Alt Goes Mainstream: The Latest on Alternative Investments, WealthTech, & Private Markets

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s guest is an expert in financial services and capital markets who has experience as both a strategic investor and a VC.We welcome Rana Yared, a General Partner at Balderton, where she co-leads their Growth Fund. She came to Balderton in 2020 from across the pond, where she was a Partner at Goldman Sachs, first in the Principal Strategic Investments Group, a balance sheet investing team, and later in GS Growth, when the group became part of the GS Growth efforts that began to take in outside LP capital. At Goldman, Rana oversaw investments in Financial Technology and Enterprise Technology as well as the commercialization of Goldman’s technology assets in both NYC and London. She represented Goldman on the boards of Tradeweb, NAV, Vestwell, New York Shipping Exchange, and Swapclear @ LCH. She currently serves on the board of Tradeweb in an independent capacity.Coming off of a fundraise of $1.3B in new capital across early and growth stage funds at Balderton, Rana and I discussed what LPs were interested in and why Europe is a compelling investment ecosystem. We had a fascinating discussion about:Revolutionary and evolutionary innovations in financial services and private markets, including the likes of iCapital, Tradeweb, Revolut.Why global tech companies can be built in Europe, with Revolut, a Balderton portfolio company, as an example.Why London and Europe are compelling fintech and financial services ecosystems.How LPs should look at the European investment opportunity.Differences and benefits / drawbacks of being a strategic / permanent capital investor versus being an independent VC fund.The importance of being a risk manager in venture.Thanks Rana for coming on the show to share your wisdom and views on Europe, venture, and private markets. We hope you enjoy.A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency.To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products.Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus’ technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at gharris@ultimusfundsolutions.com.We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.Show Notes00:00 Introduction and Ultimus Sponsor Message01:59 Introducing Balderton Capital Partner, Rana Yared04:16 Rana's Journey from Goldman Sachs to Balderton04:25 Transition from Investment Banking to VC06:26 Insights on Financial Services and Market Structure06:37 Investing in Market Structure09:05 Disruptive vs. Evolutionary Innovations in Fintech12:53 Partnering with Incumbents14:31 The Importance of Durability and Product Velocity18:11 Strategic Investing vs. Venture Capital21:21 Investing in the European Ecosystem27:06 The Exciting Potential of Revolut and European FinTech27:21 FinTech Giants in Germany27:54 European Companies' International Advantage28:55 Investor's Perspective on European Expansion29:48 The Role of Venture Capital in Europe29:22 Challenges and Strategies for European Investors30:20 The Importance of Local Presence30:55 The Future of European Ecosystems31:28 US VCs Entering Europe32:15 Bridging the Talent Gap34:02 Mentorship and Expertise35:52 The Role of LPs and European Investment Opportunities37:23 Challenges for European Pensions and Endowments38:49 Innovations in Fund Structures41:27 The Impact of Governmental Participation in Venture42:22 Exciting Opportunities in European Venture43:10 FinTech's Massive Potential43:59 Europe's Unique Financial Services Advantages44:53 Geopolitical Concerns for Investors45:51 Lessons from War Studies Applied to Investing47:11 The Future of Retirement Investments in Europe49:13 The Importance of Patience in Investing

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s episode is with someone who has experienced the growth and evolution of the credit space from different vantage points.We welcome Alona Gornick, a Managing Director, Senior Investment Strategist, and Co-Head of the Chicago Office for Churchill Asset Management, a firm with $50B committed capital that is a provider of financing solutions to middle market private equity firms and their portfolio companies. Churchill is an investment-specialist affiliate of Nuveen, the asset manager of TIAA.Alona provides investment insights across the private capital spectrum to the investment community – and has a particular focus on working with the Private Wealth and Retail channels. She works closely with Nuveen’s global distribution team to deepen relationships with and educate Churchill’s investors and partners.Alona leverages her experience in capital markets, investor relations, and credit investing from working at the likes of Nuveen, Golden Gate Capital, and Oaktree Capital Management.Alona and I had a fascinating conversation. We discussed:The evolution of credit investing.The opportunities and risks in private credit. Are we in a private credit bubble?Why the product specialist role is critical for working with the wealth channel.The power of scale, particularly in private credit, and how it helps alternative asset managers win deals and invest.The strategic benefit of platforms and permanent capital.Thanks Alona for coming on the show to share your views and wisdom on private markets. We hope you enjoy.A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency.To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products.Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus’ technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at gharris@ultimusfundsolutions.com.We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.Show Notes00:00 Introduction to Ultimus Fund Solutions01:18 Welcome to the Podcast02:00 Guest Introduction: Alona Gornick03:45 Alona's Career Path and Experience06:59 Growth of Middle Market Direct Lending07:41 Changes in the Credit Landscape10:21 The Importance of Size and Scale in Private Credit13:27 Deal Structuring and Market Evolution14:46 Impact of High Rate Environment16:06 Private Credit Returns and Underwriting20:53 Investor Questions and Market Insights21:24 Educating Investors on Private Credit23:43 Private Credit in Wealth Portfolios24:09 Diversification Benefits of Private Credit24:24 Yield Premium in Private Credit26:40 Private Credit vs. Private Equity27:06 Exploring Private Equity and Private Debt27:24 Transitioning from Public to Private Credit27:49 The Role of a Product Specialist28:09 Balancing Risks and Benefits28:49 Relating to Advisors with Real Examples29:40 The Importance of Education in Allocation30:25 Diverse Viewpoints on Alternative Asset Managers31:48 Challenges in Access to Capital33:26 The Significance of Hiring Quality People34:12 Non-Traditional Backgrounds in Specialist Roles36:29 Patience and Commitment in Educating Investors39:13 The Hardest Part of Educating the Wealth Channel40:47 The Role of Structure in Education44:21 Concerns About the Future of Private Credit47:00 The Growth Potential of Private Credit49:38 The Most Interesting Alternative Investment50:15 The Opportunity in Private Equity Secondaries52:47 Private Credit Secondaries: A Nascent Space54:17 Primary and Secondary Considerations in Credit54:34 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Today marks the launch of a new show on Alt Goes Mainstream: What’s Your Edge?Every person, every company, every fund has something that makes them special.Makes them stand out from the crowd.Gives them an unfair advantage.Tips the scales in favor of success.In this episode,  I ask our special guest, Bob Long, “What’s Your Edge?”Bob Long is CEO of StepStone Group’s Stepstone Private Wealth. He has three decades of experience in the private markets and has led investment teams for global firms in both the general partner and the limited partner role. He has served as the CEO of two publicly-traded companies focused on expanding private market access for high net worth investors.Prior to StepStone Private Wealth, Bob was the CEO of OHA Investment Corporation, a publicly-traded specialty finance company. Previously, he co-founded Conversus Capital, the largest publicly traded fund of third-party private equity funds with $3 billion of AUM and served as its CEO. Previously, he led Bank of America’s $7 billion strategic capital division. Early in his career, Bob served as the lead in-house counsel for a large portion of Bank of America’s Investment Banking Division and worked as a securities lawyer for a major law firm.A recognized industry leader, Bob was named one of 50 “GameChangers” by Private Equity International, has been profiled in the WSJ, and hosted CNBC Squawk Box Europe on numerous occasions.On today’s podcast, Bob and I discuss the nuances of evergreen funds and the unique features and offerings of StepStone Private Wealth’s evergreen strategies.Thanks Bob for coming on the show to share your wisdom, experience, and your edge.Show Notes00:00 Introduction00:38 Welcome to What's Your Edge?01:01 Meet StepStone Private Wealth CEO Bob Long: A Leader in Private Markets03:09 Lessons from Public Markets04:34 Evergreen Fund Structure05:27 Benefits of Evergreen Funds06:25 Immediate Investment Advantage07:20 Evergreen Funds and Financial Advisors07:35 Evergreen Fund Liquidity08:04 StepStone's Approach to Evergreen Funds09:09 StepStone's Strategy and Structure09:32 Balancing Inflows and Outflows10:34 Importance of Deal Flow11:04 Balancing Liquidity and Returns11:56 StepStone's Competitive Advantage13:52 Portfolio Construction14:57 Diversification in Private Markets16:06 Evergreen Fund Structures19:44 Liquidity in Private Markets27:57 Key Takeaways for Investors29:53 Operational Due Diligence Essentials30:13 Key Questions for Evergreen Fund Structures30:36 Understanding Fee Structures30:42 Management Fees and Leverage31:33 Incentive Fees Explained32:19 Administrative Costs and Transparency32:34 Fee Compression in Evergreen Funds34:11 Portfolio Construction Strategies34:24 Investing in Secondaries37:10 Psychology of Allocators38:04 Accessibility and Minimum Investments38:43 Investor Profiles and Strategies40:36 Transparency and Performance41:40 Rebalancing and Evergreen Funds43:10 Model Portfolios and Private Markets45:19 StepStone's Investor-Centric Approach46:15 StepStone's Competitive Edge48:31 Growth of Secondaries and Private Markets51:37 Future Trends in Private Markets55:30 Philanthropy and Purposeful Stewardship

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s show features a guest who brings a wealth of common sense to wealth management and asset allocation.We talk with Ben Carlson, the Director of Institutional Asset Management at Ritholtz Wealth Management, a $5B AUM wealth management firm. He’s managed institutional portfolios for his entire career. He started out with an institutional investment consulting firm, where he deployed portfolio strategies and created investment plans for foundations, endowments, pensions, hospitals, insurance companies, and HNW individuals. More recently, he was part of the portfolio management team for an investment office that managed a large endowment fund for a charitable organization.Ben is a student of markets and asset allocation, which is clear from the knowledge he shares daily and weekly with his blog, A Wealth of Common Sense, and his podcast Animal Spirits with Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson. He’s also authored four books about saving, investing, and money. He was named to the Investment News 40 Under 40 list of top financial advisors in 2017.Ben and I had a fascinating conversation about the adoption of alternatives in the wealth channel and the whys and hows of asset allocation. We discussed:Why asset allocation is the most important aspect of an investment plan.The question of whether or not investors now have too much choice?Why Ben documents every investment decision he makes.The benefits of private markets and the pitfalls of private markets.His biggest lesson learned in investing.Why crypto has helped younger investors become more comfortable with volatility (for better or worse).The future of wealth management and what won’t change about the advisor / client relationship.The power of content creation and how it helps him approach investing.Thanks Ben for coming on the show to share your wisdom and experience in investing and asset allocation. We hope you enjoy.A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency.To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products.Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus’ technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at gharris@ultimusfundsolutions.com.We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.Show Notes00:00 Sponsor: Introduction to Ultimus Fund Solutions01:56 Meet Ben Carlson: Wealth Management Expert02:17 Ben Carlson's Career Journey02:55 Insights on Asset Allocation03:11 The Importance of Documenting Investment Decisions03:14 Private Markets: Benefits and Pitfalls04:34 Early Career Lessons04:58 Asset Allocation Strategies06:06 Navigating Investment Choices07:10 The Complexity of Investment Strategies09:46 Institutional vs. Wealth Management10:19 Communication in Institutional Investing12:35 The 60/40 Portfolio Debate23:20 Advisors and Alternatives27:17 Thresholds for Investing27:48 Differentiating Through Culture28:41 Defining and Evaluating Culture29:20 Transparency and Client Relationships29:57 Partnering with the Right Clients30:19 Qualitative Manager Selection31:53 Content Creation and Transparency34:22 Building a Brand from Scratch37:49 Advice for Young Advisors39:31 Compounding in Private Markets40:06 Behavioral Benefits of Private Markets41:17 Excitement in Private Markets41:56 Evolving Fund Structures42:28 Defining Alternatives43:48 Younger Investors and Volatility46:55 Future of Wealth Management47:53 Private Equity in Wealth Management48:58 Favorite Alternative Investments51:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s podcast illustrates just how far private markets have come. We dive into the world of GP stakes with Sean Ward, Senior Managing Director from Blue Owl’s GP Strategic Capital Platform, where he was a founding partner and is responsible for helping to oversee the firm that has done the lion’s share of GP stakes investing.Blue Owl’s GP Strategic Capital business, which started out as Dyal Capital Partners, has accounted for over 61% of the total capital raised in the GP stakes space, closing on over $33.3B across their 7 funds and managing $57.8B AUM. They’ve taken minority ownership stakes in many of the industry’s leading alternative asset managers, accounting for 85%+ of all GP stakes deals $600M or greater in size.Sean is a Senior Managing Director of Blue Owl Capital, Inc. and a member of the firm’s Board of Directors. He also serves as a member of the GP Strategic Capital Investment Team. Prior to joining Dyal Capital Partners, the predecessor firm to Blue Owl’s GP Strategic Capital platform, Sean was a Vice President at Lehman Brothers and held several roles at Neuberger Berman after it became an independent firm, including Senior Counsel for Neuberger’s alternatives business. Sean was also a lawyer at Covington & Burling LLP and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP.Sean and I had a fascinating conversation about the evolution of private markets through the parallel evolution of the GP stakes space.  We discussed:The early days of the GP stakes industry.What it was like to convince GPs and LPs why stakes made sense.How the $1B GP commitment by Bain Capital in their fund post-GFC really opened everyone’s eyes to the need to tap into financing as firms grew their fund size and their business.A “cash in” rather than a “cash out.” Why GP stakes investing is mainly about positive selection since managers are choosing to sell a stake in their business.How alternative asset management has evolved as a business.How GP stakes investments have elements of bond-like coupons from cashflows due to management fees and option value from the upside of carry.Why GP stakes investments are “the most diversified single line item investment one can make in private markets.”Where allocators bucket GP stakes investments.What makes a great GP stakes investor.The power of permanent capital.The different paths to liquidity in GP stakes investments.Thanks Sean for coming on the show to share your views and wisdom on private markets. We hope you enjoy.A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency.To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products.Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus’ technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at gharris@ultimusfundsolutions.com.We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.Show Notes00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message01:17 Podcast Opening and Theme02:00 Guest Introduction: Sean Ward from Blue Owl GP Strategic Capital04:21 Sean Ward's Career Journey05:14 The Evolution of GP Stakes Investing06:23 The Start of GP Stakes at Blue Owl06:57 Raising the First Fund07:09 The Growth of Blue Owl's GP Stakes07:31 The Importance of Legal Background in GP Stakes09:48 Convincing LPs and GPs11:14 The Importance of GP Commitments15:23 Strategic Value Beyond Capital24:45 Succession Planning in Private Equity26:02 Impact of Market Conditions on GP Stakes29:26 Underwriting and Returns in GP Stakes36:33 Cash Flow and Diversification in GP Stakes Investments37:48 Understanding the Trade-offs in GP Stakes Investing38:35 Narrow Distribution of Potential Outcomes40:09 The Importance of Diverse Professional Backgrounds40:45 Collaborative Partnerships in GP Stakes41:34 Traits of a Great Alternative Asset Manager43:49 The Next Frontier: Private Wealth45:13 Middle Market Strategy and Partnerships49:34 The Evolution and Future of Private Markets53:19 Liquidity in GP Stakes Investments58:26 The Power of Permanent Capital01:00:28 Is GP Stakes Better Than SaaS?01:02:43 Exemplary Models for Growth in Asset Management01:05:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s episode welcomes two elite performers in Steve Young of HGGC and Scott Wood of True North Advisors, where they talk about how they formed a partnership based on shared values.Steve’s private equity firm, $7B AUM HGGC, took a minority stake in Scott’s independent wealth management firm, $3.9B AUM True North Advisors, as part of their broader wealth management investment thesis.After an illustrious 15 year Hall of Fame career as a three-time Super Bowl winning quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, Steve embarked on second act to found HGGC that has rivaled his career on the field. Over the past 17 years, HGGC has grown to a $7B private equity firm that has completed 600 portfolio investments.After working on Wall Street where clients were not being fiduciarily served, Scott's journey as a registered independent advisor started in 2000, when he and his partner Mark Gehlbach decided to pioneer the fee-only  model to eliminate conflicts of interest in the client advisor relationship. The foundation they built has led to the growth of a firm that now stands at over 3.9B in AUM, with a large portion of that capital, $812M allocated to alternatives. Steve, Scott, and I had a fascinating conversation about how they’ve built their respective investment firms, the importance of values and culture, and how they create abundant, fulfilling relationships. We discussed:Why “the score takes care of itself.”How and why defining the relationship up front is key in advisor M&A.How to assess culture fit when merging or acquiring advisors and wealth management firms.The importance of alternatives for better serving the client in an advisor’s practice.The concept of “decading” and why long-term thinking is critical in business and life.Thanks Steve and Scott for sharing your thoughts and decades of wisdom on business building, investing, and partnership.A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency.To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products.Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus’ technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at gharris@ultimusfundsolutions.com.We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.Show Notes00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message01:17 Welcome to the Podcast01:59 Meet the Guests: Steve Young and Scott Wood02:22 Steve Young's Journey from the NFL to Private Equity06:13 Scott Wood's Path to Founding True North Advisors09:13 Building a Scalable and Collaborative Wealth Management Firm12:22 Need for a Partner12:57 Choosing HGGC: The Importance of Culture and Values in Business13:30 HGGC's Investment Philosophy15:03 Cultural Alignment in Partnerships22:25 Evaluating Cultural Fit in Partnerships22:40 Evaluating Cultural Fit27:12 Governance and Day Two Operations27:53 Commitment to Cultural Integrity28:19 Navigating Cultural Fit in Wealth Management28:55 Wealth Management Growth and Consolidation29:40 The Role of Private Equity in Wealth Management30:03 Changing Wealth Management Engagement31:07 Challenges and Opportunities in Wealth Management Consolidation32:22 True North's Unique Business Model33:01 The Impact of Private Equity on Wealth Management34:42 Exit Strategies and Long-Term Vision39:39 Building an Alternatives Platform40:31 Decading: Long-Term Thinking40:53 Evolution of Alternatives Strategy45:13 Simplifying Complex Investments46:37 Fee Structures and Client Alignment47:24 M&A Opportunities and Relationships48:37 Mentorship and Professional Relationships52:56 Future of Alternative Investments55:56 Closing Thoughts and Reflections

Today marks the launch of a new show on Alt Goes Mainstream: Going Public with Evercore’s Glenn Schorr.17 years ago, there wasn’t a single alternative asset manager that was part of the public markets. Today, not only are a number of the industry’s largest firms public, but in 2024, the industry’s largest alternative asset manager, Blackstone, entered the S&P 500.Understanding the inner workings, strategic moves, and financial performance of the industry’s largest players can help to explain many of the trends that are making alternatives become mainstream and these firms become mainstays in the financial services ecosystem.Going Public will make private markets more public with expert analysis.Glenn Schorr is a Senior MD and Senior Research Analyst at Evercore ISI, where he covers brokers, banks, asset managers, and trust banks as an analyst. He has covered financials since 2000 and started coverage of alternative asset managers when the first firms went public.He’s consistently come up as one of the most thoughtful and well-respected analysts in the space. He balances deep research with a creative flair (just read one of the titles of his research reports and you can see his love of the game). He’s been named to Institutional Investor’s All-America Research Team for his coverage, most recently ranking #2 and runner up in 2023, #1 and #2 in 2022. Prior to Evercore, Glenn was a Senior MD at Nomura, serving as the lead financials analyst. Listen in as Glenn shares market stories, the evolution of alternative asset managers as businesses, the biggest and most exciting trends in private markets based on what the industry’s largest players are doing, and we go “around the horn” for his analysis on the publicly traded firms. Show Notes00:38 Introduction to the Going Public Series and award-winning Wall Street Analyst, Glenn Schorr01:54 Glenn's Career Journey03:08 The Early Days of Alts Managers Going Public03:26 Skepticism and Challenges in Going Public04:06 Investor Skepticism and Challenges07:00 Transformation and Tipping Points09:03 Structural Tailwinds and Market Trends10:57 The Decision to Go Public vs. Staying Private12:39 Ambition and Vision in Asset Management14:51 The Distribution vs. Manufacturing Debate17:03 Lessons from Traditional Asset Management18:55 Discipline and Growth in the Alts Market20:03 The Future of Public and Private Markets20:50 The Role of Distribution in Asset Management21:59 Success Stories and Acquisition Strategies23:02 Manufacturing Competency vs. Acquisitions24:40 The Rise of Private Markets26:07 How Alternative Managers Make Money27:02 Valuation Factors for Alternative Managers28:44 Profitability and Margins in Asset Management29:23 Building a Business: Costs and Competitive Advantages29:50 The Moat of Success in Business30:15 Challenges for Traditional Asset Managers30:56 The Importance of Vision and Technology31:22 Scaling a Business with Proven Success31:40 Insurance Asset Management: Strategic Moves and Structural Advantages32:17 Structural Advantages in Asset Management33:05 The Rise of Private Credit Managers34:43 The Impact of Interest Rates on Private Credit Managers35:32 Navigating Rate Sensitivity in Capital Markets38:25 Deployment and Monetization in Asset Management39:08 The Challenge of Dry Powder in Private Equity41:14 The Role of Deployment in Investment Success41:46 The Resilience of Publicly Traded Alts Managers43:26 Spotlight on Blackstone's Growth and Innovation46:38 KKR's Global Expansion and Innovation48:41 Apollo's Market Leadership and Challenges50:11 Blue Owl's Strategic Investments and Challenges53:56 TPG's Public Transition and Growth55:11 Carlyle’s Progress and Future Challenges56:11 Looking Ahead: Key Trends and ExpectationsDisclosuresEvercore ISIGlenn SchorrCompany Coverage and DisclosuresTicker      CompanyAPO         Apollo Global Management, Inc.BAC         Bank of America CorporationGlenn Schorr holds a long position in equity securities of Bank of America Corporation.BK            Bank of New York Mellon Corp.Glenn Schorr holds a long position in equity securities of Bank of New York Mellon Corp.BLK          BlackRock, Inc.Glenn Schorr holds a long position in equity securities of BlackRock Inc.BX            Blackstone, Inc.Blackstone, Inc. is a client of Evercore LLC, and Evercore LLC has provided investment banking services to Blackstone, Inc. in the last 12 months.Evercore ISI or an affiliate expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking services from Blackstone, Inc. within the next three months.An employee, employee's immediate family member, director or consultant of Evercore ISI or one of its affiliates (but not the covering research analyst or a member of the covering re advisory board member of Blackstone, Inc..Evercore ISI or an affiliate has received compensation from Blackstone, Inc. for investment banking services in the last 12 months.Analyst has a financial interest in a private equity fund managed by Blackstone, Inc.Glenn Schorr holds a long position in equity securities of Blackstone, Inc.OWL         Blue Owl Capital, Inc.Evercore ISI or an affiliate has acted as a manager or co-manager of a public offering of securities by Blue Owl Capital, Inc in the last 12 months.Blue Owl Capital, Inc is a client of Evercore LLC, and Evercore LLC has provided investment banking services to Blue Owl Capital, Inc in the last 12 months.Evercore ISI or an affiliate has received compensation from Blue Owl Capital, Inc for investment banking services in the last 12 months.BSIG        BrightSphere InvestmentC               Citigroup, Inc.An employee, employee's immediate family member, director or consultant of Evercore ISI or one of its affiliates (but not the covering research analyst or a member of the covering re advisory board member of Citigroup, Inc.Glenn Schorr holds a long position in equity securities of Citigroup, Inc.BEN          Franklin Resources, Inc.Glenn Schorr holds a long position in equity securities of Franklin Resources, Inc.GS            Goldman Sachs Group Inc.IVZ           Invesco Ltd.JPM        &nb...

Welcome to the 12th episode of the Monthly Alts Pulse, a collaboration between iCapital x Alt Goes Mainstream.This month’s episode features one of iCapital’s senior executives, Eileen Duff, Managing Partner & Chief Client Success Officer, and a private markets veteran who was Head of Alternative Investments, North America for Credit Suisse for a number of years. At iCapital, she oversees Investor Relations, Enterprise Integration, and Client Operations teams to optimize the client experience. Eileen has had a number of senior and instrumental roles at iCapital. She's also a member of iCapital's Operating Committee. She was previously Head of Fund Management & Research for iCapital, where she was responsible for origination and development of new investment products and lifecycle management of existing offerings. She also led Distribution for iCapital, leading the sales and relationship management function after joining from Credit Suisse.iCapital, as the leading platform that is responsible for the majority of individual and advisor-led investment flows into the alts space, has its finger on the pulse of what’s happening in private markets.Eileen and I had a fascinating and lively discussion about how technology innovation, and AI and automation in particular, are revolutionizing alternative investments and how technology can drive growth and operational efficiency. We covered:How and why alternatives distribution has evolved. The importance of meeting clients where they are.The evolution of wealth channel strategies.How much does structure matter?When and why Eileen saw registered funds as a major driver of the future growth of private markets well before they became mainstream.The impact of registered and evergreen funds on operations and fund administration.Where will the biggest efficiencies come from in the automation of post-investment processes?How AI and automation will enhance operational efficiency?Thanks Eileen for a great episode … looking forward to next month’s Monthly Alts Pulse conversation!

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s podcast dives into the continued innovation in the GP stakes space with someone who has advised some of the industry’s largest firms on their businesses and going public.We are joined by Todd Owens, the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Cantilever Group. Cantilever is an independent firm focused on providing capital solutions to middle market asset managers. Their capital can be used to accelerate growth, support acquisitions or liftouts, fund GP commitments, seed new strategies, facilitate generational ownership transfer, and provide liquidity to founders. They focus on businesses that have enterprise values between $50mm and $500mm. The team has executed on over $500M of GP stake, financing, and seeding transactions as both investors and principals. Their advisory experience working with stakes funds includes over 15 GP stakes transactions, multiple GP stakes portfolio financings, numerous GP and BDC IPOs, and dozens of asset management financing and control transactions.Cantilever is working with two strategic partners as they build their firm: BTG Pactual, the near $30B market cap Brazilian bank and wealth and asset manager has committed 9 figures into Cantilever’s fund, and Broadhaven Ventures, the venture capital arm of Broadhaven Capital Partners.Todd has over 30 years of experience as an advisor covering financial institutions and as a senior financial services executive. Prior to founding Cantilever, Todd has been a partner at Broadhaven Capital Partners, an independent financial services focused investment bank that’s completed over $90B in announced M&A transaction volume, as well as the former CEO of Fifth Street Finance. Todd began his career at Goldman, Sachs & Co, spending 24 years including as a Managing Director and Partner in the Investment Banking Division. Todd and I had a fascinating discussion about how funds are becoming firms and why there’s an investment opportunity around that transformation. We discussed:The evolution of alternative asset managers from Todd’s perspective as a banker to many alternative asset managers.Why GP stakes has become a solution for alternative asset managers.Why and how alternative asset managers are businesses and why it can make sense for them to take investment to grow.The benefits of GP stakes for investors and why the growing AUM of private markets means investors could benefit from exposure to GP ownership.The risks and challenges with GP stakes as an investment strategy.Why the middle market is an underserved and attractive segment in alternative asset management.What the currency of consolidation will look like in alternative asset management.What it means to grow and evolve a business as an alternative asset manager.Thanks Todd for coming on the show to share your wisdom and experience on the evolution of asset management from your 30 years in the industry. We hope you enjoy.A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency.To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products.Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus’ technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at gharris@ultimusfundsolutions.com.We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.Show Notes00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message01:18 Podcast Opening and Theme01:59 Introduction to Todd Owens and Cantilever Group03:10 Todd Owens' Career Background04:39 Early Days of Alternative Asset Management08:28 Challenges and Opportunities in Alternative Asset Management10:00 Cantilever's Focus on the Middle Market11:35 Investment Opportunities in the Middle Market13:50 Identifying and Investing in Promising Managers16:24 Insights from Working with Founders18:42 Sizing Up the Middle Market Opportunity19:49 Sourcing and Structuring Investments21:16 Offering Diverse Financial Solutions23:15 Evaluating and Picking the Right Managers25:54 Identifying Investment Opportunities26:16 Winning Deals: Strategies and Insights26:51 Providing Strategic Capital and Advisory27:58 Focusing on Growth and Diversification29:18 Underwriting and Growth Expectations31:15 Exit Strategies and Market Dynamics33:13 Diversification and Portfolio Construction34:29 Revenue Streams and Valuation35:54 Cantilever's Market Edge37:33 Strategic Partnerships and Support39:01 Founders' Perspective and Industry Insights41:01 Cantilever's Unique Value Proposition42:40 Leadership and Influences43:34 Concerns and Challenges46:05 Reflections and Future Outlook

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s episode is a special show with Ben Harrison, the Co-Founder of DealCloud, which is now part of Intapp, where he is President, Industries.Ben is a former banker and private equity professional at Falfurrias Capital Partners who went on to co-found DealCloud to make the process of managing deals and relationships for alternative asset managers and related industry service providers more streamlined and seamless.Ben and team have done just that at Intapp DealCloud. They’ve built a unified deal and relationship management software business that is more than just a CRM. They’ve integrated a CRM function with business development, marketing, pipeline, deal management, fundraising, and investor relations features into a single platforms to enable firms in private markets to better run their day to day processes. They have a roster of over 2,500 customers, which includes many of the industry’s leading alternative asset managers.Ben and I had a fascinating conversation about the evolution of enterprise software that serves private markets and why it’s such a large and growing opportunity, which was shared through the lens of an experienced and successful operator in this space who has grown his business to hundreds of millions in ARR that both alternative asset managers and founders and operators in private markets software will find interesting.We discussed:Why scale matters in enterprise software just like it does in alternative asset management.The strategic question of building a comprehensive end-to-end software solution versus building a point solution.What are alternative asset managers looking for when building or buying software solutions for their business?How are alternative asset managers thinking about data and tech differently?Why and how the TAM for software solutions for private markets is growing in lockstep with AUM industry growth.How data helps investors make better decisions.Where AI can help automate processes for alternative asset managers.Is AI over- or under-hyped?Thanks Ben for sharing your thoughts and wisdom of building an industry-leading software company for private markets and for Intapp and DealCloud’s partnership with Alt Goes Mainstream. We hope you enjoy.Show Notes00:00 Introduction and Background03:54 Building Industry-Specific Software Solutions08:02 Strategic Approach: Point Solutions vs. End-to-End Solutions13:11 Evolution of Alternative Asset Management and its Impact on Software Solutions16:24 Benefits of Technology for Large and Small Firms19:11 Building Software for Large Managers vs. Small Managers23:10 Technology's Impact on Firms' Efficiency and Productivity25:49 The Role of Technology in Professional Development28:24 Key Features and Benefits of DealCloud's Software Platform32:00 The Future of Technology in the Alternative Asset Management Industry35:49 Unlocking the Potential of Technology38:46 The Shift Towards a User-Friendly and Automated User Experience45:18 The Importance of Data-Driven Decision-Making52:21 Growth Opportunities in the Private Markets Industry01:04:16 The Role of AI in Enhancing Software Capabilities

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Recently, AGM partnered with Pangea to bring together a group of executives in private markets and wealth management in London for a live AGM podcast featuring Cheri Belski of T. Rowe Price, one of the largest asset managers in the world with over $1.59T AUM. Cheri is the Global Head of Product at T. Rowe Price, where she's responsible for setting the vision for T. Rowe Price's product development and their strategy in private markets. Cheri also chairs the Product Strategy Committee and is a member of the Investment Management Steering Committee. She is also a vice president of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc., and T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. Cheri has been with T. Rowe Price since 1997.Cheri and I had a wide-ranging conversation on private markets. We discussed:Why did T. Rowe Price look to add alternatives offerings?How traditional asset managers have approached adding private markets capabilities.Why T. Rowe Price acquired Oak Hill Advisors.Build, buy, or partner to add alternatives?Who will win the distribution battle in the wealth channel — traditional asset managers or alternative asset managers?Opportunities and challenges with product construction and innovation for the wealth channel.What the future holds for private markets.Please enjoy this fascinating conversation with Cheri. Thanks Cheri for sharing your wisdom and experience. We hope you enjoy.Show Notes00:00 Introduction: Going Mainstream00:40 Welcome to Alt Goes Mainstream Podcast00:43 Live Podcast in London with Cheri Belski00:54 Cheri Belski's Role at T. Rowe Price01:19 Discussion on Private Markets and Traditional Asset Managers01:37 Podcast Begins: Marylanders in London01:59 Host Introduction: Michael Sidgmore02:31 T. Rowe Price's Venture into Alternatives04:35 Why T. Rowe Price is Entering Alts05:46 Building, Buying, or Partnering in Alts07:09 Acquisition of Oak Hill Advisors07:13 Integration Challenges and Successes12:06 Brand Strategy in Alternatives14:36 Distribution Strategies for Alts16:20 Traditional vs. Alternative Asset Managers19:36 Challenges and Opportunities in Private Markets19:41 Advisor Relationships and Education22:29 Product Construction and Client Needs24:36 Challenges in Private Markets25:44 Future of Alternative Investments26:20 Conclusion and Farewell

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s episode is with Alex Chaloff, the CIO of a large and sophisticated private wealth management firm that is very active in private markets.Alex is Chief Investment Officer of Bernstein’s $125B+ private wealth management unit within $725B AUM AllianceBernstein. He was previously the Head of Alternative Asset Strategies. Prior to joining Bernstein in 2005, he was a MD for Wilshire Associates, serving on the firm’s investment committee. Prior to that, he worked in fund accounting operations at a global custodian in Boston.Alex and I had a fascinating conversation about: How to approach private markets asset allocation.Why he’s doing the job that he always wanted to do.How to think about portfolio construction.The importance of patience.The questions about liquidity.Why structure matters.Thanks Alex for coming on the show to share your wisdom and views.A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency. To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products. Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus’ technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at gharris@ultimusfundsolutions.com.We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.Show Notes00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message01:18 Podcast Theme Song01:35 Welcome to the Podcast01:59 Introducing Alex Chaloff03:01 Alex Chaloff's Career Jurney03:49 Transition to Bernstein04:16 Current Role and Responsibilities05:26 Investment Strategy and Market Insights06:58 Active vs Passive Investment11:35 Middle Market Focus14:26 Evaluating Fund Managers18:28 Lessons Learned in Fund Management20:51 Allocating to Private Markets22:38 Liquidity and Risk Management27:01 Current Market Opportunities31:01 The Perception of Infrequent Reporting31:38 Private Wealth and Market Fluctuations32:21 Understanding Liquidity Concerns32:54 The Future of Private Market Investments33:38 Challenges in Public Market Benchmarks34:45 GP and LP Dynamics in Private Markets36:58 Product Innovation in Private Markets38:30 Evergreen Structures and Asset Allocation39:20 Vintage Diversification Strategy42:07 Lessons from the Current Market Cycle42:30 Next Generation Investors and Impact Investing46:13 Double Bottom Line Investing48:24 Concerns in Private Debt Markets51:33 Opportunities in Venture Capital54:36 Favorite Alternative Investments and Future Trends

I went into The Compound and came out alive.Recently, I joined Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson of Ritholtz Wealth Management on their Animal Spirits podcast by The Compound. It is a fantastic show that produces frank and thoughtful conversations on markets and the wealth management world. They invited me on their show to discuss why alts are going mainstream.We had a great conversation on the animal spirits of alts and we unpacked the opportunities and challenges ahead for private markets, wealth managers, and the alternative asset managers looking to work with the wealth channel.We covered:Why I don’t like the term “downstreaming of alts.”The size and scale of the opportunity with the wealth channel.Why and how it can make sense for the wealth channel to allocate to alts.The changing nature of asset allocation from slices of a pie to buckets and spectrums.The concept of liquidity.The attractiveness of evergreen funds for both GPs and LPs.Are private markets in a bubble?Why GP stakes are a compelling investment opportunity given structural trends in private markets.Can private markets be indexed (and should they be)?Thanks Michael and Ben for having me on the show. Really enjoyed the conversation and it was a pleasure to join you.Michael and Ben are fantastic and thoughtful asset allocators and commentators in investing and wealth management. If you don’t already listen to their podcast or read their commentary on markets, you can check out their blogs below:Michael Batnick’s The Irrelevant Investor.Ben Carlson’s A Wealth of Common Sense.

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.On today’s episode, we are joined by Mercer Investments’ US Financial Intermediaries Leader Gregg Sommer and CAIS’ MD and Head of Investments Neil Blundell.Gregg and Neil bring deep experience and backgrounds in private markets to discuss how alternatives can be further adopted by the wealth channel.Gregg is Mercer’s US Financial Intermediaries Leader, serving US wealth management and family office clients. He is a member of Mercer’s Wealth Leadership Team, Wealth Management Strategic Research and Investment Committees, and the Investment Policy Committee. He joined Mercer’s Investments business in 2009 and is based in Denver. Gregg began his career at U.S. Trust and over the last 35 years has held several executive positions in the investment industry. He has a comprehensive investment, business, and risk management background and has managed many successful investment teams focused on risk assessment, asset allocation, due diligence, portfolio management, organizational evaluation, and financial analysis across both private and public investment strategies. Gregg served as Chief Financial and Operating Officer of a firm that managed real estate and private equity and debt portfolios and has been a Principal and Portfolio Risk Officer for RCM, a Commodity Trading Advisor. Additionally, he was a founding Partner at Global Trading Partners, a trading firm focused on global market relationships.Neil brings over 20 years of experience in private markets to CAIS. He recently worked at Invesco as the Global Head of Client Solutions and Alternatives for the Investment Solutions team. He was responsible for developing and managing over $90B in customized multi-asset investment strategies spanning both traditional and alternative solutions and was a member of the team’s executive committee, investment committee, and chair of the alternative investment committee. Prior to Invesco, Neil was at BlackRock for 10+ years, where he was most recently Managing Director and Alternatives Platform Head within the Institutional Client Business.Gregg, Neil, and I had a fascinating discussion about how the wealth channel can approach alternatives and how they can think about both diligence and customization. We covered:The case for alternatives.How advisors currently approach alternatives and how they can think about it differently going forward.How to think about portfolio construction that includes alternatives.How alts can help advisors differentiate their practice and attract clients.Following the fast river in a career and why alternatives are “the fast river.”The meaning of “structure over strategy.”The rise in popularity of evergreen funds.Thanks Gregg and Neil for coming on the show to share your views and experience in private markets. We hope you enjoy.A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency. To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products. Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus’ technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at gharris@ultimusfundsolutions.com.We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.Show Notes00:00 Introduction to Sponsor, Ultimus Fund Solutions01:17 Podcast Opening and Guest Introduction01:58 Guest Backgrounds and Career Highlights03:43 Discussion on Wealth Channel and Alternatives03:51 The Case for Alternatives07:47 The Evolution of Private Debt08:23 The Moment It Clicked for Alts12:08 Institutional vs. Wealth Channel Approaches13:54 Educating the Wealth Channel15:47 Evergreen Funds and Wealth Channel19:29 Generational Wealth Transfer20:04 Current Market Trends and Private Markets25:29 Importance of Due Diligence in Alternatives26:33 Advisor Allocation Trends26:53 Expected Allocations in the Next Year27:07 Private Equity and Credit Insights27:17 Real Estate and Hedge Funds Outlook27:27 Emerging Infrastructure Strategies27:47 CAIS Platform Overview28:17 Transactional Volume Trends28:36 Registered Funds Growth29:30 Institutional vs. Wealth Channel Behavior30:25 Customization in Private Markets31:22 Technology's Role in Wealth Management35:52 The Importance of Brand in Investments39:26 Strategic Partnerships in Wealth Management39:56 Concerns About Private Markets Growth43:36 Evaluating Manager's Edge45:54 Future of Alternative InvestmentsDisclosureThis content is for institutional investors and for information purposes only. It does not contain investment, financial, legal, tax or any other advice and should not be relied upon for this purpose. The materials are not tailored to your particular personal and/or financial situation. If you require advice based on your specific circumstances, you should contact a professional adviser. Opinions expressed are those of the speakers as of the date of the recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer’s opinions.

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s episode features a guest who has consistently and astutely figured out the growth areas in private markets.We are joined by Manulife’s new Global Head of Private Markets Anne Valentine Andrews. She’s responsible for the strategy, business development, and growth of Manulife Investment Management’s private markets business. Manulife has a platform that spans real estate, infrastructure, timber, agriculture, private equity, and credit.Anne has a comprehensive and informed purview of both private markets trends and of the different asset classes. She brings together the CIOs from each asset class in the Manulife business and works with the global product group to drive private markets product innovation across the institutional, retail, and retirement channels.Anne has a wealth of experience in private markets and in infrastructure in particular. She joined Manulife from BlackRock, where she was most recently Global Head of Infrastructure and Real Estate. Previously, she was Co-Head and Chief Operating Officer for the Morgan Stanley infrastructure platform and was a Director at Macquarie Bank.Anne and I had a fascinating conversation about the evolution of private markets and how to build out a private markets investment platform and its brand. We discussed:How to approach building a private markets investment platform at an industry behemoth.Why culture matters at an investment firm.The continued consolidation of alternative asset managers.What it means to connect real assets with real money.How to build a brand and educate investors.How to bring private markets investment opportunities into retirement accounts.The opportunity in infrastructure investing.Thanks Anne for coming on the show to share your experience and wisdom on private markets. We hope you enjoy.A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency. To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products. Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus’ technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at gharris@ultimusfundsolutions.com.We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.Show Notes00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message from Ultimus Fund Solutions01:18 Podcast Opening and Guest Introduction03:39 Anne Valentine Andrews' Career Journey04:42 Evolution of the Infrastructure Investments05:41 Infrastructure’s Resilience and Growth06:27 Building a Private Markets Platform14:28 Challenges and Strategies in Making Acquisitions17:12 Evaluating Culture and Integration in Asset Management18:47 Building a Comprehensive Platform20:20 Educating Investors and Expanding Access23:29 Future of Alternatives in Retirement Accounts26:43 Platformization of Alternatives28:01 Building and Marketing a Trustworthy Brand in Financial Services29:30 Learning from Other Industries: Amazon's Influence31:15 The Evolution of Asset Management31:57 Adapting to Market Changes and Mega Trends33:34 The Importance of Long-Term Investment Strategies34:33 Decarbonization and Natural Capital35:32 The Importance of Long-Term Thinking40:02 Connecting Real Assets to Real Money45:42 Risks and Opportunities in Infrastructure Investment48:03 The Role of Scale in Private Markets in Infrastructure49:21 Future of Alternative InvestmentsThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers, are subject to change as market and other conditions warrant, and do not constitute investment advice or a recommendation regarding any specific product or security. There is no guarantee that the investment strategy discussed will be successful or achieve any particular level of results. Any economic or market performance information is historical and is not indicative of future results, and no forecasts are guaranteed. Investing involves risks, including the potential loss of principal.Financial markets are volatile and can fluctuate significantly in response to company, industry, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. The information provided does not take into account the suitability, investment objectives, financial situation, or particular needs of any specific person.All overviews and commentary are intended to be general in nature and for current interest. While helpful, these overviews are no substitute for professional tax, investment or legal advice. Clients and prospects should seek professional advice for their particular situation. Neither Manulife Investment Management, nor any of its affiliates or representatives (collectively “Manulife Investment Management”) is providing tax, investment or legal advice. Manulife Investment Management paper titled U.S. farmland investment returns: continued gains in 2022; 5/19/23. NCREIF collects U.S. farmland property-level performance realized by institutional investments and reports the aggregated results within its Farmland Property Index (FPI). Manulife Investment Management is a participating member in the FPI. The index requires participating managers to report all eligible properties. Usage of this data is not an offer to buy or sell properties.Manulife, Manulife Investment Management, Stylized M Design, and Manulife Investment Management & Stylized M Design are trademarks of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and are used by it, and by its affiliates under license.Man...

Welcome to the 11th episode of a collaboration between iCapital x Alt Goes Mainstream. We changed up this month’s episode, welcoming iCapital Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Head of Investment Solutions Dan Vene to the show to discuss the evolution of private markets and the launch of iCapital’s Marketplace. iCapital, as the leading platform that is responsible for the majority of individual and advisor-led investment flows into the alts space, has its finger on the pulse of what’s happening in private markets.Dan and I had a fascinating and lively discussion about the evolution of the industry through the lens of iCapital’s growth and maturation, which has most recently included the creation of iCapital Marketplace. We discussed:Can alternative investments help you sleep at night?Public markets vs. private markets?What are the benefits of private markets?Are there evolving perspectives on liquidity?What potential market catalysts could further shift investments from public to private investments?How and why have fund managers had success on Marketplace?What’s the new world order for investing?Thanks Dan for a great episode … looking forward to next month’s Monthly Alts Pulse conversation!

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s episode is one of evergreen importance. We talk with one of the pioneers in the evergreen fund space.Rob Collins, a Partner, Co-Head of Private Wealth, and Head of the New York office and a member of the Global Executive Board at Partners Group, a $147B+ AUM alternative asset manager, joins the podcast to discuss how Partners Group started the evergreen fund space in the early 2000s.Rob has deeply evolved perspectives on both evergreen funds and working with the wealth channel. He leads Partners Group’s US private wealth and defined contribution practice and is President, Portfolio Manager, and Member of the Board of Managers of Partners Group Private Equity (Master Fund), LLC. He also chairs Partners Group USA’s Investment Committee. He joined the firm in 2005, only 4 years after Partners Group was the first firm to launch an evergreen private equity structure.Rob and I had a fascinating conversation about what evergreen funds are, the mechanics of how they work, and why they can make sense for investors – both individual and institutions. We discussed:What Partners Group saw in the early 2000s that made them decide to create the evergreen private equity fund structure.Why it’s taken the industry time to adopt evergreen funds.How to think about returns with evergreen funds.Why institutions — in addition to wealth advisors — have used evergreen funds.Why the time, money, and liability questions of private equity fund investments make evergreens a fit for many advisors.The importance of compounding and how it relates to evergreen funds.The challenges and nuances with managing evergreen funds.Why “life is too short for capital calls.”How does private equity go from being sold to being bought?What can the industry  do to continue to remove pain points for the wealth channel?Thanks Rob for coming on the show to share your thoughts and wisdom on private markets and the importance of one of the biggest trends in private markets, evergreen funds. We hope you enjoy.Show Notes00:00 Introduction to Ultimus Fund Solutions01:18 Podcast Opening and Theme Song01:52 Welcome to Alt Goes Mainstream01:59 Introducing Rob Collins and Evergreen Funds02:24 Rob Collins' Background and Role at Partners Group04:18 Growth and Innovation at Partners Group05:46 Evergreen Solutions for Clients07:02 The Importance of Flexibility in Evergreen Funds09:56 Evergreen Funds vs. Traditional Structures11:38 The Rise of Evergreen Funds29:48 Challenges and Risks of Evergreen Structures30:01 Balancing Growth and Performance in Evergreen Funds34:57 Challenges for General Partners35:40 Expanding with New Products36:23 Trends in Private Markets36:56 Evergreen Funds and Private Companies37:27 Life is Too Short for Capital Calls38:52 Shift from Public to Private Markets40:24 Liquidity in Evergreen Funds41:50 Building a Resilient Diversified Portfolio43:05 Managing Investor Expectations44:26 Control in Portfolio Construction46:48 Positioning Evergreen Funds52:13 Evergreen vs. Closed-End Funds54:43 Innovating Asset Allocation Frameworks57:12 Educating Distribution Professionals01:00:26 Consultative Sales Approach for Evergreen Sales Professionals01:02:03 Future Growth in Private Markets01:03:47 Rob’s Favorite Alternative Investment01:04:42 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsA word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency. To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products. Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus’ technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at gharris@ultimusfundsolutions.com.We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.I've been having many conversations with GPs and LPs over the past few months — and it feels like we've reached a point in private markets where both sides are trying to figure out how to navigate this space, from a product perspective and a technology perspective. To better understand these issues, I asked Lawrence Calcano, Chairman & CEO of iCapital, the largest platform in the space and a business that is in the middle of much of the flows of activity between GPs and LPs, to come back on the show to dive deeper into these topics.The main topic of conversation? The evolution of the different service models that enable GPs to unlock access to private markets for more LPs.As private markets welcomes more investors to the space, the how becomes as important as the why. How can investors gain access to private markets in ways that work for them?How can alternative asset managers better serve those investors? How can this all be done in a responsible, thoughtful way that sets up both investors and private markets for success in the long-term?Lawrence and I had a fascinating conversation. We discussed:How can operational efficiency across the entire value chain lower fees?Where do technological innovations like distributed ledger and AI factor in to industry transformation?How important is education in driving adoption of alternative investments?How model portfolios and customization can transform the investor experience.Platform versus point solutions.Overestimating and underestimating market trends and market size.Why effortless is a myth.Thanks Lawrence for coming on the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast to share your thoughtful perspectives on the industry and its continued evolution.Show Notes00:00 Introduction to Ultimus Fund Solutions01:18 Welcome to Alt Goes Mainstream and Introduction to Lawrence Calcano02:26 Navigating Private Markets03:36 Holistic Solutions for GPs and LPs03:57 Importance of Education in Alts04:46 Understanding Alts in Portfolios06:50 Lowering Fees Across the Chain07:32 Technology and Tools for Advisors08:36 Success in the Wealth Channel10:21 Investment Product Innovations11:44 Direct Relationships in Private Markets13:26 Operationalizing Cost Structure Changes14:21 The Role of AI and Data14:43 Fee Evolution in Private Markets15:31 Operationalizing New Workflows16:06 Long-Term Industry Investments18:37 Collaboration in the Industry and Education20:34 Model Portfolios and Customization23:04 Addressing Liquidity Concerns24:18 Democratization of Private Markets25:14 Platform vs. Point Solutions31:14 The Importance of Scale38:53 Moving Fast and Moving Slow 40:33 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsA word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency.To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products.Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus’ technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at gharris@ultimusfundsolutions.com.We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.His career started when someone said to him, “well, have you thought about venture capital? We don’t think that you’d be any good at it.”The rest is history.Today’s episode features one of the legends of the venture capital industry.Peter Barris joined New Enterprise Associates in 1992 after a storied operating career as President and COO at Legent Corporation and an executive at GE Information Services. He served as Managing General Partner and Chairman of NEA from 1999 to March 2024. Under Peter’s leadership, NEA saw tremendous success, growing into one of the world’s largest venture capital firms and raising the largest-ever venture capital fund a number of times. Today, NEA’s AUM stands over $25B.Peter was responsible for investing in a number of foundational and industry-transforming technology companies, including Salesforce.com, UUNET, Groupon, WebMD, Workday, CareerBuilder, Tempus, and more.It was an honor to talk with Peter, who has such rich perspectives as both an operator and investor.We had a fascinating discussion about the early days of venture capital and how the industry has evolved. We covered:The inside story of how almost every other Partner said no but Peter's investment turned out to be a 75x return.What's the “best characteristic and the death characteristic” of an entrepreneur?In today's hypercompetitive market, do VCs have enough time to make good decisions?Why the world of venture capital is about influence.What does it mean to earn an entrepreneur’s trust as a VC?Why VCs with operating backgrounds can bring unique value to startups.How NEA came up with the term "Venture Growth Equity."How can a VC tell that a founder is good at experimentation and that they have the good judgment?Why specialization and domain expertise are prerequisites in today’s venture industry.The importance of relying on instinct to make great investments.Why the business plan that is bet on is not always the business plan that ultimately succeeds.Thanks Peter for coming on the show. It was an honor and a pleasure to hear your views on the evolution of an industry and for you to share your wisdom and experiences.Show Notes00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message from Ultimus01:55 Guest Introduction: Peter Barris01:59 Peter Barris' Career Beginnings as an Operator03:43 How Peter decided to join NEA04:31 Early Days at NEA12:30 First Investment Experience – The world of venture capital is about influence15:07 How to Influence a Company when You Don’t Control the Company21:48 Scaling Businesses: When Scale Can be a Moat - The Groupon Example26:41 The Art of Experimentation29:16 The Most Important Characteristic of Successful Entrepreneurs and the Death Characteristic30:40 The Groupon Investment: A Case Study33:08 The Evolution of Venture Capital Decision Making33:58 Specialization and Competition in Modern Venture Capital38:10 How NEA Came Up with the Term: Venture Growth Equity46:04 The Impact of Scale in Venture Capital50:49 The Future of Venture Capital and Industry Evolution59:16 Lessons Learned in Venture Capital01:02:08 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsA word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency. To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products. Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus’ technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at gharris@ultimusfundsolutions.com.We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s episode features the architects behind one of the industry’s faster growing wealth management platforms, NewEdge.We welcome NewEdge CEO, Managing Partner, and Co-Founder Rob Sechan and NewEdge CIO Cameron Dawson.Both Rob and Cameron have a wealth of experience in both wealth management and private markets. Rob has over two decades of experience in financial services, beginning his career as a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley, before running a family office business as a Managing Director at Lehman Brothers. He later joined UBS as a Managing Director and Head of the Intellectual Capital Subcommittee, where he helped guide the firm’s tactical investment process for wealthy families and institutional clients before founding NewEdge in 2020. Cameron was the Chief Market Strategist at Fieldpoint Private Securities and a Senior Equity Analyst at Bank of America before joining NewEdge as CIO.Since its founding in 2020, NewEdge has grown to over $44B AUM, supports over 300 financial advisors. NewEdge has built a platform that combines wealth management, technology, custody, research, and alternatives capabilities. They’ve built out a sophisticated private markets investment practice, which we unpacked in detail on today’s podcast.Rob, Cameron, and I had a fascinating discussion. We covered:The transformation in wealth management and the approach that NewEdge has taken in the independent wealth channel.The evolution of Super RIAs.The role of alternatives in wealth management. Navigating client psyche and market cycles.The importance of due diligence and why fee discipline matters in private markets.The importance of liquidity in a client's portfolio.Why portfolio construction is key in the wealth channel.Thanks Rob and Cameron for coming on the show to share your thoughtful views on wealth management and private markets.Show Notes00:00 Introduction and Ultimus Sponsor Message01:21 Welcome to the Podcast02:03 Introducing NewEdge Wealth and the Guests02:20 Rob Sechan's Journey in Wealth Management07:46 Cameron Dawson's Perspective on NewEdge11:45 The Role of Alternatives in Wealth Management20:09 The Evolution of Super RIAs24:10 Investment Strategies and Client Focus31:31 Balancing Proactivity and Client Sensitivity31:56 The Importance of Transparency and Differentiation32:30 Navigating Client Psyche and Market Cycles33:33 The Role of Alternatives in Portfolios36:05 Private Equity Opportunities and Challenges38:00 Fee Discipline and Alpha Generation51:57 Engaging with Wealth Channels56:52 Favorite Alternative Investments59:27 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsA word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency. To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products. Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus’ technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at gharris@ultimusfundsolutions.com.We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.