Ep 345: Differentiating With Institutions And Ultra-High-Net-Worth Investors As A Serious Investment Firm With Lori Van Dusen
Aug 8, 2023
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Lori Van Dusen, CEO of LVW Advisors, shares her journey of building investment expertise and the challenges of transitioning to independence. She discusses stress testing portfolios, differentiating her RIA with institutions and ultra-high-net-worth investors, and the significance of due diligence when selecting an advisor platform. Lori also reflects on rebuilding her business, managing investment portfolios, and defining success in the advisory industry.
Lori Van Dusen's expertise lies in handling complex investment issues faced by small-to-mid-sized institutions and ultra-high-net-worth families, which differentiates her RIA as a serious investment firm.
Lori stress tests every portfolio to identify areas of improvement, making incremental changes based on the results, demonstrating a strategic approach to portfolio management.
LVW Advisors implements a governance calendar to systematize and scale their client interactions, ensuring consistent communication and accountability with their institutional clients.
Deep dives
Lori Van Dusen's Background and Expertise
Lori Van Dusen, CEO of LVW Advisors, has built a deep expertise in investment intricacies and complex issues for small to mid-sized institutions and ultra high net worth families. Her firm focuses on serious investing expertise as a differentiator.
Building Investment Knowledge and Stress Testing Portfolios
Lori developed her investment knowledge while working with large institutions and endowments at warehouse firms. She stress tests every portfolio to identify areas of improvement. Her approach is to not fix what isn't broken and make incremental changes to portfolios based on stress test results.
Systematizing and Scaling Client Deliverables
Lori's firm developed a governance calendar to systematize and scale their quarterly deliverables and check-ins with ongoing clients. This approach helps them stay organized and ensures consistent communication and accountability with clients.
Lessons Learned and Overcoming Challenges
Lori shares insights on dealing with legal battles, conducting due diligence on advisor platforms, and rebuilding institutional clients after transitioning twice. She believes that maintaining a positive outlook and learning from challenges is crucial for personal and professional growth.
Surviving Challenges and Rebuilding a Business
The speaker shares their personal journey of facing challenges, including leaving a large firm during the financial crisis, being sued by a major bank, and losing institutional clients. Despite these setbacks, they built their own RIA, but faced difficulties with the chosen platform. They emphasize the importance of due diligence, staying true to one's values, and surrounding oneself with a strong team. The speaker reflects on the learning opportunities that arose from the struggles and highlights the need to live in the present and acknowledge one's achievements.
Lessons Learned and Advice for Young Advisors
The speaker advises younger advisors, particularly women entering the industry, to objectively identify their passions and talents and focus on a specific niche where they can make an impact. They emphasize the value of finding mentors and learning from successful individuals in the field. Success is defined as finding purpose and peace, and the speaker expresses gratitude for the opportunity to make a difference in the industry.
Lori Van Dusen is the CEO of LVW Advisors, an independent RIA based out of New York state that oversees more than $2 billion in assets under management for over 450 small-to-mid-sized institutions and ultra-high-net-worth households. Lori's unique niche lies in her multi-decade expertise in handling the complexities of investment issues faced by small-to-mid-sized institutions and ultra-high-net-worth families, which she leverages to differentiate her RIA focused on serious investing.
Listen in as Lori shares her journey to amassing extensive investment expertise, adopting a unique portfolio management strategy, establishing a governance calendar for client interactions, enduring a lawsuit from Citigroup post-independence, and learning the significance of due diligence when selecting an advisor platform. Lori also reflects on the aftermath of her decision to launch her own RIA, the challenges faced and lessons learned, her journey to rebuild billions in AUM, and her persistent optimism that shaped her into the successful advisory firm owner she is today.