Billion Dollar Backstory

What do you do when the market tells you there’s no room for another fund? You tell a better story and carve your niche anyway.In this episode, Stacy sits down with Bob Lind, Co-Founder of Lind Capital Partners, a boutique manager specializing in one of the most overlooked corners of the credit market: non-rated municipal bonds.They dive into how Bob went from selling himself into his first research job to building a firm around a misunderstood asset class and why ditching the pitch helped him find the right investors. They also cover: Why non-rated doesn’t mean “junk” (and how Bob spots value where others won’t look)The inflection point that sparked the launch of Lind Capital (hint: it involves a friend, a Fidelity broker, and a missed opportunity)How Bob went from BlackRock-comparison pitches to founder-forward storytellingThe power of showing up as yourself and why authenticity wins with allocatorsPlus: how to listen better in meetings, the magic of behavioral discovery questions, and the one Bruce Springsteen song that got Bob through everything.About Bob Lind: Bob is a co-founder of Lind Capital Partners. He has built the firm around his passion for finding opportunities in inefficient markets and providing innovative ways to deliver access to individual investors. With nearly 40 years of experience in the municipal bond market, there is little Bob has not done. Today, he leads the portfolio management team and strategic initiatives for LCP.Prior to founding Lind Capital Partners, Bob managed a $500 million high yield municipal bond portfolio for Deutsche Bank, where he leveraged his prior sell-side experience and institutional relationships. Bob began his career as a municipal analyst at Nuveen before moving into institutional sales and trading at Kemper Securities and Raymond James, where he underwrote, traded and sold municipal bonds.Bob received a BA in History from Kenyon College and an MBA in Finance and Accounting from the University of Chicago. He is a passionate bread baker/pizza maker, feeding and nourishing his 25+ year-old home-grown starter. Outside of the office and the kitchen, he enjoys paddle tennis, golf and telemark skiing.Want More Help With Storytelling? +  Subscribe to my newsletter to get a weekly email that helps you use your words to power your growth:https://www.stacyhavener.com/subscribe   - - -Make The Boutique Investment Collective part of your Billion Dollar Backstory. Gain access to invaluable resources, expert coaches, and a supportive community of other boutique founders, fund managers, and investment pros.Join Havener Capital’s exclusive membership - - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap- - -Apply for The StorySales™ Accelerator, an exclusive 6-week program for boutique fund managers who want to craft compelling stories and confidently raise capital | https://www.havenercapital.com/accelerator

Headed to a new city and thinking, “Should I try to book lunch with that allocator?” Not so fast.If your first email is a wall of text with your bio, your strategy, and your lunch plans all crammed in… it’s probably going straight to the trash.The good news is that there’s a better way to warm up new prospects, and in this episode, Stacy is breaking down exactly how she extends invitations to brand new contacts without coming across as pushy. She’s covering: Why your outreach isn’t landing and how to fix itStacy’s “give, give, give, ask” framework for landing meetings (even with complete strangers) Smart, simple ways to show up before sending your invitation (so it doesn’t feel like a pitch slap) This is Story Snacks, a bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in under 20 minutes a week.Want More Help With Storytelling?  +  Subscribe to my newsletter to get a weekly email that helps you use your words to power your growth:https://www.stacyhavener.com/subscribe   - - -Make The Boutique Investment Collective part of your Billion Dollar Backstory. Gain access to invaluable resources, expert coaches, and a supportive community of other boutique founders, fund managers, and investment pros. Join Havener Capital’s exclusive membership - - -Make The Boutique Investment Collective part of your Billion Dollar Backstory. Gain access to invaluable resources, expert coaches, and a supportive community of other boutique founders, fund managers, and investment pros. Join Havener Capital’s exclusive membership

Picture this: You’ve got a big job in finance, two tiny humans at home, and a brutal 90-minute commute. Then one day, you trade it all in to start a business with your husband.That’s exactly what Liz Fritz did.In this Episode, she joins Stacy Havener to chat about: Taking the leap from corporate to co-founder (with two babies in tow)What it’s actually like building a company with your spouse Why staying in your lane is the secret to growing fast without burning outHow story and authenticity help you stand out in the wealth management worldThe future of AI in finance Owning her voice in a male-dominated industry (and the resource that helped her do it)More about Liz:Liz Fritz is the Co-Founder and legacy CMO of F2 Strategy, the largest pure-play wealthtech consultancy in the U.S. With nearly 20 years of experience leading marketing for HNW and UHNW brands like Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, and BNP Paribas, Liz knows how to turn strategy into real business growth—especially in the entrepreneurial and M&A space. She's a frequent industry speaker, a fierce advocate for women in wealthtech, and a champion of workplace well-being. Liz lives just outside Chicago with her husband (and F2 co-founder) Doug, their two boys, and one very lovable Labradoodle.Resources Mentioned in This Episode: The Hard Thing About Hard Things The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance---What Women Should Know Blue MindWant More Help With Storytelling? +  Subscribe to my newsletter to get a weekly email that helps you use your words to power your growth:https://www.stacyhavener.com/subscribe   - - -Make The Boutique Investment Collective part of your Billion Dollar Backstory. Gain access to invaluable resources, expert coaches, and a supportive community of other boutique founders, fund managers, and investment pros.Join Havener Capital’s exclusive membership - - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap- - -Apply for The StorySales™ Accelerator, an exclusive 6-week program for boutique fund managers who want to craft compelling stories and confidently raise capital | https://www.havenercapital.com/accelerator

Simon Evan-Cook, an award-winning multi-asset fund manager at Downing, dives into the intriguing interplay of luck and skill in fund management. He shares candid insights from his years of vetting fund managers, emphasizing that while skill is vital, luck and timing can significantly influence success. Evan-Cook discusses 13 actionable ways for emerging managers to create their own luck and underscores the importance of building personal relationships over just focusing on data. He also contrasts the mindsets of risk-taking between cultures, offering valuable lessons on learning from failure.

Forget what you think you know about finance careers. Eric Flynn didn’t come up through Wall Street. He grew up on a ranch in Montana. An actual 20,000-acre ranch, wrangling cattle before most of us were out of bed. Today, he’s the EVP and Head of Wealth Management at Compound Planning, a $3 billion digital family office built by tech founders who believe wealth management should feel a lot less clunky and a lot more human.Eric’s story is part Yellowstone, part Wall Street, and all about finding the courage to own your different.  In this Episode, Eric and Stacy dig into: Why he ditched computer science for accounting (and why neither felt like a forever fit)How growing up on a ranch shaped his work ethic, mindset, and ability to fix just about anythingWhat it’s really like building your chops at a boutique family office where you do everythingWhy Compound’s approach to tech, AI, and client experience is changing the game for advisorsThe power of owning your story, especially in an industry that’s slow to celebrate what makes you differentAbout Eric Flynn:Eric is a tenured financial professional with over 23 years of experience in the wealth management space. At Compound Planning, Eric leads the Wealth Management business and is responsible for executing the strategic vision, leading the advisory team, and harmonizing the service offerings for an exceptional client experience. Eric’s background is in advising higher net worth clients and providing family office services as well as consulting to firms in the wealth management industry. Eric received a Masters in Professional Accountancy from Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana and is a CPA and CFA Charterholder. Prior to joining Compound, Eric was a Principal of multiple registered investment firms, and also helped build a national consulting team catering to the wealth management industry. He has a passion for helping people and leading/growing teams. Outside of work, Eric enjoys most anything outside after having grown up on a large family ranch in Montana. He also has a passion for giving back to the community and serves on multiple boards including the Montana State University College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board, Bozeman Health Foundation Board, and is the President’s Council Representative for the Western Region CFA Societies to the CFAInstitute Board of GovernorsWant More Help With Storytelling? +  Subscribe to my newsletter to get a weekly email that helps you use your words to power your growth:https://www.stacyhavener.com/subscribe   - - -Make The Boutique Investment Collective part of your Billion Dollar Backstory. Gain access to invaluable resources, expert coaches, and a supportive community of other boutique founders, fund managers, and investment pros.Join Havener Capital’s exclusive membership - - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap- - -Apply for The StorySales™ Accelerator, an exclusive 6-week program for boutique fund managers who want to craft compelling stories and confidently raise capital | https://www.havenercapital.com/accelerator

When you think about European credit investing, most people assume it’s only for the big shops with billions under management. Agata Dornan, Founder & CIO of Chepstow Lane, is here to challenge that, and she’s doing it with smarts, grit, and real talk about what it really takes to succeed.Agata’s path to launching her own boutique wasn’t a straight line. As a first-generation American who started out on the pre-med track at Middlebury, she discovered her passion for finance by accident (thanks to one random economics class) and never looked back. In this Episode, Agata sits down with Stacy to discuss: How a single economics class flipped the script on her entire careerWhy her liberal arts background is a secret weapon (and how it helped her land Chepstow Lane’s first big allocation)Lessons from her time at Soros (including what it was like working on Wall Street after 9/11)The hard truths every boutique founder needs to know about building a team and finding the right investorsHow Chepstow Lane is winning by focusing on the white spaces most firms overlookWhat she’s seeing in European credit today and why it might be time to pay attention About Agata Dornan:Agata led Soros Fund Management’s European credit investments from 2012 to 2020, managing corporate credit and financials, and became a partner and portfolio manager in 2016. Before that, she was a distressed research analyst at BlueMountain Capital in London, and she started her buy-side career at Soros in 2005 on the Distressed team, which later spun out to form Camulos Capital. She moved to London with them in 2006.She began her career at Deutsche Bank in NYC as an investment banking analyst in Energy and Chemicals. Agata has been investing in the US since 2005 and in Europe since 2006, with deep experience in restructurings across sectors and credit cycles.Agata graduated from Middlebury College in 2002 with a degree in International Politics and Economics, was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, and completed programs at LSE and Tuck Business School. She lives in London with her husband and two children and is a dual US and Polish nationalWant More Help With Storytelling? +  Subscribe to my newsletter to get a weekly email that helps you use your words to power your growth:https://www.stacyhavener.com/subscribe   - - -Make The Boutique Investment Collective part of your Billion Dollar Backstory. Gain access to invaluable resources, expert coaches, and a supportive community of other boutique founders, fund managers, and investment pros.Join Havener Capital’s exclusive membership - - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap- - -Apply for The StorySales™ Accelerator, an exclusive 6-week program for boutique fund managers who want to craft compelling stories and confidently raise capital | https://www.havenercapital.com/accelerator

Stacy and Rob Morier met over 25 years ago at Julius Baer Investment Management, long before podcasting, LinkedIn, and fund manager personal brands were even a thing.Fast forward to today, and Rob’s resume reads like an adventure novel. He’s done it all. From Wall Street, to teaching the next generation about all things VC as a Professor at Drexel University, he knows a thing or two about how asset managers can go from scrappy startups to stable, growth-ready firms.In this Episode, Rob and Stacy dig into: Rob’s backstory – how a history major with dreams of being a teacher ended up on Wall StreetLessons learned at a boutique firm with $1.6 billion AUM that grew to $76 billionRob’s “middle innings” specialty: helping emerging managers bridge the gap from scrappy to institutionalWhy being able to “ride the bike while building it” matters for emerging managersWhat he learned about developing resilience and a founder’s mindset through researching teenage lifeguards How raw, hard conversations with his mom behind the mic led him to host the Dakota Live! podcastThis is a conversation about growth, grit, and the power of coming home to yourself. Tune in and meet Rob! More About Rob Morier:Rob Morier is a professor at Drexel University, where he teaches courses on venture capital, early-stage finance, and private markets. With 25 years in business development and investor relations, he’s passionate about empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs and investors.His research explores environmental factors in ocean lifeguarding and entrepreneurship, studying how lifeguard training fosters resilience, leadership, and decision-making. His work, based in Wildwood Crest, NJ, has been featured in Entrepreneur & Innovation Exchange, Financial Times, and the Philadelphia Inquirer.Outside academia, Rob co-founded Twelve Pound Productions LLC and hosts the Dakota Live! Podcast, where he interviews leading investors and shares insights on business and leadership. He also advises asset managers on fundraising strategies, leveraging his experience raising billions in assets.Rob lives in Philadelphia with his family and enjoys rowing, running, and biking.Want More Help With Storytelling? +  Subscribe to my newsletter to get a weekly email that helps you use your words to power your growth:https://www.stacyhavener.com/subscribe   - - -Make The Boutique Investment Collective part of your Billion Dollar Backstory. Gain access to invaluable resources, expert coaches, and a supportive community of other boutique founders, fund managers, and investment pros. Join Havener Capital’s exclusive membership - - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap- - -Apply for The StorySales™ Accelerator, an exclusive 6-week program for boutique fund managers who want to craft compelling stories and confidently raise capital | https://www.havenercapital.com/accelerator

Being great at investing is one thing but if no one knows about you or what you stand for, good luck growing your fund. It might sound harsh, but it’s true. In today’s world, attention is the new currency and you can’t afford to ignore it.That’s why today, Stacy is bringing her friend Dr. Daniel Crosby back on the mic for a very special 100th episode of Billion Dollar Backstory. They’re picking up right where they left off in their “Scientist & The Storyteller” series.Together, they’re digging into why every company today is a media company (yep, even yours) and why building a brand that feels real and relatable isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore.They’re also covering:  How to build a brand that’s real, relatable, and doesn’t feel like a facadeWhy being a thought leader matters (even if you’d rather be investing)The hidden costs (and upsides) of the attention economyThe big reason why so many fund managers struggle to stand out and how to change thatMore About Dr. Daniel Crosby Dr. Daniel Crosby is a psychologist and behavioral finance expert who helps organizations understand the intersection of mind and markets. Dr. Crosby's first book, Personal Benchmark: Integrating Behavioral Finance and Investment Management, was a New York Times bestseller. His second book, The Laws of Wealth, was named the best investment book of 2017 by the Axiom Business Book Awards and has been translated into 17 languages. His third book, The Behavioral Investor, was Axiom's best investment book of 2019 and is a comprehensive look at the neurology, physiology and psychology of sound financial decision-making. His latest book, The Soul of Wealth, was published in October of 2024 and has already been translated into five languages. When he's not decoding market psychology, Daniel is a father of 3, a fanatical follower of the St. Louis Cardinals, an explorer of the American South, and an amateur hot sauce chef. Want More Help With Storytelling? +  Subscribe to my newsletter to get a weekly email that helps you use your words to power your growth:https://www.stacyhavener.com/subscribe   - - -Make The Boutique Investment Collective part of your Billion Dollar Backstory. Gain access to invaluable resources, expert coaches, and a supportive community of other boutique founders, fund managers, and investment pros. Join Havener Capital’s exclusive membership - - -Make The Boutique Investment Collective part of your Billion Dollar Backstory. Gain access to invaluable resources, expert coaches, and a supportive community of other boutique founders, fund managers, and investment pros. Join Havener Capital’s exclusive membership

Let’s be honest: writing for LinkedIn can feel like walking a tightrope.You want to sound smart, credible, and professional.But also… like a human.In this Episode, Stacy shares the exact approach she uses to walk that line between being personable and credible (and to generate leads for her firm, Havener Capital, in the process). Listen in as she breaks down: How to use the 5 Pillar framework to post with both authority and authenticityWhy your “boring” hobby might be the thing people remember you forHow sharing your quirks could actually build more trust, not lessOne challenge that’ll help you ditch the jargon and sound more like youAnd what your LinkedIn photo really needs to stand out (hint: it’s not the perfect blazer) This is Story Snacks, a bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in under 20 minutes a week.Want More Help With Storytelling?  +  Subscribe to my newsletter to get a weekly email that helps you use your words to power your growth:https://www.stacyhavener.com/subscribe   - - -Make The Boutique Investment Collective part of your Billion Dollar Backstory. Gain access to invaluable resources, expert coaches, and a supportive community of other boutique founders, fund managers, and investment pros. Join Havener Capital’s exclusive membership - - -Make The Boutique Investment Collective part of your Billion Dollar Backstory. Gain access to invaluable resources, expert coaches, and a supportive community of other boutique founders, fund managers, and investment pros. Join Havener Capital’s exclusive membership

Stacy’s had a front row seat to a lot of boutique success stories but this one is something special. Tucker Walsh didn’t just build one billion-dollar firm, he did it again. And now? He’s back at it for a third time.In this Episode, Tucker and Stacy talk about what it really takes to build an investment firm from the ground up. They also discuss: The realities of raising capital in today’s marketWhy allocator behavior is shifting and what that means for boutiquesLessons learned from decades of small-cap investingHow to grow your firm one small allocation at a time (and why the “unscalable” stuff matters most in the beginning) About Tucker Walsh:Tucker is the Founder and CIO of Arrowside Capital, a high-conviction investment firm focused on the best emerging SMID growth companies in public markets.With over 30 years of experience in growth equity, spanning roles at Polen Capital, Copper Rock Capital, and now Arrowside, Tucker is known for his deep research, sharp macro perspective, and unapologetically long-term approach.He also writes Zen Investment Briefs and hosts a podcast on value creation, market psychology, and how investors can thrive in a world of rapid change.Want More Help With Storytelling? +  Subscribe to my newsletter to get a weekly email that helps you use your words to power your growth:https://www.stacyhavener.com/subscribe   - - -Make The Boutique Investment Collective part of your Billion Dollar Backstory. Gain access to invaluable resources, expert coaches, and a supportive community of other boutique founders, fund managers, and investment pros. Join Havener Capital’s exclusive membership - - -Make The Boutique Investment Collective part of your Billion Dollar Backstory. Gain access to invaluable resources, expert coaches, and a supportive community of other boutique founders, fund managers, and investment pros. Join Havener Capital’s exclusive membership