Key Takeaways
- • Clarion Partners announced that Tripp Braillard, Senior Vice President and Head of Defined Contribution Distribution, has been appointed Co-President of the Defined Contribution Real Estate Council (DCREC) for a two-year term.
- • Braillard shares the co-presidency with Brandon Millen of Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation, and the pair will lead DCREC's efforts to educate plan sponsors, consultants, policymakers and investment professionals on including direct real estate in DC plans.
- • Braillard has more than 30 years of experience at the intersection of real estate and retirement solutions and leads Clarion's distribution of its products through the U.S. institutional defined contribution channel.
- • Clarion has a track record in DCREC leadership, with Managing Director Michael O'Connor having served as Co-President from 2019 to 2022.
Summary
Clarion Partners, a New York-headquartered real estate investment manager, announced that Tripp Braillard has been appointed Co-President of the Defined Contribution Real Estate Council (DCREC), a national organization that promotes direct real estate as an asset class in defined contribution retirement plans. The appointment is for a two-year term. Braillard will serve alongside co-President Brandon Millen of Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation.
According to the announcement, the co-presidents will guide DCREC's work in research, advocacy and best practices, with a focus on educating plan sponsors, consultants, policymakers and investment professionals on the benefits of including direct real estate as an alternative asset class within DC plans. The Council positions diversified real asset exposure as a means of improving retirement outcomes.
Braillard, who has spent more than 30 years working across real estate and retirement solutions, currently leads defined contribution distribution at Clarion, overseeing distribution of the firm's products within the U.S. institutional DC channel. Clarion president Josh Pristaw said the appointment reflects Braillard's expertise in the DC space and his commitment to expanding access to institutional real estate for retirement investors. Braillard said investors are increasingly seeking diversification, income and inflation protection within retirement portfolios. Mary Adams, Executive Director of DCREC, said his perspective would help the Council broaden understanding of how direct real estate can enhance long-term retirement outcomes.
Clarion has a longstanding role in DCREC leadership. Managing Director Michael O'Connor previously served as Co-President of the Council from 2019 to 2022. Clarion describes itself as an SEC-registered investment adviser with more than $73 billion in real estate and debt assets under management as of September 30, 2025, serving 500 institutional investors and operating as an independently managed specialist investment manager of Franklin Templeton.
According to the announcement, the co-presidents will guide DCREC's work in research, advocacy and best practices, with a focus on educating plan sponsors, consultants, policymakers and investment professionals on the benefits of including direct real estate as an alternative asset class within DC plans. The Council positions diversified real asset exposure as a means of improving retirement outcomes.
Braillard, who has spent more than 30 years working across real estate and retirement solutions, currently leads defined contribution distribution at Clarion, overseeing distribution of the firm's products within the U.S. institutional DC channel. Clarion president Josh Pristaw said the appointment reflects Braillard's expertise in the DC space and his commitment to expanding access to institutional real estate for retirement investors. Braillard said investors are increasingly seeking diversification, income and inflation protection within retirement portfolios. Mary Adams, Executive Director of DCREC, said his perspective would help the Council broaden understanding of how direct real estate can enhance long-term retirement outcomes.
Clarion has a longstanding role in DCREC leadership. Managing Director Michael O'Connor previously served as Co-President of the Council from 2019 to 2022. Clarion describes itself as an SEC-registered investment adviser with more than $73 billion in real estate and debt assets under management as of September 30, 2025, serving 500 institutional investors and operating as an independently managed specialist investment manager of Franklin Templeton.
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