CAIS Live Conversations, Building With Alts

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)

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)

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) 

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) 

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)

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)

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

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