Investing in Senior Housing

A historic shift in senior housing is underway – will you be positioned to act? In 2026, the first wave of Baby Boomers turns 80, ushering in unprecedented demand for senior housing at a time when new supply has lagged far behind. The result? A rare moment where demographic certainty, constrained supply, and capital opportunity converge, creating conditions that informed investors cannot afford to overlook.

As an experienced institutional real estate investor, you are invited to the exclusive NIC Masterclass: Investing in Senior Housing, a  private, in-person learning opportunity focused on uncovering where, and how, to invest successfully in senior housing today.

Join seasoned owners, operators, and capital partners for a candid, in-depth discussion on:

• Compelling investment opportunities emerging across the sector
• Operating risks and how best-in-class investors mitigate them
• Proven strategies for aligning investors and operators
• Emerging trends shaping the next decade of senior housing

This intimate, small-group setting is designed to go beyond surface-level insights. Expect honest conversations centered on lessons learned and keys to success – the insights investors only gain through experience. You’ll have an opportunity to connect directly with industry leaders, ask questions, challenge assumptions, and engage in Q&A throughout the afternoon.  Following the conclusion of the Senior Housing Masterclass, you’re invited to join NIC’s exclusive Leadership Reception for additional networking with key industry leaders.

If you are considering a meaningful allocation to senior housing and value deep insight, direct access, and peer-level discussion, this complimentary add-on to the 2026 NIC Spring Conference is designed for you.  

History, Overview, and Outlook

• Evolution of senior housing investment industry
• Demand, supply, and operating characteristics
• Investment and financing characteristics
• Valuations, returns, and outlook

Investor and Operational Risks and Pitfalls

• “Lessons learned” in Investor-Operator Alignment
• Value-add, lease-up, or turnaround strategies versus core or stabilized
• Fee structures that incentivize performance and alignment
• Reporting cadence and KPI transparency
• Understanding staffing and regulatory complexity

Operating Fundamentals

• Drivers of NOI, margin growth, and stabilization
• Operating margin by product type (active adult, independent living, assisted living, memory care)
• Occupancy and rental rate management (lead-to-move-in, length of stay, rent growth)

Emerging Trends

• Technology integration (AI in scheduling, CRM, predictive analytics)
• Workforce evolution and training pipelines
• Wellness, hospitality, and lifestyle differentiation for the next generation of older adults

Kurt Read is a Principal at RSF Partners, where he co-manages the firm and leads its strategic initiatives. RSF is a real estate private equity firm actively investing its latest fund in senior care and niche commercial real estate.

Over the past two decades, RSF has invested in senior living properties and operating platforms, distressed commercial real estate loans, and eCommerce-related distribution assets using a value-based investment approach.

Mr. Read has over 30 years of experience in real estate and has served as a director for several private and public companies. He is a graduate of Cornell University, immediate past Chairman of NIC, and co-founder of the MVP Foundation.

Thilo D. Best is Co-Founder and Principal of Bayshore Retirement Partners, a senior housing investment and development firm operating across the southeastern United States. He brings more than 35 years of experience building and leading senior housing platforms.

He previously founded and led Longview Senior Housing, a Blackstone portfolio company, and co-founded Horizon Bay Retirement Living with Goldman Sachs. He has also held senior roles at Prudential, Holiday Retirement, and Brookdale.

Thilo has partnered with leading global investors and served on the boards of NIC, ASHA, and Argentum. He holds degrees from the University of Georgia, Georgia State University, and Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Julie Robinson serves as a Managing Director and Head of Healthcare at Clarion Partners. In this role, she is responsible for driving the expansion of Clarion’s healthcare sector capabilities, focusing on creating, implementing, and scaling strategies in asset classes such as senior living, active adult, outpatient medical, and life sciences.

Prior to joining Clarion, Julie served as Senior Vice President – Investments for leading real estate investment trust Ventas, Inc., where she was responsible for the prioritization and execution of capital allocation strategy, including real estate and entity acquisitions, ground-up developments, joint venture investments, credit facilities, and dispositions. Under Julie’s leadership, Ventas closed more than $25 billion in transactions with leading healthcare providers, senior housing operators, and academic medical centers.

Julie began her career in GE Healthcare’s Financial Management Program and joined Ventas following a successful career at General Electric’s (GE) Healthcare Financial Services division.

Julie is a member of the Kellogg Real Estate Advisory Board, a group of real estate leaders committed to advancing Northwestern University’s impact on the real estate industry through efforts supporting students, teachers and researchers. Julie received a B.S. in Finance from Miami University and an M.B.A. from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.