CAIS Live Conversations, Building With Alts

Dean Zayed, Founder and CEO of Brookstone Capital Management, has focused on developing a one-stop financial services shop as a Turnkey Asset Management Program with a human touch, which he calls a TAMP-plus. In a conversation with host Alex Cavalieri, CAIS Head of Marketing, Dean speaks about how Brookstone combines technology with personalized advisor support, which, according to Dean, aligns with the broader industry shift from transactional to fiduciary-based, relationship-driven practices. Chapters(00:00 - 01:23) Welcome & Introduction(01:24 - 05:30) Dean’s Career Journey & The Birth of Brookstone(05:31 - 10:50) Scaling Brookstone & Advisor-Centric Growth(10:51 - 17:00) Innovation & Industry Disruption(17:01 - End) Personal Insights & Closing Thoughts

Michael Rees, Co-President of Blue Owl Capital, has a diverse background in chemical engineering and investment banking. He discusses the innovative growth of Blue Owl’s GP stakes business, shedding light on the evolving dynamics of private markets. Rees shares intriguing insights into their strategic expansion into sports investing, particularly in the NBA. He also emphasizes the importance of creative partnerships and a blue-collar ethic in building a resilient business model while expressing his passion for teaching finance and impacting future leaders.

Neil Blundell, Head of CAIS Investments Team, and Gregg Sommer, US Financial Intermediaries Leader at Mercer Investments, bring their expertise to the forefront as they discuss the increasing adoption of alternative investments in the wealth management channel. With 92% of advisors allocating to alts, their focus has shifted to implementing alts effectively. In this episode, Neil and Gregg join Host Alex Cavalieri, CAIS Head of Marketing, to explore key findings from CAIS’ 2025 The State of Alternative Investments in Wealth Management. Read the 2025 report, HereChapters(00:01) Introduction to Guests and the 2025 CAIS-Mercer Survey  (00:38) The Shift Toward Alternatives: Key Survey Results  (04:15) The Rise of Registered Funds  (08:04) Blending Registered and Traditional Drawdown Funds  (18:51) Portfolio Construction Tools: From Why to How to Invest in Alts  (33:30) Overcoming Challenges in Alts Implementation  (37:05) Thematic Investing: AI, Infrastructure, and Energy Transition  (42:46) Looking Ahead: The Future of Alts in Wealth ManagementDisclosures This content is for institutional investors and for information purposes only. It does not contain investment, financial, legal, tax or any other advice and should not be relied upon for this purpose. The materials are not tailored to your particular personal and/or financial situation. If you require advice based on your specific circumstances, you should contact a professional adviser. Opinions expressed are those of the speakers as of the date of the recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer’s opinions. There are substantial risks associated with investments classified as alternative investments. Investors should have the ability, investing sophistication and experience to bear the risks associated with such investments. 

 Aaron Hodari, Schechter’s Chief Investment Officer, talks to host Alex Cavalieri, Head of Marketing at CAIS, about the importance of alternative investments education. The firm focuses on alternative investments education as soon as the client relationship starts. “They wanted to work with us because they knew that was going to be part of their experience,” Aaron says. (00:00) Introduction and Host Welcome  (00:27) Aaron Hodari’s Journey to Schechter  (02:51) Schechter: From a Life Insurance Advisory to a $3.6 billion RIA (06:58) The Role of Innovation and Technology in Scaling Wealth Management (08:25) Alternatives in Wealth Management (10:08) Schechter’s Client Experience Pillars  (13:29) Product Innovation and the Democratization of Alts  (15:29) Balancing Registered and Traditional Drawdown Funds (18:10) Aaron Hodari’s Vision for Schechter’s Future  (21:59) Aaron Hodari’s Personal Recommendations and Closing Thoughts  

Robert F. Smith, founder and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, was first startled by the productivity gains from computer systems as a recent chemical engineer graduate. With more than 600 completed transactions under his belt, Robert now envisions further transformation in enterprise software borne out of GenAI. In this episode, he chats with Brad Walker, Chief Client and Product Development Officer at CAIS, about his early career, Vista’s work to generate value in portfolio companies and his views on achieving product superiority. (00:00) Introduction and Host Welcome(01:32) Robert Smith's Early Career and Industry Beginnings(03:51) Defining Enterprise Software and Its Value(05:36) Vista’s Approach to Operational Efficiency(08:27) The Concept of Product Superiority(11:46) Vista’s Value Creation Framework(15:00) Generative AI: The Next Frontier(19:16) Robert Smith’s Personal Insights and Bucket List(21:42) Closing Remarks

Marty Bicknell, the founder of Mariner, a $100 billion RIA, aims to go head-to-head with wirehouses, more than doubling the firm's advisor count over the next three years. In this episode, he talks to host Alex Cavalieri, CAIS Head of Marketing, about choosing the fiduciary model, incorporating alternatives into portfolios, and how alts are leveling the playing field across channels.(00:00) Welcome to CAIS Live Conversations(01:19) The Journey Begins(03:36) Founding Mariner Wealth Advisors(05:48) Facing Challenges and Growth(08:14) Mariner's Core Philosophy(11:42) Innovations in Wealth Management(17:14) Education and Advisor Development(21:14) The Role of Alternatives in Portfolios(24:36) Maintaining Culture Amid Growth(26:03) Marty's Personal Learning Philosophy(29:36) Vision for the Future(30:30) Final Thoughts and Recommendations