Nicholas D. Hall-Risko

Biography

Background

Nicholas Hall-Risko is a PhD Candidate in Economic and Social History at the University of Edinburgh.  He holds a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Union College.  He was the recipient of a General Scholarship at Columbia University and a member of the Dean's List at Union College.

 

Parallel to his academic endeavors, Nicholas serves as an Investment Manager and member of the Investment Committee at the New York based Multi-Family Office, Geller Advisors.  At Geller, he is a senior cross-asset analyst, focusing on both public and private markets.  Prior to his role at Geller, he was an Investment Analyst at the Goldman Sachs subsidiary, Rocaton.  Nicholas serves as the Class Agent for the King School and holds a FINRA Series 3 license.

Qualifications

Master of Arts - Columbia University

Bachelor of Arts - Union College

Research summary

  • The University of Edinburgh (PhD Candidate): Nicholas currently specializes in post-World War II economic history, with a focus on the evolution of financial institutions in the United States.  His research examines the financial, socio-economic, and political influence of family offices, tracing their transformation from wealth management entities into key financial institutions and influential actors in contemporary governance.  He explores how family offices have shaped the global financial landscape and society through their roles in financial institutions, philanthropy, investment, and advocacy.  By integrating archival research and oral histories, his work provides a fresh perspective on the intersection of governance and socio-economic change, while uncovering the historical evolution of family offices.

  • Columbia University (MA): Nicholas' Master's thesis focused on the comparative roles and objectives of family offices in Europe and the United States.  His research examined how these entities function within society, analyzing historical, regulatory, and structural differences.  This work offered valuable insights into the evolving societal roles of family offices and their broader implications for governance and financial systems.  For this work, Nicholas' thesis was nominated for an award at Columbia University's European Institute.

  • Union College (BA): Nicholas' undergraduate thesis examined Merger Arbitrage, an alternative investment strategy known for its low volatility and market neutrality.  His research evaluated the strategy's ability to produce higher risk-adjusted returns compared to broad market indices.  By analyzing the relationship between interest rates, merger activity, and market correlations, Nicholas demonstrated that Merger Arbitrage achieved consistent returns and maintain a beta of 0.  This research was beneficial by contributing empirical evidence and insights into an often-overlooked, market-neutral, investment strategy.

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