Joe Aguilar
Chair
Joe Aguilar is the Chief Investment Officer for the Office of Illinois State Treasurer Michael W. Frerichs. In his role, Aguilar directs seven investment portfolios spanning public and private market investments on behalf of the Illinois Treasury’s combined $56 billion investment portfolio.
The investment portfolio includes: the Illinois Growth and Innovation Fund, a $1.5B impact investment fund investing across venture, buyout, and private credit; two 529 College Saving Plans; the State’s Achieving a Better Life Experience program; Student Empowerment Fund; FIRST Fund; and the Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program.
As the Chief Investment Officer, Aguilar leads all aspects of investment implementation, including the development of processes and procedures, the Office’s sustainable investment strategy, and the selection of investment products and managers. He is responsible for leading the investment team and the stewardship for all investments and external public and private market investment managers, including venture, private equity, and private credit managers invested through the Office’s platforms.
Aguilar was previously the Director of Investment Analysis and Due Diligence with the Illinois State Treasury, in which he led due diligence efforts, the manager selection process, assessment, and monitoring of all investment managers and co-investments. Prior to joining the Illinois Treasury, he worked for Fortaleza Asset Management.
Aguilar holds a B.S. with a double major in Finance and Business & Commerce from Aurora University and an M.S. in Finance from the University of Miami’s Herbert Business School. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Aurora University.
