by investments outside of the traditional realm. Given my background in engineering, I have also always been drawn by complexity and more importantly by deconstructing complex ideas/structures. This inclination, in addition to constant intellectual curiosity and an innate passion for global dynamics, naturally led me to pursue the CAIA. The CAIA’s curriculum is not only rigorous, but quite intellectually stimulating covering the full spectrum of non-traditional asset classes, from hedge funds and private equity to farmland investments and digital assets. Yes, it was challenging balancing the long hours studying for the exams, family matters, and working full-time, but the content of both levels was always so engaging that it ended up making studying fun and exciting.
The CAIA professional designation has provided me with the tools required to perform due diligence for all types of complex alternative investment products, and more specifically for hedge funds -my current area of focus- with confidence, integrity, professionalism, and thoroughness. As a gatekeeper working within the independent investment consulting industry, these are critical qualities to possess since we do have the critical responsibility to conduct in-depth due diligence on investment products that end up affecting real people’s lives (e.g., retirees, students, recipients of foundation’s grants etc.). This responsibility is also what drives me to do my absolute best every day, and the CAIA has been a major contributor in doing just that.
Earning the CAIA has also demonstrated my commitment to professional development since I had been working in the investment field for many years prior to deciding to pursue the CAIA program. Pursuing the CAIA designation expanded my knowledge and ended up aligning quite well with ensuing opportunities in my field of work.
As a CAIA Charter holder I really enjoy perusing the various publications on the CAIA website. Chronicles of an Allocator helps me gain additional perspectives regarding new/emerging topics across the alternative investment landscape globally, which I find very useful and relevant. I have enjoyed CAIA Florida-sponsored events in my area, and I am eager to get more involved in my local chapter’s activities.
If you are intellectually curious, willing to explore and understand how things are structured behind the ‘veil of apparent opacity,’ passionate about investments that might be slightly different from ‘the norm’, and want to gain further confidence and credibility, the CAIA Charter is for you. Do not think twice, just dive in. You will certainly have to put in the time and make some sacrifices, but you will expand your knowledge tremendously while learning exciting things! And once you are done keep learning/reading and truly strive to become a lifelong learner, that is truly the only way to stay competitive in the ever-evolving alt world.
About Kadmiel Onodje:
Kadmiel is a Senior Investment Director at NEPC. NEPC is an employee-owned independent institutional investment consulting firm which helps governments, institutions, families, and individuals preserve and grow their capital across different asset classes and market cycles. NEPC's assets under advisement stands around $1.6 trillion.
Kadmiel is a member of NEPC's Hedge Fund Research team covering primarily Global Macro along with other types of diversifying strategies, as well as Global Tactical Asset Allocation strategies. In addition to manager due diligence Kadmiel works with a range of NEPC clients making recommendations on their diversifying hedge fund and multi-asset portfolios.
He has a B.S. in Computer Engineering from the University of Florida, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Stetson University.