For trustees and administrators responsible for managing public pension systems, understanding how investment advice has evolved is essential to making informed decisions. That topic will take center stage at the Texas Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems 2026 Annual Conference, where Dimensional Fund Advisors will serve as Presenting Sponsor.

The conference, scheduled for April 26–29 on Galveston Island, brings together those charged with overseeing retirement benefits for thousands of public employees across Texas. As Presenting Sponsor, Dimensional will play a leading role in supporting the conference’s educational programming and overall attendee experience.

“Support from Dimensional allows us to expand the educational opportunities we provide to our members and strengthen the overall conference experience,” said Art Alfaro, executive director of Texas Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems. “Their continued involvement helps ensure trustees and administrators have access to the information and connections they need to better serve their systems.”

Dimensional’s involvement reflects a broader commitment to supporting public pension systems across Texas and investing in the education of those who oversee them.

“Dimensional has been headquartered in Texas since 2008 and sponsoring the state’s leading public pension conference is one of the many ways the firm supports the local community, trustees, staff, and plan participants,” said Scott Olguin, vice president, public funds – Strategic Business Development Team at Dimensional Fund Advisors.

As part of its participation, Dimensional will present a 45-minute session titled Redefining Investment Advice from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Monday, April 27. The session will be led by Weston Wellington, vice president at Dimensional Fund Advisors, who brings decades of experience explaining how financial markets work.

Wellington began his investment career more than 50 years ago and has spent the past three decades at Dimensional, working with financial advisors and their clients. His approach focuses on explaining complex financial concepts using straightforward examples rather than technical language.

During the session, Wellington will walk attendees through the evolution of modern investment thinking, examining the ideas that reshaped portfolio strategy and the individuals who developed them. The presentation is designed to help trustees and administrators better understand how those principles influence today’s investment decisions.

The Presenting Sponsorship provides Dimensional with a central role throughout the conference, including naming recognition, prominent visibility, and opportunities to engage directly with attendees. As part of that role, the firm will also provide the event’s emcee.

Courtney Scott, regional director and vice president in Dimensional’s Global Client Group, will serve as emcee for the 2026 Annual Conference. She is part of the firm’s Virtual Strategy team, which supports large-scale webcasts and virtual events for Dimensional clients and works closely with speakers to prepare and deliver content effectively.

Scott has experience moderating discussions and facilitating conversations between clients and subject matter experts, often leading sessions from the firm’s in-house studio. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from McCoy College.

This marks a return to the TEXPERS conference stage for Scott, who will help guide the program and maintain a steady pace throughout the event while encouraging audience engagement.

Dimensional’s expanded role as Presenting Sponsor reflects a broader commitment to supporting TEXPERS and its members. The firm has been involved with the organization for years and increased its support following the creation of the Presenting Sponsor designation.

“Dimensional stepped up as the newly created TEXPERS Presenting Sponsor a couple years ago helping the firm contribute more resources supporting Art’s efforts to constantly improve and expand the organization’s annual events,” Olguin said.

The TEXPERS Annual Conference serves as a central gathering point for trustees, administrators, and industry professionals to exchange ideas, strengthen governance practices, and stay informed on issues affecting public retirement systems. Educational sessions, including Dimensional’s featured presentation, are designed to provide practical insights that participants can apply within their own systems.

For many attendees, the value of the conference lies in connecting broad financial concepts to the day-to-day responsibility of managing pension assets and protecting long-term retirement security. Sessions like Redefining Investment Advice help bridge that gap by translating theory into real-world understanding.

As preparations continue for the 2026 conference, Dimensional’s role as Presenting Sponsor underscores the importance of collaboration between pension systems and industry partners in supporting education, innovation, and long-term sustainability.

 About the Author: Allen Jones serves as TEXPERS' Director of Communications and Event Marketing. He brings more than two decades of experience in journalism and publication management and now guides the Association's strategic communications. [email protected]