Billion Dollar Backstory

What if I told you the Chief Strategy Officer of the largest bank in the Eurozone could teach you some ultra-valuable lessons about storytelling, thought leadership, and innovation?You’d probably be surprised, right? I don’t blame you.Even Stacy had her own mental picture of what a “banker” might be like before sitting down with Philippe Gijsels—and let’s just say this conversation shattered every stereotype.Listen in today to hear Philippe and Stacy discuss: What Darwin can teach us about innovation Why storytelling is essential—especially when tackling heavy, complex topics like Superinflation, Hyperinnovation, and Climate Transition.His journey as an author—how, for over 30 years, he naturally refined his stories in the back-and-forth of conversations long before he ever picked up the proverbial pen ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn’t be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus- - -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

In this edition of Story Snacks, Stacy breaks down:Why thought leadership is the ultimate equalizer for smaller fundsHer Four A’s Framework for using thought leadership to increase AUM without a big team or budgetHow to pick the marketing platform that matches your unique skills (and feels doable for you)The biggest mindset trap that keeps fund managers stuck—and how to avoid itThis is Story Snacks! A bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in less than 20 minutes per week! ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn’t be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus- - -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

At 17, Jonathan Treussard hopped on a one-way flight from Paris to LA with dreams of being a musician.  He didn’t wind up playing jazz professionally, but he did end up managing billions for some of the world’s wealthiest families. Listen in as Jonathan and Stacy discuss his big pivot from music to finance, plus: The lessons he learned navigating the Great Financial Crisis at Ziff Brothers InvestmentsHis perspective on balancing risk, regret, and resilience in wealth managementThe gap he saw in traditional wealth management that led him to start his own firm, Treussard CapitalHow he uses storytelling to break down complex financial concepts for his clients  ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn’t be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus- - -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

If you’re like most fund managers, you’re busy serving your current clients—so much so that bringing in new ones feels overwhelming. After all, you’re not a salesperson, and it may even make you a little uncomfortable to hit the pavement and sell your services. Hiring marketing support can help you sidestep that discomfort and bring in more business. On the other hand, hiring before you’re ready could end up costing you time and money in the long run. That’s why, in this Episode, Stacy breaks down: The two biggest mistakes fund managers make when hiring marketing professionals (and how to avoid them)The first step every founder must take before outsourcing marketingThe truth about hiring “connected” industry veteransHow to know when it’s time to hire your first in-house marketing personThis is Story Snacks! A bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in less than 20 minutes per week! ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn’t be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus- - -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

Show Notes: When considering investing in the energy sector, most investors assume there are two paths to pursue: either the traditional fossil fuels route or one aligned with a greener future. Lisa Audet Founder & CIO of Tall Trees Capital believes in a third, better, way: The holistic approach represented by the energy transition, a structural megatrend affecting every sector of the economy. In this Episode, Lisa and Stacy discuss: How Lisa’s time at Tiger Cub firm sharpened her instincts around investing in the energy transition The key pillars shaping the Tall Trees’ investment strategy The “non-obvious” opportunities for helping generate superior risk-adjusted returns The outlook for the energy transition megatrend Welcome to the Meet the Boutique Series, where we’ll take you behind the scenes to see how the top asset managers innovate and thrive.  Enjoy this episode? Hit Subscribe! There are more exclusive webinars to come.  More About Lisa Audet: After working for more than a decade at one of the top global macro hedge funds in the world, Lisa Audet felt a desire to start something new, as she had done many times in her career. Lisa’s life-long willingness to step into the unknown was grounded in a global perspective acquired from many years of living and working overseas in South America, Europe and Africa and by 30+ years of investment experience across a diverse range of assets and industries. Driven by her prior success in energy investing, she founded Tall Trees Capital to invest in some of the most compelling opportunities represented by the secular, multi-decade themes found in the energy transition. Lisa has an undergraduate degree in International Studies from The American University. Additionally, she served in the U.S. Peace Corps and is fluent in Portuguese. 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  ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn’t be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus- - -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

Nobody knows what it takes to scale to the top like GEOWealth’s strategic advisor Scott MacKillop —he’s climbed literal mountains AND built some of the most successful TAMPS in the game.In this Episode, Scott and Stacy discuss: His backstory: From dreaming of following his father's footsteps as a lawyer and practicing corporate and securities law to leaping into asset managementHis journey to founding and scaling First Ascent to over $1.5B in assets and his recent sale to GeoWealth.What mountain climbing taught him about raising venture capital Why he’s a firm believer in the power of a personal brandMore about Scott MacKillop:Scott MacKillop served as CEO of First Ascent Asset Management until its acquisition by GeoWealth, LLC. He now serves as Strategic Advisor to GeoWealth and a champion for independent-minded financial advisors. He is an ambassador for the Institute for the Fiduciary Standard and a 47-year veteran of the financial services industry, having served at the helm of five Turnkey Asset Management Platforms (TAMPs).Scott is a writer and commentator on the investment management and fintech industries. He brings his unique viewpoints to industry publications, speaking on the topics of fiduciary responsibilities, practice management, and client education. An avid hiker, Scott has summited thirty “14ers,” having hiked extensively in the U.S. and internationally. He also plays lead guitar for the band at his church.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 ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn’t be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus- - -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

Not sure how to find investors that are willing to bet on your brand new fund?Stacy’s got you covered. Listen in as she breaks down: How the Rogers Adoption Curve applies to finding the right investors The difference between early adopters (like RIAs & family offices) and late-stage allocators Why targeting late-stage firms leads to dead ends Why smaller investment committees with fewer decision-makers = less red tapeA smarter way to screen prospects, so you only spend time pitching investors who are willing to bet on a new fund This is Story Snacks! A bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in less than 20 minutes per week! ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn’t be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus- - -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

Dr. Martin Tarlie spent years at GMO, the iconic Boston asset manager, and now leads an award-winning investing platform, Nebo Wealth. In this Episode, Martin and Stacy discuss: His backstory: from physicist/golf-performance product developer to SaaS founder How the physics mindset that followed him into the investment world turned into a novel investing approach The massive communication gap between asset managers and investorsWhy the fascination with the 60/40 allocation is misguidedHow Nebo is helping asset managers rethink risk so they can build better portfolios More about Dr. Martin Tarlie: Dr. Tarlie is a member of GMO’s Asset Allocation team and serves as the Nebo product lead. Before rejoining GMO in 2018, he was a managing director at QMA. He previously worked on GMO’s Global Equity team from 2007 to 2014. Prior to that he worked at Breakwater Trading and at Marlin Capital Corp as a fundamental equity analyst and the director of research. Dr. Tarlie earned his bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Michigan, his PhD in theoretical condensed matter physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and his MBA from the University of Chicago. He was also a postdoctoral research fellow at the James Franck Institute at the University of Chicago and is a CFA charterholder. He is passionate about building systems based on first-principles thinking, which led him to spearhead the development of Nebo Wealth, a new wealth tech platform challenging the traditional definition of risk. As an entrepreneur in the wealth tech space, Martin’s innovative approach redefines risk—not as volatility, but as not having what you need when you need it. He’s also a dedicated family man and self-proclaimed “Baseball Dad,” often found cheering his boys from the stands. 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 ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn’t be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus- - -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

Alfonso Peccatiello built a following of 500,000 on social media by doing something radical – by being a real, authentic human in the fund world. And that authentic social presence helped him close investment deals for his new hedge fund, Palinuro Capital. Alfonso’s story is proof that it pays to challenge the status quo and to put people (and connections) first – even in a numbers-obsessed industry. Want the full story? Join Alfonso and Stacy as they discuss:Alfonso’s backstory: How a car accident sparked his obsession with creating success on his own terms Why he’s never afraid to repel the wrong investor How his willingness to repel, both on social media and in meetings, has helped him attract more of the right investors The lesson he learned as a $20B bond manager that has served him most as an entrepreneur (spoiler alert, it wasn’t an investing technique) More About Alfonso PeccatielloAlfonso (Alf) Peccatiello is the CIO of the global macro hedge fund Palinuro Capital. Alf was born in Southern Italy, roughly 1,000 km away from the closest financial center, yet his dream was to run his own hedge fund. To get there, he had an idea: share macro analysis and frameworks with the world through his research firm, The Macro Compass, first, establish relationships, and only after spinning out his macro hedge fund. After scoring the largest asset managers in the world as clients of his research, here we are: his global macro hedge fund, Palinuro Capital, is ready to launch in January 2025. As a proper Southern Italian, Alf stands by three culinary rules: no cappuccino unless it's breakfast, no pineapple on pizza, and never break pasta in pieces!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 ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn’t be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus- - -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

Struggling to win investors over? Stop wasting time perfecting your pitch and start laying the groundwork that’ll actually help you seal the deal. In this episode, Stacy shares the steps you can take to prime your prospects to invest so they’re ready to say hell yes before you even think about pitching. This is Story Snacks! A bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in less than 20 minutes per 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 ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn’t be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus- - -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