

CAIS Live Conversations, Building With Alts
CAIS
CAIS Live Conversations: Building With Alts, tackles the often untapped potential of alternative investments by sitting down with the various players in the alts ecosystem. Listen in as we dive into alternative investments from the perspective of industry experts, RIA executives, IBD executives, alts manager leaders, and alts experts. Hear what other advisors are doing, learn about new technology, and join us as we turn investment complexities into real-life concepts that could potentially help diversify and drive growth in the independent space.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 10, 2025 • 58min
From Bullpen to Boardroom: Ken Kencel on 40 Years in Credit (EP. 23)
In this episode of CAIS Live Conversations: Building With Alts—Brad Walker talks with Ken Kencel, Founder, President, and CEO of Churchill Asset Management, about the growth in private credit. They explore how Churchill scaled through PE partnerships, what advisors need to know about deal sourcing and underwriting, plus the shift to evergreen funds and secondaries. Ken shares why client education is just as important as performance when it comes to expanding alts access in wealth management. Chapter 1: Drexel Days & Industry Origins (00:02:19)Chapter 2: The TIAA/Nuveen Edge (00:13:11) Chapter 3: LP Strategy: 325+ PE Funds (00:20:19) Chapter 4: Market Consolidation (00:26:00) Chapter 5: Structural Innovation (00:31:00) Chapter 6: Education Over Performance (00:41:06) Chapter 7: It's All About People (00:54:05)

Oct 7, 2025 • 44min
Doug Krupa on Innovation, Access, and the Future of Alternative Investing (EP. 22)
Doug Krupa, Head of Global Wealth Solutions at KKR, joins Brad Walker for a deep conversation on how private equity is evolving and becoming more accessible. Doug shares how his early advisor experience shaped his perspective on investor access, KKR’s philosophy around product innovation, and how evergreen strategies are changing wealth management. This episode provides a behind-the-scenes look at how one of the world’s top private market firms is helping make alts available to more investors. Chapter 1: Origins & Early Lessons on Access (00:01:19–00:07:13)Chapter 2: Inside KKR—Evergreen, Culture & “One Firm” (00:07:13–00:14:11)Chapter 3: Market Landscape & Manager Selection 101 (00:14:11–00:23:31)Chapter 4: Product Innovation—K-Series & Same-Deal Flow (00:23:31–00:35:05)Chapter 5: Convergence, Education & Lasting Impact (00:35:05–00:50:01)

Sep 29, 2025 • 25min
From Startup to Scaling With Alts: Chelsea Ganey on Building Client Trust (EP. 21)
Chelsea Ganey, Chief Strategy Officer at Moran Wealth Management, joins Alex Cavalieri to talk about her firm’s evolution after breaking away from Wells Fargo and its growing integration of alternatives. She shares insights on client education, secondaries, advisor operations, and the power of personalization in scaling a practice. Listeners can learn how tech and alts are reshaping high-touch client relationships. Chapter 1: Origins—Chelsea’s Path & Moran’s Breakaway (00:01:19–00:04:12)Chapter 2: Bringing Alts to Clients—Education, Structures & the 101 (00:04:12–00:08:38)Chapter 3: Implementation Reality—Ops, Process & Volatility Conversations (00:08:38–00:13:28)Chapter 4: Personalization at Scale—Tech, Touchpoints & Segmentation (00:13:28–00:21:36)Chapter 5: Independence & What’s Next—Breakaway Lessons, Alts Roadmap & Recs (00:21:36–00:28:29)

Sep 10, 2025 • 22min
Beyond Performance: Pam Perskie on Personalization in Modern Wealth Management (EP.20)
Pam Perskie, CEO and Founder of Seven Mile Advisory, joins host Alex Cavalieri for a compelling conversation on the evolution of wealth, trust, and the modern advisor-client relationship. With over 20 years of experience in the multifamily office space, Pam shares how she built a firm centered on serving families with unique complexities—where personalization, not just portfolio performance, is the true north. In this episode, Pam breaks down how Seven Mile Advisory is rethinking what it means to be a family office—leveraging technology, integrating with best-in-class platforms like CAIS, and helping clients gain access to institutional-quality alternatives across private credit, real estate, and more. Chapters: 1. Founding with Purpose (00:01:22 – 00:03:15) 2. Personalization Over Standardization (00:03:15 – 00:07:01) 3. Rethinking Access to Alternatives (00:08:08 – 00:11:10) 4. Trust as a Differentiator (00:16:57 – 00:18:58)

Sep 3, 2025 • 42min
Beyond the Daily Grind: Apollo’s Torsten Slok on Finding Opportunity in Market Chaos (EP. 19)
Is the economy heading for a recession or just a slowdown? In this episode of CAIS Live Conversations: Building With Alts, Brad Walker sits down with Apollo Chief Economist Torsten Slok. Torsten breaks down why he sees a “Nike swoosh” recovery ahead—not recession—and the three economic headwinds that could create opportunities in private markets. From his unconventional research process tracking everything from TSA checkpoint data to Broadway show attendance, to why he believes owning the S&P 500 may no longer mean diversification, Torsten shares macro insights driving decisions at one of the world’s largest alternative asset managers. Plus, discover why he wakes up in a church rectory and his upcoming adventure to Greenland. Chapters: 1. Economic Outlook & Recession Risk (11:49) 2. The Student Loan Crisis (13:09) 3. S&P 500 Concentration Risk (18:29) 4. The Growth Story of Private Credit (21:23) 5. Investment Strategy in Uncertain Times (27:29) 6. Potential Alternative Investment Opportunities (25:00) 7. Advisor Guidance (29:23)

Aug 18, 2025 • 51min
Resilience, Potential Opportunity, and the Evolution of Private Credit with Glenn August (EP. 18)
In this episode of CAIS Live Conversations: Building with Alts, Brad Walker sits down with Glenn August, Founder and CEO of Oak Hill Advisors. They discuss four decades of credit cycles, how product innovation is meeting wealth demand, and why partnership and selectivity remain critical as private markets mature. Chapter 1: Origins in Credit & Early Career (1:24 – 11:45)Chapter 2: Private Credit’s Evolution (11:46 – 17:46)Chapter 3: Product Innovation & Convergence (17:47 – 28:19)Chapter 4: Resilience in Uncertain Times (28:20 – 42:57)Chapter 5: Leadership, Legacy & Lessons (42:58 – 53:02)

Aug 5, 2025 • 50min
David Chubak & Matt Brown on Expanding Access and Redefining Advice (EP. 17)
Edward Jones is reimagining the future of wealth management, starting with personalization, access, and trusted relationships. In this episode, David Chubak, Head of Wealth Management at Edward Jones, and Matt Brown, Founder and CEO of CAIS, join host Alex Cavalieri to discuss their groundbreaking partnership, the Generations program, and why alternative investments are becoming central to the advisor-client experience. From product innovation to advisor intelligence, this is a roadmap for a new era of wealth management. Chapter 1: The Edward Jones Generations Vision (00:00 – 05:15) Chapter 2: Advisor Empowerment & Industry Access Trends (05:16 – 13:45) Chapter 3: Convergence of Public & Private Markets (13:46 – 22:50) Chapter 4: Tech-Driven Personalization & Advisor Intelligence (22:51 – 31:30) Chapter 5: A Shared Future: Partnership, Culture & the Road to 2030 (31:31 – End)

Jul 17, 2025 • 36min
Inside the Mind of a CIO: Brandon Grimm on Investing Beyond the Traditional (EP. 16)
In this episode of CAIS Live Conversations: Building with Alts, Alex Cavalieri sits down with Brandon Grimm, CIO and Partner at Gilbert & Cook, Inc. Brandon shares his journey from actuarial science to wealth management, the evolution of his firm, and how he’s reshaping his focus on private markets. From debunking liquidity myths to aligning portfolios with client values, Brandon dives into what it really means to help clients live a life of abundance. Plus, get a glimpse into how one Ironman finisher balances investing discipline with personal passion. Chapter 1 (00:00 – 05:49) — From Actuarial Science to Wealth Management: Brandon’s Journey Chapter 2 (05:50 – 13:46) — The Role of CIO: Team Building, Client Trust & the Abundance Mindset Chapter 3 (13:47 – 22:17) — Private Markets, Client Education & Portfolio Evolution Chapter 4 (22:18 – 28:22) — Liquidity, Planning, and the Shift Toward Alternatives Chapter 5 (28:23 – End ~37:58) — Future Trends, Advisor Growth, and Personal Resilience

Jun 30, 2025 • 28min
The Intersection of Public & Private Markets: A CIO’s Perspective (EP. 15)
In this episode of CAIS Live Conversations: Building with Alts, host Alex Cavalieri sits down with Shannon Saccocia, Chief Investment Officer - Wealth at Neuberger Berman, to discuss how portfolio construction, private markets, and generational wealth trends are shaping the wealth management landscape. Shannon shares her views on public vs. private market allocations, how Next Gen investors think about wealth, and the evolving role of advisors in alternative investments. She also highlights the importance of technology, education, and structured approaches to integrating alternatives into client portfolios. Chapter 1 (00:00 – 02:51) — From Medicine to Markets: Shannon’s Career Journey Chapter 2 (02:52 – 08:14) — Public & Private Markets: A Portfolio Continuum Chapter 3 (08:15 – 11:55) — Generational Wealth, Risk Mindsets & Private Market Education Chapter 4 (11:56 – 19:24) — Advisor Challenges, Portfolio Construction & Structural Innovation Chapter 5 (19:25 – 27:07) — Technology, Client Expectations & the Future of Private Wealth

Jun 18, 2025 • 42min
Alts, Archetypes, and Access: A Conversation with KKR and CAIS Advisors (EP. 14)
How are advisors navigating market volatility, macro shifts, and inflation uncertainty? In this episode, KKR’s Paula Campbell Roberts and CAIS’ Neil Blundell join host Alex Cavalieri to explore how private markets, especially infrastructure and private credit, can contribute to portfolio resilience. From risk factor integration to evergreen structures and strategic asset allocation, hear how firms are helping advisors move from theory to implementation in today’s evolving landscape. Chapter 1 (00:00 – 05:30) — Setting the Macro Stage Chapter 2 (05:31 – 13:45) — Beyond 60/40: Building Resilient Portfolios Chapter 3 (13:46 – 22:30) — Archetypes & Outcomes: Rethinking Portfolio Design Chapter 4 (22:31 – 34:00) — Products, Structures & Manager Selection Chapter 5 (34:01 – 43:45) — Looking Ahead: Trends, Tools, and Advisor Education