Alt Goes Mainstream: The Latest on Alternative Investments, WealthTech, & Private Markets

Michael Sidgmore
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Apr 30, 2025 • 48min

EQT's Peter Aliprantis - bringing EQT's success to the US wealth market

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s episode is with a private markets veteran who has been working in the wealth channel before it was considered "the wealth channel."We sat down in the studio with Peter Aliprantis. Peter joined EQT in October 2024 as a Partner and Head of Private Wealth Americas. He’s hit the ground running to build out a wealth team in the Americas and help continue to grow the EQT brand in the US.Peter brings a wealth of knowledge to the private wealth solutions world, garnering over 25 years of experience in the space. Prior to joining EQT, Peter spent 12 years at TPG Angelo Gordon as a Managing Director, where he focused on new business development and intermediary distribution.Peter and I had a fascinating conversation about everything from the early days of the wealth channel to the evolution of product innovation in private markets. We discussed:What working in the wealth channel was like before it was called “the wealth channel.”How to build a new brand in a different geography.How not being the loudest voice in the room can be effective when working with the wealth channel.How education helps to serve distribution efforts and how an innovative and unique approach to education with EQT’s ThinQ platform has helped build brand, trust, and credibility.Why institutions are also beneficiaries of the innovation with evergreen structures that were initially designed for the wealth channel.How product innovation will continue in the wealth channel.How model portfolios will evolve.Thanks Peter for coming on the show to share your wisdom and expertise.Subscribe to Alt Goes Mainstream to receive the weekly newsletter every Sunday and all of AGM’s podcasts.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 Message from our Sponsor, Ultimus01:57 Welcome to the Podcast02:05 Introducing Peter Aliprantis02:20 Peter's Career Background03:31 Early Days in Private Wealth04:25 Changes in Wealth Distribution05:55 Post-Financial Crisis Shifts06:37 Growth of the Wealth Channel07:14 Building a Wealth Business at Angelo Gordon07:59 Convincing Firms to Invest in Wealth08:59 Importance of Investment Teams10:18 Key Skills for Wealth Channel Success12:46 Joining EQT and Brand Building13:07 Building EQT's Wealth Platform14:56 Brand Building in the Wealth Channel15:32 Expanding EQT's Presence16:10 Strategies for Engaging the Wealth Channel16:45 Segmenting the Wealth Channel19:57 Challenges in RIA Relationships20:28 Importance of Relationship Building21:25 Bespoke Products for Wealth Channel22:10 Institutional vs. Wealth Channel Products22:56 Evergreen Structures for Institutions23:20 Future Trends in Wealth Management23:27 Becoming a Solutions Provider in the RIA Channel23:47 Creating Model Portfolios25:31 The Future of Wealth Management27:04 Challenges for Smaller Firms27:38 Importance of Shelf Space28:35 Sales Strategies in Private Banks29:42 The Role of Scale in Wealth Channels30:27 Balancing Growth and Performance31:07 Global Investment Strategies and Performance33:13 Building a Brand in the U.S. Wealth Channel34:29 Differentiating in the Wealth Channel36:43 Advisory vs. Sales Approach38:18 Evergreen Funds vs. Drawdown Structures39:53 Investor Psychology and Evergreen Structures41:41 Changing Dynamics of Private Markets43:01 Family-Owned Business Culture44:30 Nordic Cultural Values45:15 Long-Term Mindset in Private Equity45:53 Building the Wealth Business46:14 Bespoke Products for Wealth Channels46:42 Seeding Evergreen Structures47:08 The Race to Win the Wealth Channel47:29 Manager Diversification47:08 The Race to Win the Wealth Channel47:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.
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Apr 23, 2025 • 1h 2min

KKR's Alisa Wood - innovating in private markets

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s episode dives into the details of product innovation in private markets with a private equity veteran who has helped to pioneer a new investment structure and working with the wealth channel.We sat down at KKR’s Hudson Yards office with Alisa Wood, a Partner and Co-CEO of KKR Private Equity Conglomerate LLC (K-PEC).Alisa has been at KKR for over 20 years. She joined the firm in 2003 and is a Partner. She co-leads the firm’s innovative private equity open-ended, perpetual vehicles serving as the Co-CEO of KKR Private Equity Conglomerate LLC and as a member of the investment committee for the KKR Private Markets Equity Fund.She was previously the Global Head of the Private Markets and Real Assets Strategies Group and looked after private equity, infrastructure, energy real assets, real estate, impact, growth equity, and customized products.She sits on a number of the firm’s management and leadership committees, including the Risk & Operating Committee, the Democratized Private Equity Committee, the ESG Committee, and the Geopolitical Governance Committee.Alisa and I had a fascinating and thought-provoking conversation about private markets and working with the wealth channel. We discussed:Why and how KKR came up with the Conglomerate structure.Why the devil is in the detail when evaluating evergreen fund structures.Why dealflow is essential if a firm wants to have an evergreen strategy.Why education is so critical when working with the wealth channel.How investors can balance evergreens and closed-end funds.The skillsets required to manage evergreen structures.Why culture is so critical when building a high-performing and consistent investment business.The role that private markets can play in a portfolio and why that matters in today’s markets.Thanks Alisa for coming on the podcast to share your wisdom and expertise on private markets.Subscribe to Alt Goes Mainstream to receive the weekly newsletter every Sunday and all of AGM’s podcasts.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 Message from our Sponsor, Ultimus01:55 Welcome to the Alt Goes Mainstream Podcast02:07 Introducing Alisa Wood02:14 Alisa Wood's Background and Role at KKR03:48 KKR's Office and Culture06:05 Evolution of Private Equity06:51 Early Days at KKR08:26 Strategic Moves in Private Equity12:41 Managing Evergreen Structures13:58 Operational Complexity in Evergreen Funds16:59 Deal Flow and Investment Strategies21:37 Institutional vs. Individual Investors23:44 Sales Cycle and Investor Relations26:35 Employee Equity and Financial Literacy29:41 Evolution of Private Equity Value Creation30:17 Human Capital and Leadership30:57 Building Community at Scale31:59 The Importance of Returns and Connection32:21 Building Community Through Hard Topics32:46 Best in Class Advisors and Community Building33:14 Shifting Business Strategies at KKR33:47 The Role of Chief Economist and Macro Issues34:24 Learning from Mistakes and Evolving35:52 Integrating Resources for Better Investment Decisions38:08 Strategic vs. Tactical Approaches38:28 The 40-30-30 Framework38:52 Challenges in Public and Private Markets39:25 The Importance of Controlling Investments39:51 Changing Market Correlations and Returns40:47 The Complexity of Private Market Choices41:45 The Role of Large Managers in Evergreens44:42 Family-Owned Businesses and Evergreen Structures47:58 Success in the Wealth Channel49:40 Balancing Illiquidity and Investment Opportunities50:05 The Psychology of Evergreen Investments52:51 Growing the Evergreen Business54:53 The Next Big Innovation: 401k Integration55:42 The Importance of Education and Community56:10 Defining Private Equity and Industry Standards57:23 The Role of Trade Associations and Education59:17 The Future of Private Market Investments01:01:23 Real People, Real Money: The Impact of Private MarketsEditing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.
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Apr 17, 2025 • 29min

Cantilever Group's Todd Owens - GP stakes: the best of all worlds? (live from New York)

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s conversation features a live podcast that takes place at BTG Pactual’s NYC office for an audience in private markets.We are joined by Todd Owens, the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Cantilever Group, where BTG Pactual is an investor.Cantilever is an independent firm focused on providing capital solutions to middle market asset managers. The firm's capital can be used to accelerate growth, support acquisitions or liftouts, fund GP commitments, seed new strategies, facilitate generational ownership transfer, and provide liquidity to founders. Cantilever focuses on asset management firms that have enterprise values between $50M and $500M. The team has executed on over $500M of GP stakes, financing, and seeding transactions as both investors and principals. The team's advisory experience working with stakes funds includes over 15 GP stakes transactions, multiple GP stakes portfolio financings, numerous GP and BDC IPOs, and dozens of asset management financing and control transactions.Cantilever is working with two strategic partners as they build their firm: BTG Pactual, the ~$30B market cap Brazilian bank and wealth and asset manager has invested into Cantilever’s fund, and Broadhaven Ventures, the principal investment arm of Broadhaven Capital Partners.Todd has over 30 years of experience as an advisor covering financial institutions and as a senior financial services executive. Prior to founding Cantilever, Todd has been a Partner at Broadhaven Capital Partners, an independent financial services focused investment bank that’s completed over $100B in announced M&A transaction volume, as well as the former CEO of Fifth Street Finance. Todd began his career at Goldman, Sachs & Co, spending 24 years including as a Managing Director and Partner in the Investment Banking Division.Todd and I had a fascinating conversation about the GP stakes space and why the middle market represents a compelling part of the asset management ecosystem as the industry undergoes change and consolidation. We discussed:The early days of alternative asset managers going public.The evolution of the GP stakes market.The role that GP stakes investing can play in the growth of alternative asset managers.How and why GP stakes has shades of private equity, private credit, and secondaries in a single strategy. A tale of two cities — the upper end of the market and the middle-market.What will liquidity look like in the GP stakes space?Thanks Todd for sharing your wisdom and views on GP stakes and asset management.Subscribe to Alt Goes Mainstream to receive the weekly newsletter every Sunday and all of AGM’s podcasts.Show Notes00:38 Welcome to the Alt Goes Mainstream Podcast00:40 Live Podcast at BTG Pactual’s New York City Office00:49 Introducing Todd Owens and Cantilever Group02:26 Welcome to Alt Goes Mainstream Live03:04 Todd's Background and Perspective03:29 The Early Days of Minority Equity04:28 Alternative Asset Managers Going Public04:53 The Success of Public Offerings05:32 Evolution of the GP Stakes Market05:58 The Financial Crisis and Market Evolution06:14 Understanding the Asset Management Business06:47 Public vs. Private Market Perceptions08:07 Middle Market Opportunities08:37 The Role of GP Stakes in Firm Growth09:05 Different Approaches to Building a Business09:15 Lessons from advising Oaktree and Ares09:27 Strategic Planning in Asset Management10:14 Sophistication in the Middle Market10:45 The Future of GP Stakes and Asset Management11:48 Differences Between Upper and Middle Markets14:46 Opportunities in the Lower Middle Market16:03 The Persistence of the Middle Market17:58 Wealth Channel and Private Markets18:48 Evolution of Wealth Management20:04 Democratization of Alternatives20:24 GP Stakes as an Investment Strategy20:54 GP Stakes: The Best of All Worlds?20:59 Investment Strategies and Market Trends22:08 Private Credit vs. GP Stakes22:58 Betting on Private Markets Growth23:17 Long Duration Capital in GP Stakes23:47 Liquidity in the GP Stake Space24:22 Managing Portfolio and Realizations25:01 The Need for Liquidity Solutions25:19 Quick Fire Questions25:26 Favorite Asset Class in 2025?26:06 Next Firm to Go Public?26:16 Challenges of Merging Large Firms27:21 Future of Middle Market GP Stakes28:07 Conclusion: Live Podcast Wrap-Up28:12 Thank You and Closing Remarks Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.
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Apr 9, 2025 • 55min

BlackRock's Joe DeVico and Jonathan Diorio and Partners Group's Rob Collins - “an iPhone moment for private markets"

Joe DeVico and Jonathan Diorio from BlackRock, alongside Rob Collins from Partners Group, discuss a groundbreaking partnership aiming to revolutionize private market investments. They describe this collaboration as an 'iPhone moment' that will enable wealth management to easily access tailored model portfolios. The conversation highlights the importance of technology and education in bridging private and public markets. Additionally, the guests explore the need for innovative solutions as financial advisory practices evolve to embrace comprehensive investment strategies.
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Apr 2, 2025 • 48min

Going Public with Evercore's Glenn Schorr - Ep. 3: The "Final Four"

Welcome back to Going Public with Evercore’s Glenn Schorr.On the latest episode of Going Public, we dive for the loose balls in private markets’ March Madness as Glenn shares his thoughts on why it’s important to separate the forest from the trees when it comes to why certain firms make his “Final Four.”We cover some of the most pressing topics in alternative asset management, including:Separating the forest from the trees — dissecting alternative asset manager stock performance versus long-term business performance.Views on the exit environment and what it means for alternative asset manager stock performance.Where and why does scale matter?Are banks and alternative asset managers enemies, frenemies, or collaborators, particularly in areas like private credit?Why does Glenn believe the secular growth trends of private markets and how that impacts alts managers is a fat pitch?In the spirit of March Madness, Glenn shares his bracketology on which firms make his “Final Four.”Subscribe to Alt Goes Mainstream to receive the weekly newsletter every Sunday and all of AGM’s podcasts.Making private markets more public — with expert analysisAlt Goes Mainstream has partnered with an expert who has seen the evolution of alternative asset managers from their early days.Glenn Schorr is a Senior MD and Senior Research Analyst at Evercore ISI, where he covers brokers, banks, asset managers, and trust banks as an analyst. He has covered financials since 2000 and started coverage of alternative asset managers when the first firms went public.He’s consistently come up as one of the most thoughtful and well-respected analysts in the space. He balances deep research with a creative flair (just read one of the titles of his research reports and you can see his love of the game). He’s been named to Institutional Investor’s All-America Research Team for his coverage, most recently ranking #2 and runner up in 2023, #1 and #2 in 2022. Prior to Evercore, Glenn was a Senior MD at Nomura, serving as the lead financials analyst. Listen in as Glenn shares market stories, the evolution of alternative asset managers as businesses, the biggest and most exciting trends in private markets based on what the industry’s largest players are doing, and we go “around the horn” for his analysis on the publicly traded firms.Show Notes00:00 Introduction and Countdown00:06 Going Mainstream00:45 Welcome to the Series00:58 Meet Glenn Schorr01:31 Market Stories and Trends01:54 Live from Evercore02:04 Earnings and Market Volatility02:07 Secular Growth Businesses02:39 Anticipation and Uncertainty03:26 Alternative Managers' Performance04:36 Private Markets and Infrastructure05:53 Valuation and Market Corrections07:28 Investment Opportunities in Market Downturns07:54 Fundraising and Fee Related Earnings08:01 Capital Raising Challenges09:36 Super Alts Firms12:22 Brand and Consistency13:16 Acquisitions and Growth Strategies15:33 Banks vs. Alternative Managers16:26 Private Credit and Direct Lending24:45 Asset Classes Shifting from Public to Private Markets25:09 Duration Mismatch in Banking and Loans25:32 Regulatory and Capital Arbitrage26:01 Flexibility in Private Markets26:30 Impact of Stock Prices on Strategic Acquisitions27:01 Stock Deals and Control in Acquisitions28:29 Accretive Acquisitions and Capital Raising31:29 Scale Benefits in Private Markets31:50 Big Ticket Transactions and Scale33:05 Investor Understanding of Scale in Private Markets33:37 Challenges in Public Market Investment in Alternative Managers36:50 Long-Term Trends in Private Markets38:03 Risks in Private Markets38:55 Transparency and Oversight in Private Markets39:30 Thematic Investing and Long-Term Trends40:31 Private Markets Framework for Public Stocks41:30 Emotional Investing and Long-Term Capital43:25 Geopolitical and Economic Policy Impacts45:38 March Madness: Top 4 Manager Picks47:09 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsEditing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.Company Coverage and DisclosuresEvercore ISIGlenn Schorr| Ticker | Company| APO | Apollo Global Management, Inc.| BAC | Bank of America Corporation| Glenn Schorr holds a long position in equity securities of Bank of America Corporation.| BK | Bank of New York Mellon Corp.| Glenn Schorr holds a long position in equity securities of Bank of New York Mellon Corp.| BLK | BlackRock, Inc.| BlackRock, Inc. is a client of Evercore LLC, and Evercore LLC has provided investment banking services to BlackRock, Inc. in the last 12 months.| Evercore ISI or an affiliate expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking services from BlackRock, Inc. within the next three months.| Glenn Schorr holds a long position in equity securities of Blackrock Inc.| BX | Blackstone, Inc.| Blackstone, Inc. is a client of Evercore LLC, and Evercore LLC has provided investment banking services to Blackstone, Inc. in the last 12 months.| Evercore ISI or an affiliate expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking services from Blackstone, Inc. within the next three months.| An employee, employee's immediate family member, director or consultant of Evercore ISI or one of its affiliates (but not the covering research analyst or a member of the covering research analyst's household) is an officer, director or advisory board member of Blackstone, Inc.| Evercore ISI or an affiliate has received compensation from Blackstone, Inc. for investment banking services in the last 12 months.| Analyst has a financial interest in a private equity fund managed by Blackstone, Inc.| Glenn Schorr holds a long position in equity securities of Blackstone, Inc.| OWL | Blue Owl Capital, Inc| Evercore ISI or an affiliate has acted as a manager or co-manager of a public offering of securities by Blue Owl Capital, Inc in the last 12 months.| Blue Owl Capital, Inc is a client of Evercore LLC, and Evercore LLC has provided investment banking services to Blue Owl Capital, Inc in the last 12 months.| Evercore ISI or an affiliate has received compensation from Blue Owl Capital, Inc for investment banking services in the last 12 months.| BSIG | BrightSphere Investment| C | Citigroup, Inc.| An employee, employee's immediate family member, director or consultant of Evercore ISI or one of its affiliates (b...
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Mar 27, 2025 • 59min

Brookfield Oaktree Wealth Solutions' John Sweeney - building a high-performing wealth solutions business

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s episode dives into the details of distribution and how to build a high-performing global business to serve the wealth channel across brands and strategies.John Sweeney is the Chief Executive Officer of Brookfield Oaktree Wealth Solutions, a business unit that was created to harmonize the distribution efforts across the Brookfield and Oaktree brands. He previously served as Head of US Business Development and Sales for Brookfield Oaktree Wealth Solutions and was a Managing Director and Head of the Americas intermediary business at Oaktree Capital. He also served as president of Oaktree Funds from 2014-2018.Before joining the alternative asset manager side of the business, John had extensive experience working in alternative investments roles at private banks. Before joining Oaktree in 2013, he was a Managing Director and Head of Product Management and Development for the alternative investments business at Morgan Stanley. Prior to that, he was the Head of Product Management in the US for the alternative investments business of the Citi Private Bank.John and I had a fascinating and informative discussion. We covered:How John is building Brookfield Oaktree’s wealth business.The benefits of scale.Wisdom from John’s Oaktree colleague Howard Marks.How advisor education is critical to the adoption of private markets.Thanks John for coming on the show to share your wisdom and views on private markets and working with the wealth channel.Subscribe to Alt Goes Mainstream to receive the weekly newsletter every Sunday and all of AGM’s podcasts.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 to our Sponsor, Ultimus Fund Solutions01:55 Welcome to Alt Goes Mainstream02:06 Introduction to John Sweeney03:58 John's Early Career at Morgan Stanley04:34 Evolution of Alternative Investments05:15 Impact of Technology on Private Markets06:42 Service and Distribution Strategy09:33 Building Brookfield Oaktree's Wealth Business11:16 Brookfield and Oaktree Acquisition12:42 Creating Investment Solutions14:07 Understanding the Wealth Channel15:05 Global Distribution Strategy17:52 Importance of Brand and Service19:06 Effective Client Engagement21:09 Advisors vs. Institutional Investors22:27 Evergreen Funds and Distribution25:09 Balancing Content and Engagement27:15 Investment Philosophy and Market Context29:36 Risk Control and Consistency30:53 Generational Wealth Transfer31:40 Educating the Next Generation of Investors32:04 Long-Term Track Record and Conclusion32:18 Delivering Returns and Long-Term Success32:31 Accessing Evergreen Funds32:45 Compounding Returns Over Time32:52 Thinking in Decades32:57 Private Credit and Economic Cycles33:16 Experience and Results33:41 Brand and Experience in Private Markets34:55 Marketing and History35:12 Brookfield Real Estate Introduction35:34 Oaktree's Credit Roots35:55 Integrating Two Brands36:15 Building Solutions and Partnerships39:03 Global Presence and Scale39:13 Navigating Wealth Channel Conversations40:34 Competing in Various Deal Sizes41:16 Exploring Secondary Markets41:56 Private Capital Opportunities42:50 Survey Insights on Alternatives44:04 Global Wealth Channel Strategies44:44 Regional Strategies and Local Teams47:42 Building a Culture of Shared Success48:42 Educating Advisors49:43 Early Stages of Wealth Channel51:41 Model Portfolios and Solutions56:32 The Appeal of Music Royalties and Human Connection58:14 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsEditing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.
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Mar 19, 2025 • 1h 1min

Cerity Partners' Tom Cohn and Amita Schultes - combining an OCIO with a $100B wealth management practice

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s episode dives into one of the most topical trends in the evolution of wealth management platforms and their adoption of private markets.We are joined by Tom Cohn and Amita Schultes of Cerity Partners, where they discuss the recent combination of their two respective businesses, Cerity Partners, the $100B+ national wealth management firm, and Agility, a leading OCIO business.Tom and Amita discuss their merger, why there was a need to create customization for wealth investors in private markets, and how bringing on a leading OCIO business takes Cerity Partners’ capabilities to a new level as a solutions provider in private markets.Tom is the Chief Solutions Officer and a Partner in Cerity Partners’ New York office. He’s a member of the firm’s Leadership Team. He has over ten years of experience in various investment management roles, previously serving as an Investment Analyst at Spero-Smith Investment Advisors, where he was responsible for due diligence and analysis of third-party managers and assisted in global market and asset allocation research.Amita is a Partner in Cerity Partners’ New York office, managing Cerity Partners’ OCIO client portfolios. She’s a member of the OCIO Investment Committee. Amita brings over 20 years of experience as an investment consultant to bear to the firm. Before joining Cerity Partners, Amita was a Partner and Client Portfolio Manager at Agility, where she served as a voting member of Agility’s Investment Committee. Prior to Agility, she was a Partner, Managing Director, and Senior Consultant at Colonial Consulting, serving as an investment consultant for endowments, foundations, and pension plans. She also served as a Senior Consultant at Ibbotson Associates.Tom, Amita, and I had a fascinating discussion. We covered:The why and the how behind Cerity Partners’ merger with Agility.How wealth management platforms can balance customization and scalability.Why scale matters in wealth management.How alternative asset managers can differentiate when engaging with the wealth channel.Thanks Tom and Amita for coming on the show to share your views and wisdom on wealth management and private markets.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 to our Sponsor, Ultimus Fund Solutions02:05 Guest Introduction: Tom Cohn and Amita Schultes07:32 Merger Benefits and Synergies08:19 Client Services and Customization09:32 OCIO and Wealth Management Integration10:45 Why Partner Now?11:40 Cultural Alignment and Expertise12:38 Amita's Perspective on the Partnership13:16 Wealth Management as Institutional LPs14:23 Cerity Partners' Institutional Approach14:54 Private Markets Evolution16:25 Operational Excellence in Private Markets17:35 Research and Manager Selection20:56 Investment Objectives and Customization22:27 Institutional and Wealth Client Synergies28:16 Access and Long-term Relationships30:06 Customization and Scalability32:20 Educational Component in Client Investments32:36 Framework for Custom Portfolios33:10 Resource Allocation for Customization33:47 Importance of OCIO Business34:16 Next Innovation in Investment Solutions34:38 Turnkey Solutions for Operational Complexities35:39 Model Solutions and Manager Selection36:34 Combining OCIO and Wealth Management Practices37:32 Evolving Structures in Private Markets37:54 Workflows and Technology in Private Markets38:39 Client Experience and Operational Expertise39:37 Defining Private Markets41:13 Importance of Clear Definitions41:54 Role and Goals of Private Market Investments44:15 Partnerships and Mergers at Cerity Partners47:05 Evaluating Investment Managers49:06 Trust in General Partner Relationships51:16 Identifying Manager's Edge53:24 Training and Methodology in Manager Selection55:51 Challenges for Managers with Wealth Channel Capital56:47 Operational Challenges for Smaller Managers58:06 Future Trends in Alternative Investments01:01:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.
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Mar 13, 2025 • 58min

Blue Owl's Marc Lipschultz - skate to where the puck is going

Marc Lipschultz, Co-CEO of Blue Owl and a veteran of private markets, shares insights from his extensive career, including his time at KKR and co-founding Owl Rock. He discusses Blue Owl's impressive growth to over $250 billion in assets, crediting their unique partnerships and focus on culture. Lipschultz emphasizes the importance of creating a respectful work environment and democratizing alternative investments. He also explores scaling in private markets and draws parallels between building successful cultures in sports and business.
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Mar 5, 2025 • 55min

Apollo's Stephanie Drescher - what is safe, what is risky?

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s episode features an industry titan who has been on the forefront of the intersection of alts and wealth.We talk with Stephanie Drescher, Partner, Chief Client and Product Development Officer at Apollo and a member of the firm’s Leadership Team. She oversees the Client and Product Solutions Group (CPS), which includes Apollo’s Global Wealth Management Solutions, Institutional Sales, and Global Product teams. She is also involved with Apollo’s strategic investments in private markets, as a Board Observer at iCapital and a Board Member at Vega.Stephanie is responsible for leading Apollo’s global wealth buildout, which is one of the firm’s strategic priorities. They’ve invested heavily in educational resources and have built out a specialized team to work with the wealth channel. Apollo has set a goal of achieving $150B from its global wealth business by 2029 and, in 2024, under Stephanie’s leadership the global wealth business exceeded the total capital raised in 2023 from the wealth channel.Before joining Apollo in 2004, Stephanie was with JP Morgan for 10 years, working primarily in its Alternative Investment Group.Stephanie and I had a fascinating conversation about how to build and scale a business in the wealth channel. We discussed:What is safe and what is risky?How can investors approach asset allocation and portfolio construction?How working with institutional investors has influenced and helped Stephanie think through how to work with investors in the wealth channel.The anatomy of building a wealth business.How critical is brand building when working with the wealth channel?Thanks Stephanie for coming on the show to share your wisdom and expertise on private markets and work with the wealth channel.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 Message from our Sponsor, Ultimus Fund Solutions01:55 Welcome Back to Alt Goes Mainstream02:04 Introducing Stephanie Drescher03:55 Stephanie's Journey at Apollo04:14 Focus on Institutional Clients04:43 Strategic Focus on Wealth Channels05:05 Learning from Different LPs05:27 Early Days at J.P. Morgan08:04 Importance of Communication08:17 Transparency and Client Centric Approach08:56 Educational Initiatives at Apollo10:07 Apollo Academy Engagement10:42 Content Creation Strategy11:37 Combining Short and Long Form Content11:43 Direct Client Communication12:00 Distribution and Marketing12:26 Client Centric Approach13:06 Creating a Narrative for Private Markets13:40 Defining Private Markets14:34 Public vs. Private Markets15:50 Changing Definitions in Private Markets16:18 Impact of 2022 on Public Markets17:02 Concentration in Public Markets17:41 Benefits of Private Markets18:17 Helping Clients Understand Private Markets18:44 Developing Accessible Solutions19:45 Client Focused Solutions19:51 Balancing Client Needs and Market Nuances20:15 Apollo's Origination Capability22:12 Athene's Role in Apollo's Strategy24:26 Tax Efficiency in Private Markets25:39 Wealth Channel vs. Institutional Investors25:48 Solving for Tax Challenges25:53 Listening to Client Needs27:31 Avoiding K1s and Capital Costs28:17 Process and Adoption of Private Markets29:07 Investing in Technology30:08 Insights from Technology Investments31:06 Shared Industry Solutions32:02 Digital Outreach and Thought Leadership32:38 Apollo's Brand and Public Presence33:02 B2B2C Relationships33:10 Building Apollo's Brand33:50 Communicating Apollo's Value Proposition34:04 Reaching the End Client35:39 Media Presence and Brand Awareness36:59 Tangible Impact of Private Credit37:35 Evolution of Private Credit38:14 Role of Asset Backed Credit38:46 Alternative Asset Managers in Financial Markets39:18 Partnerships and Convergence39:48 Discretionary Allocations40:11 401(k) Business and Retirement Goals41:18 Focus on Net Return41:52 Provocative Questions on Liquidity43:00 Consistency of Messaging43:26 Innovative Parts of Apollo's Business43:49 Changing Definitions of Alternatives45:23 Phases of Adoption in Wealth Channel47:00 Strategic Focus on Partnerships52:39 Balancing Scale and Customization53:26 Personal Reflections and Future Investments54:48 Conclusion and Farewell
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Feb 26, 2025 • 51min

Alto's Eric Satz - retirement assets: the next frontier for private markets?

In this episode, Eric Satz, Founder and CEO of Alto, shares insights from his extensive experience in FinTech and community development. He discusses how self-directed IRAs can revolutionize retirement investing, allowing everyday Americans to tap into private markets. Eric breaks down barriers to investing in alternatives, emphasizing technology's role in enhancing access and understanding. He challenges traditional views on retirement portfolios and highlights how platforms like Alto can align investment opportunities with tax advantages. A must-listen for aspiring investors!

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