NIRI Virtual Chapter Presents:
Key Themes Shaping the Economy and Markets in 2026
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
12:00pm - 1:00pm ET
The NIRI Virtual Chapter is pleased to have Eric Gerster, Chief Investment Officer of AlphaCore, join us on March 11, 2026, to discuss "Key Themes Shaping the Economy and Markets in 2026." The session will provide an economic overview of the forces most likely to influence markets in the year ahead, including the sustainability of the artificial intelligence investment boom, the durability of U.S. economic growth and interest rate policy, fiscal and political uncertainty, and the outlook for international markets. Eric will offer clear, market-grounded perspective to help IR professionals stay informed and confident in their conversations with investors amid a complex macro environment.
Learning objectives for investor relations professionals:
- Identify and understand the key economic and market themes shaping 2026, including AI, monetary policy, and global growth
- Evaluate how fiscal, political, and policy developments may influence investor sentiment
- Demonstrate fluency in macroeconomic topics commonly raised by investors and analysts
- Apply market insights to more informed, effective investor communications
Eric Gerster, CFA
Chief Investment Officer, Partner
AlphaCore
Eric is an accomplished investment professional with over three decades of experience in the financial industry and demonstrated success throughout fluctuating market cycles.
Eric’s broad industry background and thorough understanding of long and short institutional investing have effectively served individual and institutional clients. His risk-management philosophy and his knowledge of credit, equity, and alternative investments enable him to design and implement a wide range of asset allocation strategies for clients with varying financial goals.
Prior to joining AlphaCore, Eric led Magnolia Lane Financial Advisors as the company’s CEO and founder, offering clients customized investment portfolios that focused on meeting their long-term goals and achieving financial security.
Eric’s career includes working as a Vice President and Global Credit Officer at JP Morgan and as an Equity Analyst and Portfolio Manager for T. Rowe Price. He also spent a decade managing long and short equity hedge funds for the global hedge fund firms Point 72, Guggenheim, and Millennium Management.
Eric volunteers as the Chair of the Investment Committee for the King School Endowment and is a member of the Jesuit Investment Committee that oversees the Jesuit Foundation Trust.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and operations & strategic management from Boston College and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
In his free time, Eric enjoys playing golf, gardening, traveling, and spending time with his wife, two daughters, and two dogs.