
Capital Allocators – Inside the Institutional Investment Industry Dan Rasmussen – Private Equity Risk and Public Equity Opportunity at Verdad Advisers (First Meeting, EP.15)
Feb 17, 2020
Dan Rasmussen, Founder and portfolio manager at Verdad Advisers, aims to replicate private equity success in public markets. He discusses his research exposing risks in private equity, critiquing its overhyped returns. The conversation dives into Verdad’s strategies for portfolio construction and stock screening, emphasizing data analysis and CEO quality's surprising lack of predictive power on performance. Rasmussen also shares insights on preparing for economic downturns and the value of patience in investing, blending personal reflections with investment acumen.
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Socratic Family Dinners
- Dan Rasmussen's father, an antitrust lawyer, used the Socratic method at family dinners.
- This questioning approach shaped Dan's analytical thinking and skepticism.
Path to Investing
- Dan's interest in investing stemmed from an internship at Bridgewater and advice from his father.
- His father observed that business offered better returns and lifestyle than law.
Private Equity's Shifting Landscape
- Private equity historically profited from low purchase multiples and leverage.
- Increased competition and higher leverage now elevate risks.







