CAIS Live Conversations, Building With Alts

In this special edition of CAIS Live Conversations, live from CAIS Summit 2025, Robert F. Smith of Vista Equity Partners and Jason Graefe of Microsoft speak with CNBC’s Scott Wapner about the rise of agentic AI. They explain how the shift from generative to agentic systems may reshape enterprise software, data strategy, and economic value capture. The conversation explores implications for productivity, software development, and the future of work, along with how businesses can adapt through speed, workflow ownership, and reskilling. Advisors can gain insight into how AI may transform operating models across industries.  Chapter 1 — Generative vs. Agentic AI [00:01:22]Chapter 2 — Why Agentic AI Changes the Economics [00:03:53]Chapter 3 — Will AI Disrupt Software? [00:06:58]Chapter 4 — Three Futures for Software Companies [00:08:34]Chapter 5 — Speed as the New Moat [00:10:46]Chapter 6 — Reinventing the Go-to-Market Motion [00:13:19]Chapter 7 — Rethinking Software Development [00:20:17]Chapter 8 — Precision in Enterprise AI [00:21:35]Chapter 9 — A New Industrial Revolution [00:29:26]Chapter 10 — The Future of Work and Redeployment [00:37:51]

Kan Kotecha, Chief Technology Officer at CAIS, joins host Alex Cavalieri live from CAIS Summit 2025 to share how artificial intelligence and data are reshaping the advisor experience. Kan discusses the firm’s vision for “alts at scale,” how CAISey, CAIS’ new AI-powered solution, was designed to transform pre-trade, trade, and post-trade workflows, and why clean, consolidated data is foundational. Advisors will gain insight into how technology, autonomy, and AI are driving the next generation of platform innovation at CAIS and the industry at large. Chapter 1 / 00:05:10 / Defining Advisor Autonomy Kan explains how CAIS is building end-to-end digital infrastructure for alternatives.Chapter 2 / 00:07:44 / The AI Dividend Why replatforming and data consolidation are the foundation for applying AI effectively.Chapter 3 / 00:09:59 / Introducing CAISey How CAISey serves as an intelligent alts solution for both new and experienced advisors.Chapter 4 / 00:12:36 / Data Integrity & Trust “You can only get it right if your data is in good shape.”Chapter 5 / 00:15:21 / Scaling With Intelligence How CAISey supports pre-trade, trade, and post-trade workflows as the platform scales.Chapter 6 / 00:18:56 / AI & Industry Collaboration Kan’s vision for an ecosystem where intelligent agents across firms work together.

In this episode of CAIS Live Conversations: Building With Alts, Brad Walker sits down with Luke Taylor, Co-President of Stonepeak, to discuss how infrastructure investing is evolving from traditional assets to data centers, energy transition, and digital networks. Luke shares his journey from a sheep farm in New Zealand to leading one of the world’s largest infrastructure firms, and how that perspective shapes his approach to building enduring businesses. He and Brad explore the intersection of real assets and technology, the influence of AI on demand for data and power, and how innovation in semi-liquid structures is broadening access for advisors.  

In this episode of CAIS Live Conversations: Building with Alts, Alex Cavalieri sits down with Steffen Scheuble, CEO of Solactive, and CAIS Advisors’ CIO Neil Blundell. They discuss Solactive’s launch of the first benchmark designed to track perpetual non-traded business development companies (BDCs), and what this milestone means for the private credit market.  They also share their views and explore why greater data access may be fueling index innovation and how transparent, rules-based performance tracking can help advisors more effectively measure and compare private credit allocations. Chapter 1: Origins—Solactive’s Tech-Driven Indexing & Steffen’s Backstory (00:01:19–00:04:18) Chapter 2: Framing the Gap—Why Private Markets Lacked Benchmarks (00:04:18–00:09:08) Chapter 3: Building the Benchmark—Data Access, Rules-Based Methodology & Partnership (00:09:08–00:17:18) Chapter 4: Inside the BDC Index—Scope, Use Cases & Investor Experience (00:17:18–00:29:19) Chapter 5: What’s Next—Expanding the Index Suite & Impact for Advisors (00:29:19–00:36:06) 

Leah Wehinger, Head of Investment Advice & Solutions at Truist Wealth, joins CAIS Live Conversations: Building With Alts to unpack how her team is scaling advisor education and access to private markets. She and host Alex Cavalieri discuss her views on integrating investment strategy with planning, supporting wealth transfer with a multi-generational lens, and designing products with client objectives in mind. From simplifying alts education to unifying advice, Leah shares how Truist is looking to reshape the wealth experience.  Chapter 1. One Firm, One Voice [05:14] Chapter 2. Scaling Trust Without Losing the Human Touch [07:45] Chapter 3. Why She Doesn’t Say “Alts” [11:58] Chapter 4. Designing the Purpose-Driven Wealth Experience [18:50] Chapter 5. What Leah Thinks Might Break the $84 Trillion Wealth Transfer [25:12] Chapter 6. Tech That Actually Helps Advisors [33:50] Chapter 7. When Public and Private Markets Converge [38:41] Chapter 8. Advice for the Next Generation [43:55]

In this episode of CAIS Live Conversations: Building With Alts, CAIS Co-President Brad Walker sits down with Amy Wu Silverman, Head of Derivatives Strategy at RBC Capital Markets, joined by Marc Premselaar, Head of Capital Markets at CAIS. Recorded live from CAIS Summit 2025, the conversation explores what Amy calls a “volatility regime,” the growing role of retail investors in options markets, and how defined-outcome and structured strategies are evolving to meet advisor needs. From AI to correlation risk, Amy and Marc weigh in on how education and innovation can help financial advisors translate complex market dynamics into actionable portfolio insights. Chapter 1: Getting Comfortable With Uncertainty (00:02:06) Chapter 2: The “Paddling Duck” Market (00:05:18) Chapter 3: Structured Notes as a Toolkit (00:09:14) Chapter 4: When Fear Flipped Sides (00:12:16) Chapter 5: Volatility as an Asset Class (00:14:01) Chapter 6: Bridging the Gap With Customization (00:18:21) Chapter 7: All One Trade (00:21:18) Chapter 8: Correlation Risk and the Domino Effect (00:23:26) Chapter 9: Crypto’s Next Chapter (00:27:02) Chapter 10: FOMO as the New Risk (00:29:00)

Recorded live from CAIS Summit 2025, this episode features Harvey Schwartz, CEO of Carlyle, in a candid discussion with Barron’s Editor-at-Large Andy Serwer on how private markets are reshaping access and opportunity for advisors and their clients. Schwartz describes why “alternatives” are increasingly just “capital,” and shares how wealth’s global trajectory are redefining distribution and product design. He also offers a data-driven read on the economy from Carlyle’s portfolio, reflections on risk learned across multiple market cycles, and why cultural fit matters in partnerships. Chapter 1.  Private Credit and Transparency [00:05:11] Chapter 2. Rise of Private Capital [00:07:55] Chapter 3. Alternatives Reframed [00:10:05] Chapter 4. Wealth’s Global Trajectory [00:11:56] Chapter 5. Thoughtful Expansion into Retirement [00:13:15] Chapter 6. Risk and Resilience [00:27:26]

In this special CAIS Live Conversations episode, host Alex Cavalieri sits down with Matt Brown, Founder and CEO of CAIS, for a fireside chat recorded live at the 2025 CAIS Summit. Matt shares how CAIS grew from an idea in 2009 to the leading alternative investment management platform. He reflects on the Summit’s origins, the firm’s culture of trust and innovation, and the trends shaping wealth management—from the rise of alts to the convergence of public and private markets. Advisors will hear firsthand how access, partnership, and purpose continue to drive CAIS’ mission forward. Chapter 1: Building the Summit — [00:02:46]Matt shares the origins of CAIS and the Summit, describing how it was created as a space rooted in trust, connection, and meaningful relationship building.Chapter 2: Defining the Mission — [00:08:58]He explains how empowering independent financial advisors became the core mission of CAIS—and the driving force behind every initiative.Chapter 3: The Power of Partnership — [00:10:30]“Nothing great is built alone.” Matt emphasizes that collaboration and shared purpose have been essential to CAIS’s growth and impact.Chapter 4: A Culture of Innovation — [00:11:20]He discusses how CAIS fosters creativity and continuous learning, encouraging teams to explore new ways to better serve advisors and clients.Chapter 5: The Convergence of Public and Private Markets — [00:21:07]Matt outlines how evolving product structures and technology are reshaping opportunity—bridging the gap between public and private market access for advisors.Chapter 6: Lessons in Leadership — [00:35:36]Reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey, Matt explores the importance of obsession, self-belief, and embracing discomfort as hallmarks of strong leadership.

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)

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)