Looking Forward: The Capital Markets & Real Estate Outlook for 2026 and Beyond

Margaret McKnight, Partner and Head of Portfolio Solutions, Stepstone

Faye Beverett, Bard Consulting, Moderator

Another year has flown by! Join us on January 20, 2026, as we kick off the year with an engaging program featuring LAI member Margaret McKnight, Partner and Head of Portfolio Solutions at StepStone.

StepStone is a leading global allocator, managing investments across numerous asset classes, including $186 billion in total capital responsibility for real estate (as of September 30, 2024). Margaret will share StepStone’s insights into the capital markets, the implications of stabilizing interest rates, and the preferred property types for investment in the year ahead.

Following Margaret’s presentation, Faye Beverett will lead a moderated discussion, offering attendees a chance to dive deeper into what to expect in 2026.

Bring your questions and join us for this informative and thought-provoking session!

Guests are welcome. Can't make it to the luncheon? Please consider sponsoring a speaker at the "Purchase tickets" link below:

Early Tickets

Members & Guests: $90 each

Public Sector Members: $80 each*

After January 10:

Members & Guests: $100 each

Save on fees! Pay by check or Zelle. Please contact Lori Horan (info@laisf.org) to RSVP. Please mail your check written to "LAI Golden Gate" to Lori Horan at PO Box 1471, Galt, CA 95632.

*Public Sector discount available only when paying by check or Zelle

Members must be current with their dues to attend the program. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org, and select the "Renewal" option under "My Membership."

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Margaret McKnight

, Partner and Head of Portfolio Solutions,

StepStone 

Ms. McKnight is a member of the real estate team and focuses on various investment and portfolio management activities. She is also a committee member of the StepStone Charitable Giving Program and on the Global Allocation Committee.

 Prior to joining StepStone, Ms. McKnight spent more than a decade at Carlyle’s Metropolitan Real Estate, where she served as the co-Chief Investment Officer and was the fund head for Metropolitan’s Global Funds series. She was a Consultant with Cambridge Associates and held various roles with JP Morgan. Ms. McKnight sits on the Investment Committee for Sutter Health, the fifth largest US non-profit community-based healthcare provider and the Real Assets Investment Subcommittee for Swarthmore College.  She recently served as a Senior Advisor to Juniper Square, focused on Capital Markets applications of their investment management software.

 Ms. McKnight graduated with high honors from Swarthmore College and earned an MBA from New York University.

Faye Beverett

, Retired Principal,

Bard Consulting

Faye has worked as a consultant and principal in real estate since 1984. She joined Bard Consulting in 2004 and became a principal in 2006. While at Bard, Faye helped primarily large pension funds with investment manager due diligence, real estate investment analysis, transaction structuring, negotiation, legal documentation review and asset valuation. Prior to Bard, Faye had her own consulting and investment firm, served as a vice president for Catellus Development Corporate (prior to its acquisition by Prologis) and worked as a real estate consultant for Deloitte. Faye is a member of the Urban Land Institute and a board member for the Lambda Alpha Golden Gate Chapter.

 Faye has a BS in Agricultural Economics from UC Davis, and an MBA from UC Berkeley.