By David G. Barry
Christopher
Schelling, a former director of private equity for the Texas Municipal
Retirement System (TMRS), is starting an advisory firm aimed at helping
family offices, small institutions and private wealth managers that are seeking
to access alternative investments.
Schelling disclosed the launch of 512 Alternatives in a LinkedIn post
and said he would be “sharing more soon.” The firm is named after the area code
for Austin, Texas, where it is located.
Schelling was until July chief investment strategist for Venturi Private
Wealth, a position that he had held since February. Schelling joined
Venturi as director of alternative investments in March 2021 after being a
managing director with Windmuehle Companies.
Prior to Windmuehle, Schelling spent five years at TMRS, where he oversaw $2.8
billion in commitments to 60 limited partnerships and led the standardization
of due diligence efforts and cross-functional research across private credit,
real assets and hedge funds.
His background also includes serving as deputy chief investment officer,
director of absolute & real return, for the Kentucky Retirement Systems
and focusing on hedge funds at Mercer Investment Consulting.