Investment Management Operations

Jason Ment, COO of StepStone Group, discusses private markets, scaling from 35 to 1,000 employees, high-net-worth channels, being a publicly traded company, and near-term opportunities with AI.

The podcast discusses how Intelligo blends human analysis with AI to streamline background checks. They cover the challenges with yellow and red 'flags', the network effect of digital exhaust, and the value Intelligo brings to the investment community.

Steve Baranowski, Partner and Head of Client Operations at Adams Street Partners discusses the evolution of their operations and the importance of tax structuring, fund expenses, and cash controls. They also explore the different businesses developed by Adam Street Partners, adapting to different client demands, navigating the impact of private funds rules, and the importance of partnering with investment people and maintaining a feedback loop.

Stephanie Withers, Senior Manager Investment Operations at W.K. Kellogg Foundation, discusses their initiatives on DEI, their tech stack, and the importance of business process mapping. They also talk about their Expanding Equity Program and annual operations survey for change management in partnership with the investment team.

Beth Gilje, founder of Union Park Consulting, discusses enhancing performance data, accelerating performance reporting, managing service providers, and technology selection for investment institutions. They reflect on their experience at Lehman Brothers during the rise of electronic trading and the challenges faced. They also discuss recruitment and retention challenges in operational roles, tailoring vendor recommendations, the evolution and benefits of iBores, challenges with alternative investments in PDF format, and hiring operational consultants.

Shaun Ng, Managing Director at Cleveland Clinic Investment Office, discusses creating an investment office from scratch and collaborating with the hospital's analytics team to build dynamic data sets. They talk about challenges, metrics, custodial relationships, data accuracy, risk mitigation, building liquidity, and making tough decisions during crises. They also provide advice for emerging investment offices.

A deep dive into operational due diligence in investment management with insights from Frank Perez, covering assessment criteria, common deal breakers, and real-life manager situations. Learn about the importance of a risk-based approach, efficient data migration for analysis, valuation challenges, and navigating regulatory scrutiny while facilitating communication and support in investment management.

Today’s Sponsored Insight features Dan Houlihan, the CEO of STP Investment Services, a global investment operations firm that provides complete front, middle, and back office services for investment managers.Dan joined STP in August 2022 after spending 11 years at Northern Trust as the EVP and Head of Asset Servicing. Prior to Northern Trust he was President of Citisoft, a management consulting group to the investment industry.If you are currently outsourcing operations or exploring the subject, this is a master class. Dan shares some key insights on the trends and considerations of operational outsourcing, the common triggers to begin the conversation, what to look for in an outsourcer and how outsourcing can potentially launch products faster and enter new markets.Learn MoreFollow Capital Allocators at @tseides or LinkedInSubscribe to the mailing listAccess transcript with Premium Membership

Ashok Raju is the Chief Operating Officer of VR Group, an alternative asset manager focused on distressed securities and special situations investments in emerging markets.Ashok joined VR Group in 2010 initially to create the firm’s client facing efforts before becoming the COO, where he now oversees operations, analytics, and business development. Ashok began his career in equity research at Deutsche Bank and spent time at a multi-family office where he covered hedge fund and public equity investments.I really enjoyed my conversation with Ashok. He’s the first guest on the podcast to oversee both internal operations at VR and client relationships. This perspective is an interesting and common one for small-to-medium organizations, and his insights are valuable for anyone beginning client facing efforts or overseeing fund operations. Or both! . . . He’s also a wealth of information for younger professionals navigating their own careers in financial services, and I especially love his concept of “frientors.”Learn MoreFollow Capital Allocators at @tseides or LinkedInSubscribe to the mailing listAccess transcript with Premium Membership

Danielle Roseman is a Managing Director and Co-Head of Lazard Family Office Services, a multifamily office that started managing capital for some of the world’s most sophisticated families over 175 years ago.Danielle started her career at Goldman Sachs where she worked on the mortgage desk during the Great Financial Crisis.  Danielle joined Lazard following the acquisition of Truuvo Partners.If you work with family offices or want to learn more about it, this is the episode.Danielle goes deep on how to provide operational value to families, the power of operational support as a skill set and how the next generation is changing the client service engagement model. Danielle riffs on their tech stack, data consumption trends, family governance, and the complexity of tracking documentation of family assets.Learn MoreFollow Capital Allocators at @tseides or LinkedInSubscribe to the mailing listAccess transcript with Premium Membership