Glenn Schorr, a top analyst from Evercore ISI, dives into the intertwining of asset management and hip-hop philosophy, riffing on how 'fees rule everything around me.' He discusses the critical balance between fee generation and alpha returns in a competitive market. Glenn also explores the evolving landscape of private markets versus public firms, the impacts of regulatory changes, and the challenges of limited fundraising in the current climate. His insights offer a fascinating look at the future of alternative investments.

In this engaging discussion, Rana Yared, a General Partner at Balderton Capital and former Goldman Sachs executive, dives into the thriving European investment landscape. She emphasizes revolutionary innovations in fintech, spotlighting companies like Revolut and iCapital. Rana also highlights how Europe is becoming a hub for global tech firms. The conversation touches on the evolving dynamics between strategic investment and venture capital, alongside the need for adaptability and strong relationships in an increasingly competitive market.

Join Alona Gornick, Managing Director at Churchill Asset Management, as she shares her expertise in private credit. She discusses the evolution of credit investing and addresses the potential risks of a private credit bubble. Alona emphasizes the importance of scale in securing deals and the strategic benefits of permanent capital. With insights from her vast experience, she highlights the critical role of product specialists in navigating the wealth channel and the transformative potential of innovative deal structures.

Today marks the launch of a new show on Alt Goes Mainstream: What’s Your Edge?Every person, every company, every fund has something that makes them special.Makes them stand out from the crowd.Gives them an unfair advantage.Tips the scales in favor of success.In this episode,  I ask our special guest, Bob Long, “What’s Your Edge?”Bob Long is CEO of StepStone Group’s Stepstone Private Wealth. He has three decades of experience in the private markets and has led investment teams for global firms in both the general partner and the limited partner role. He has served as the CEO of two publicly-traded companies focused on expanding private market access for high net worth investors.Prior to StepStone Private Wealth, Bob was the CEO of OHA Investment Corporation, a publicly-traded specialty finance company. Previously, he co-founded Conversus Capital, the largest publicly traded fund of third-party private equity funds with $3 billion of AUM and served as its CEO. Previously, he led Bank of America’s $7 billion strategic capital division. Early in his career, Bob served as the lead in-house counsel for a large portion of Bank of America’s Investment Banking Division and worked as a securities lawyer for a major law firm.A recognized industry leader, Bob was named one of 50 “GameChangers” by Private Equity International, has been profiled in the WSJ, and hosted CNBC Squawk Box Europe on numerous occasions.On today’s podcast, Bob and I discuss the nuances of evergreen funds and the unique features and offerings of StepStone Private Wealth’s evergreen strategies.Thanks Bob for coming on the show to share your wisdom, experience, and your edge.Show Notes00:00 Introduction00:38 Welcome to What's Your Edge?01:01 Meet StepStone Private Wealth CEO Bob Long: A Leader in Private Markets03:09 Lessons from Public Markets04:34 Evergreen Fund Structure05:27 Benefits of Evergreen Funds06:25 Immediate Investment Advantage07:20 Evergreen Funds and Financial Advisors07:35 Evergreen Fund Liquidity08:04 StepStone's Approach to Evergreen Funds09:09 StepStone's Strategy and Structure09:32 Balancing Inflows and Outflows10:34 Importance of Deal Flow11:04 Balancing Liquidity and Returns11:56 StepStone's Competitive Advantage13:52 Portfolio Construction14:57 Diversification in Private Markets16:06 Evergreen Fund Structures19:44 Liquidity in Private Markets27:57 Key Takeaways for Investors29:53 Operational Due Diligence Essentials30:13 Key Questions for Evergreen Fund Structures30:36 Understanding Fee Structures30:42 Management Fees and Leverage31:33 Incentive Fees Explained32:19 Administrative Costs and Transparency32:34 Fee Compression in Evergreen Funds34:11 Portfolio Construction Strategies34:24 Investing in Secondaries37:10 Psychology of Allocators38:04 Accessibility and Minimum Investments38:43 Investor Profiles and Strategies40:36 Transparency and Performance41:40 Rebalancing and Evergreen Funds43:10 Model Portfolios and Private Markets45:19 StepStone's Investor-Centric Approach46:15 StepStone's Competitive Edge48:31 Growth of Secondaries and Private Markets51:37 Future Trends in Private Markets55:30 Philanthropy and Purposeful Stewardship

Ben Carlson, Director of Institutional Asset Management at Ritholtz Wealth Management, is a finance expert and author known for his practical insights on investing. In this discussion, he emphasizes the crucial role of asset allocation in crafting investment strategies. Carlson delves into the complexities of having too many choices and the importance of documenting every decision. He also explores the advantages of private markets and the nuances of appealing to younger investors, highlighting the balance between transparency and strategy in wealth management.

Sean Ward, Senior Managing Director at Blue Owl's GP Strategic Capital, shares insights from his extensive career in finance and legal. He discusses the evolution of GP stakes investing, highlighting key milestones like Bain Capital's $1 billion post-GFC investment. Ward emphasizes the importance of legal expertise in crafting tailored agreements and navigating regulatory challenges. He explores how GP stakes can enhance capital management for asset managers and the strategic differences between private equity and venture capital, shedding light on the unique opportunities in alternative asset management.

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s episode welcomes two elite performers in Steve Young of HGGC and Scott Wood of True North Advisors, where they talk about how they formed a partnership based on shared values.Steve’s private equity firm, $7B AUM HGGC, took a minority stake in Scott’s independent wealth management firm, $3.9B AUM True North Advisors, as part of their broader wealth management investment thesis.After an illustrious 15 year Hall of Fame career as a three-time Super Bowl winning quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, Steve embarked on second act to found HGGC that has rivaled his career on the field. Over the past 17 years, HGGC has grown to a $7B private equity firm that has completed 600 portfolio investments.After working on Wall Street where clients were not being fiduciarily served, Scott's journey as a registered independent advisor started in 2000, when he and his partner Mark Gehlbach decided to pioneer the fee-only  model to eliminate conflicts of interest in the client advisor relationship. The foundation they built has led to the growth of a firm that now stands at over 3.9B in AUM, with a large portion of that capital, $812M allocated to alternatives. Steve, Scott, and I had a fascinating conversation about how they’ve built their respective investment firms, the importance of values and culture, and how they create abundant, fulfilling relationships. We discussed:Why “the score takes care of itself.”How and why defining the relationship up front is key in advisor M&A.How to assess culture fit when merging or acquiring advisors and wealth management firms.The importance of alternatives for better serving the client in an advisor’s practice.The concept of “decading” and why long-term thinking is critical in business and life.Thanks Steve and Scott for sharing your thoughts and decades of wisdom on business building, investing, and partnership.A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency.To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products.Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus’ technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at gharris@ultimusfundsolutions.com.We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.Show Notes00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message01:17 Welcome to the Podcast01:59 Meet the Guests: Steve Young and Scott Wood02:22 Steve Young's Journey from the NFL to Private Equity06:13 Scott Wood's Path to Founding True North Advisors09:13 Building a Scalable and Collaborative Wealth Management Firm12:22 Need for a Partner12:57 Choosing HGGC: The Importance of Culture and Values in Business13:30 HGGC's Investment Philosophy15:03 Cultural Alignment in Partnerships22:25 Evaluating Cultural Fit in Partnerships22:40 Evaluating Cultural Fit27:12 Governance and Day Two Operations27:53 Commitment to Cultural Integrity28:19 Navigating Cultural Fit in Wealth Management28:55 Wealth Management Growth and Consolidation29:40 The Role of Private Equity in Wealth Management30:03 Changing Wealth Management Engagement31:07 Challenges and Opportunities in Wealth Management Consolidation32:22 True North's Unique Business Model33:01 The Impact of Private Equity on Wealth Management34:42 Exit Strategies and Long-Term Vision39:39 Building an Alternatives Platform40:31 Decading: Long-Term Thinking40:53 Evolution of Alternatives Strategy45:13 Simplifying Complex Investments46:37 Fee Structures and Client Alignment47:24 M&A Opportunities and Relationships48:37 Mentorship and Professional Relationships52:56 Future of Alternative Investments55:56 Closing Thoughts and Reflections

Glenn Schorr, Senior MD at Evercore ISI and a top analyst in finance, shares his insights on the meteoric rise of alternative asset managers going public, notably Blackstone's entry into the S&P 500. He discusses the challenges of navigating acquisitions, the impact of interest rates on private credit, and strategies for managing dry powder in private equity. Glenn also highlights Blackstone's recovery strategies and the shift from traditional banks to innovative private credit firms, shedding light on the evolving financial landscape.

Eileen Duff, Managing Partner & Chief Client Success Officer at iCapital, shares her extensive expertise in alternative investments. She delves into the transformation of distribution in private markets and the role of technology, especially AI and automation, in enhancing client experiences. Eileen discusses strategies for engaging diverse clients and the significance of improved data connectivity. She emphasizes the need for better education on investment products and the efficiencies gained through automation in post-investment processes.

Todd Owens, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Cantilever Group, brings over 30 years of experience in financial services. He discusses the untapped potential in GP stakes and the innovative strategies Cantilever employs to support middle-market asset managers. Todd highlights the transformative journey of alternative asset management, the importance of strategic partnerships, and the unique opportunities presented by first-time funds. The conversation also delves into team dynamics and the core values that drive successful investments in this evolving landscape.