In this episode of Declarations, host Todd Rich sits down with Dan Mueller and Les Baquiran, co-founders of Alpine Capital Advisors, to explore their unique paths from immigrant family upbringings to building a global placement and advisory firm. Dan and Les share how personal values like humility, resourcefulness, and long-term thinking have shaped Alpine’s cross-border business model. The conversation dives deep into the nuances of fundraising across geographies, the shifting behaviors of institutional and family office investors, and how Alpine distinguishes itself by building ecosystems of trust, intelligence, and connectivity—not just transactions. From the early days in Chile and New York to current insights on global capital flows, Dan and Les provide a thoughtful look at investing in today’s complex landscape.

They discuss:

How their immigrant roots and early career experiences influenced Alpine’s scrappy, globally-minded DNA
Why Latin American investors are increasingly allocating capital to developed markets, especially in the U.S.
The shift from transactional capital raising to long-term ecosystem building through dynamic intelligence and trusted networks
What’s changing for allocators globally—including signs of renewed interest in Asia, Europe, and non-traditional strategies
Advice for managers on navigating long fundraising cycles and earning trust in a crowded, competitive market

This is an insightful episode for anyone navigating the evolving intersection of global capital, private markets, and long-term relationship building.

Links:

Alpine Capital Advisors - https://alpineca.com/

Dan Mueller on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/damueller1/

Les Baquiran on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/les-baquiran-0442373/

Declaration Partners - https://www.declarationpartners.com/

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - https://a.co/d/3Qhxrq5

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell - https://a.co/d/6ME3K4J

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro
(00:02:04) - Foundations and mission of Alpine Capital Advisors
(00:03:16) - Personal declarations and backgrounds
(00:03:45) - Immigrant experiences and early influences
(00:07:23) - Career beginnings and financial crises
(00:09:34) - Journey into investment and finance
(00:15:55) - Founding Alpine Capital Advisors
(00:17:37) - Navigating Latin American markets
(00:20:03) - Building trust and unique ecosystems
(00:26:41) - Challenges and strategies in fundraising
(00:29:43) - Navigating the new investment landscape
(00:30:45) - Global evolution of investment trends
(00:32:56) - Shifting investor sentiments in Asia and Europe
(00:34:54) - Family offices vs. institutional investors
(00:37:14) - Current investment strategies and market shifts
(00:46:49) - Challenges and advice for new managers
(00:50:44) - Extracurricular activities and personal insights
(00:53:48) - Closing thoughts and reflections

Antoine Fuqua on His New Ali Doc