Dakota Live! Podcast

Where Investors are Allocating | Insights from Dakota Live! On The Road

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

What happens when you leave the conference stage and sit down with investors where they actually work?
Over the past year, Dakota Live! has traveled the country, recording conversations with CIOs, investment office leaders, consultants, OCIOs, foundations, endowments, family offices, and institutional investors. This special episode brings together the most important themes, market observations, and portfolio discussions from those conversations.
In this episode, we explore:
• How allocators are thinking about portfolio construction in today's market
• The outlook for private equity, venture capital, and private credit
• Manager selection and due diligence trends
• The growing role of AI in investing and operations
• Active versus passive management in concentrated markets
• Risk management amid uncertainty and idiosyncratic volatility
• Emerging opportunities across public and private markets
The Dakota Live! On the Road series is different because these conversations happen where decisions are made—inside investment offices, on university campuses, and alongside the teams responsible for stewarding long-term capital.
On the road. On the ground. In the room.

The Future of Venture Capital: AI, Seed Investing, and the New Founder Playbook

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Melody Koh, Partner at NextView Ventures, joins the Dakota Live Podcast to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping venture capital, startup building, company scaling, and the future of work.

As both a seed-stage investor and the leader of NextView's AI and data initiatives, Melody offers a unique perspective on what separates winning founders from the rest in an AI-native economy. From evaluating startup teams and identifying durable competitive advantages to redesigning venture capital workflows with AI agents, this conversation explores how technology is changing both sides of the investment table.

Topics include:

The current state of venture capital in 2026
How AI is changing startup formation and company building
AI agents vs. traditional workflows
Why venture firms must reinvent themselves
The future of seed-stage investing
What investors look for in AI-native startups
Consumer AI opportunities that may be overlooked

Melody also shares lessons from building and scaling products at Blue Apron, investing through multiple venture cycles, and helping founders navigate the challenges of growth, hiring, and execution.

Whether you're a founder, allocator, venture capitalist, institutional investor, or student interested in innovation and emerging technology, this episode provides a practical look at where venture capital and artificial intelligence are headed next.

About Melody Koh

Melody Koh is a Partner at NextView Ventures, a seed-stage venture capital firm focused on the Everyday Economy. She invests in early-stage technology companies and leads the firm's AI and data initiatives. Prior to NextView, Melody held leadership roles at Blue Apron and previously worked in venture investing, entrepreneurship, and product management.

BlackRock’s Michael Gates on Model Portfolios, AI, Bitcoin ETFs & the Future of Wealth Management

Wed, 27 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

What happens when one of the world’s largest asset managers starts rethinking portfolio construction in the age of AI?

On this episode of Dakota Live!, Robert Morier sits down with Michael Gates, Managing Director and Head of Model Portfolio Solutions for the Americas within BlackRock’s Multi-Asset Strategies & Solutions platform.

The conversation explores how BlackRock is thinking about:

• Model portfolios and advisor scale
• Active vs. passive portfolio construction
• The rise of active ETFs
• Bitcoin ETFs and alternative allocations
• AI’s impact on investing and research workflows
• Behavioral coaching and “advisor alpha”
• Risk budgeting, tactical allocation, and market structure
• Tax overlays, SMAs, and portfolio personalization
• What future investment professionals need to learn now

Michael also shares how his background in biological sciences and economics shaped his investment philosophy, why efficient markets still matter, and how AI coding tools are already transforming research and productivity inside financial services.

For advisors, allocators, wealth managers, students, and anyone interested in the future of portfolio construction, this is a deep dive into where the industry may be headed next.

Topics include:

BlackRock model portfolios
Portfolio construction strategies
Active ETFs vs passive investing
Bitcoin ETF adoption
AI in asset management
Advisor alpha and behavioral finance
Wealth management trends 2026
Multi-asset investing
Tax-loss harvesting strategies
Institutional investing insights

For our audience of allocators, advisors, OCIO professionals, and emerging investment leaders, this episode offers a real-time look into how one of the largest asset managers in the world is thinking about portfolio construction, AI, risk, and the future of advisor value creation.

And for students, this conversation is a masterclass in what the next generation of investing actually looks like: combining economic intuition, technology, coding, behavioral understanding, and communication into a modern investment career.

Why Tax Is Moving Upstream in Institutional Investing | Dave Sekula, CEO of GTM

Wed, 20 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Tax used to sit downstream from the investment process.

Today, it’s moving upstream.

In this episode of Dakota Live!, Robert Morier sits down with Dave Sekula, CEO of GTM (Global Tax Management), to discuss how tax strategy, technology, operational complexity, and institutional investing are becoming increasingly intertwined.

The conversation comes at a timely moment, following the SEC’s recent proposal to potentially shift public companies from quarterly to semiannual reporting.

While the headline sounds regulatory, the implications reach much further into how asset managers, allocators, OCIOs, RIAs, and corporate finance teams think about transparency, planning, investor communication, and long-term decision making.

Dave shares insights from leading one of the country’s largest independent corporate tax providers, including:

• Why tax is no longer just a compliance function
• How institutional investors are thinking differently about tax efficiency and portfolio construction
• The operational complexity behind global and multi-manager portfolios
• The growing role of AI and automation in corporate tax workflows
• Why firms are increasingly focused on tax-loss harvesting strategies and after-tax outcomes

The episode also explores leadership, servant leadership, scaling a national firm, and how technology continues to reshape one of the most human-capital-intensive industries in finance.

“Performance is one thing. What you keep, that’s the real scorecard.”

Inside LPL’s Alternatives Platform: Manager Research, Due Diligence & What’s Next

Wed, 13 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

On this episode of the Dakota Live Podcast, we sit down with Andrew Deck, Vice President and Head of Alternative Investments at LPL Financial, alongside his colleague Matt Doyle, Head of Investment Due Diligence, for an inside look at how one of the largest advisor platforms in the country is thinking about alternatives, manager research, sourcing, and portfolio construction today.
LPL Financial is one of the largest independent wealth management and advisor platforms in the country, supporting more than 32,000 financial professionals and serving approximately 8 million Americans across advisory, brokerage, and institutional channels.
What makes LPL particularly interesting in today’s environment is the firm’s growing role at the intersection of institutional-quality manager research, alternative investments, advisor technology, and large-scale wealth management distribution.
We explored:
• How LPL is translating institutional-quality private markets into the wealth channel
• The evolution of manager research and due diligence inside large advisor platforms
• Why education and implementation matter just as much as access
• The future of evergreen structures, interval funds, and public/private solutions
• What asset managers need to understand before approaching large platforms
• How Andrew and Matt think about sourcing, differentiation, underwriting, and conviction
• What’s next for alternatives as wealth management and institutional investing continue to converge
One of our favorite parts of the conversation was hearing Andrew and Matt together at the desk. You get both the strategic platform perspective and the day-to-day underwriting process from the people actually building it.
For anyone working in manager research, fundraising, OCIO, private markets, wealth management, or institutional sales, this is a fascinating look behind the curtain at where the industry is headed.

Inside Foundation Investing and the OCIO Model | On the Road at Georgia State University

Wed, 06 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In this special on-the-road edition of the Dakota Live Podcast, host Robert Morier brings the show to Atlanta for a live recording at Georgia State University in front of students from GSU's Student Managed Investment Fund and Drexel University.
Joining Robert on the podcast:

Holly Sailers — Interim CFO and Comptroller, Georgia State University Foundation
Markus Krygier — Co-Chief Investment Officer, Strategic Investment Group
Degas Wright — CIO of Decatur Capital Management & Executive in Residence at Georgia State University

Together, they unpack what it takes to steward institutional capital — from the day-to-day reality of running a university foundation, to the rise of the OCIO model, to the art and science of manager due diligence.
Along the way, the panel digs into:

What a foundation really does, and how donor intent shapes decisions
Why trust, transparency, and great questions are the foundation of any OCIO relationship
The three pillars of manager due diligence: science, art, and operations
How to think about liquidity, inflation, and uncertainty in today's market
Why complexity is often used to "cover weak thinking" — and how to communicate clearly instead

The episode closes with a powerful Q&A from GSU and Drexel students on probabilistic thinking, position sizing, real investment edge, and what separates discretionary from non-discretionary models.
A huge thank you to Georgia State University, the GSU Foundation, and the students who showed up, listened, and asked great questions.

Habits, Not Assets: What Piada Teaches Investors About Capital Discipline and Scaling Right

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Before something becomes an asset, a platform, or a strategy, it has to become a habit. And it's exactly why this conversation matters for allocators, investors, and operators alike.

On this episode of Dakota Live, Robert Morier sits down with Chris Doody, founder of Piada Italian Street Food, and Lance Juhas, the company's CEO, to go inside one of the most disciplined growth stories in American fast casual.

For the investment salesperson: This episode gives you a rare, tangible example of what real unit economics, capital discipline, and scalable growth actually look like inside an operating business — the kind of concrete, story-driven language that cuts through in a client meeting and makes abstract investment concepts suddenly stick.

For the allocator: Piada is a live case study in what separates brands that compound from brands that collapse under their own growth — and the conversation around capital partnership, time horizon, and margin versus guest experience maps directly onto questions you're already asking every manager that sits across the table from you.

The numbers tell the story: a first store that cost $600,000 to build and did $2.7 million in its first year. 62 corporate-owned locations across multiple states. 29 consecutive quarters of positive same-store comps. Average unit volumes of $2.5 million. And a planned growth ramp of 15 new stores this year, scaling to 30 annually.

But the real conversation is about what the numbers don't show — the decisions behind them.

Chris and Lance break down how they think about site selection, unit economics, people discipline, capital deployment, and the one mistake they've watched destroy otherwise great restaurant brands: growing for the sake of growth.

For allocators and investors, this is a live underwriting exercise on a real business with real feedback loops. No quarterly narrative smoothing. No managing to guidance. Just lunch and dinner, every day, in markets that tell you immediately whether you got it right.

What we cover:
• How Piada went from napkin concept to 62 locations — and why they stayed in concentric circles instead of chasing coasts
• Unit economics: what makes a great Piada location and how they evaluate new sites
• The crab cakes story: what happens when a public company starts managing to margin instead of managing to the guest
• Capital discipline vs. growth pressure — and how Chris things about unchecked expansion
• AI, loyalty programs, and how a million-subscriber app was built entirely in-house

From a test kitchen in Columbus to a national inflection point — this is the blueprint.

Operators as Investors: Scaling Healthcare Platforms

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In a market where allocators are increasingly focused on healthcare innovation, growth equity discipline, and the role of operators in driving outcomes, this episode sits directly at the intersection.

This conversation with Sal DeTrane of Empactful Capital extends a theme we’ve been hearing consistently from CIOs, OCIOs, and allocators across the Dakota Live platform: the next wave of value creation in private markets is being driven by execution, not just access.

Sal brings that lens into focus.

With a background that spans venture, investment banking, and hands-on operating leadership, he represents an important cohort of operators-turned-investors, those who don’t just underwrite businesses but help build them.

We explore how that perspective is being applied inside one of the most complex and opportunity-rich sectors in the market today: healthcare technology.

What We Cover:
Why allocators are leaning into healthcare tech now
From value-based care to behavioral health integration, we unpack the structural tailwinds driving sustained interest and capital flows into the space.
Growth equity through an operator’s lens
How Empactful approaches the critical $5–$20M revenue inflection point (where many companies stall) and what it actually takes to scale.
Platforms vs. point solutions
Why scalable healthcare businesses must move beyond single-use cases and into integrated, defensible platforms.
The reality of scaling healthcare companies
Long sales cycles, complex stakeholders, and reimbursement dynamics—and how disciplined execution bridges the gap.
Operators as investors
What changes when the investor has been the CFO, COO, or CEO—and why that matters to both founders and LPs.
Alignment with allocator priorities
Liquidity timelines, DPI focus, and disciplined capital deployment—directly addressing the concerns we continue to hear across the allocator community
Why This Episode Matters:

For listeners, this is a chance to better understand the increasingly blurred line between venture and growth equity—and what it actually looks like in practice when you combine venture upside with growth equity discipline.

For operators and founders, it’s a clear articulation of what sophisticated capital expects today:
milestone-driven execution, commercial traction, and the ability to scale with precision.

And for anyone following the broader private markets conversation, this episode builds on a theme we’ve been hearing repeatedly:it’s not just where capital is going—but how it behaves once it gets there, and who is responsible for turning it into outcomes

How Top Investment Consultants Pick Managers | The Future of Due Diligence with Callan

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Join Dakota Live! as we sit down with senior leaders from one of the largest investment consultants in North America, Callan, for a deep dive into private markets, hedge funds, and their process behind manager selection.

Ashley Kahn leads private equity manager research at Callan. Her work lives at that intersection of pattern recognition, judgment, and repetition, seeing enough deals to know what’s real and what’s just a good story.

Tony Lissuzzo sits on the other side of the table as an investment consultant, working directly with endowments and foundations on portfolio construction. Before Callan, he spent time at Cambridge Associates and Northern Trust, including managing alternative investment portfolios.

This episode starts in the classroom at Drexel University but quickly moves into the investment committee.

Over 10 weeks, students were asked to do what typically takes years to learn:
Underwrite real asset managers. Build conviction. Make a call.

What emerged was something bigger—
a real-time apprenticeship in investment judgment.

In this conversation, we explore how top allocators and consultants actually make decisions:
● How private equity and venture capital managers are evaluated (and why access matters)
● What separates great hedge fund managers in today’s more efficient markets
● The role of pattern recognition, judgment, and qualitative edge in due diligence
● Why portfolio construction in private markets is as much art as science
● How allocators think about risk (illiquidity + leverage) in today’s environment
● The importance of client fit, partnership mindset, and long-term conviction
● What students (and professionals) get wrong about manager selection

Lean how decisions get made, how managers are evaluated, and how judgment is built over time.

OCIO in Practice: Jeff Croteau on Total Portfolio Thinking and Manager Due Diligence

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Join dakota Live! as we sit down with Jeff Croteau, Founder & CIO of Tide Cycle Resources, to discuss building durable portfolios, the evolution of the OCIO model, and why patience—not prediction—drives long-term success.

We explore what it means to step away from a traditional institutional consulting career and launch a focused, high-conviction investment platform designed for families and foundations navigating increasingly complex markets.

With approximately $3 billion advised across client portfolios, Tide Cycle is built on a simple idea: stability, discipline, and thoughtful asset allocation matter more than complexity or constant change.

Jeff explains how decades of experience across market cycles—from the dot-com bubble to the Global Financial Crisis—have shaped his approach to portfolio construction, manager selection, and client relationships.

We explore:
• Why “stability” is the most underrated driver of long-term investment success.
• How the OCIO model is evolving toward deeper integration with families, boards, and advisors.
• Why Tide Cycle indexes public equities—and where they choose to spend their active risk and fee budget instead.
• Risks in private credit and the importance of aligning liquidity with underlying investments.
• How governance and education shape better decision-making during periods of market stress.

Throughout the conversation, Jeff returns to a core idea:
Sometimes nothing is broken— the tide just hasn’t come back in yet.

Whether you’re an allocator, asset manager, or student of the markets, this episode offers a clear, experience-driven perspective on how portfolios are actually built, managed, and sustained over full cycles.

Listen now for a grounded conversation on patience, discipline, and the frameworks that endure.

The PE Guy (April Fool’s Day Special) | A Serious Lesson on Content Creation in Financial Services

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

This episode starts as a parody.

An April Fool’s take on private equity, financial media, and the way we position ourselves in the investment industry.

It’s exaggerated. It’s intentional. And it might feel too familiar.

Then we shift.

Because behind the character is a real conversation about something that matters—

how content is created, how differentiation actually works, and why most financial firms get it wrong.

What You’ll Get:

• A satirical look at private equity culture and messaging

• The thinking behind one of the fastest-growing finance parody brands

• Practical insight on building content that actually cuts through

• Why copying trends doesn’t work—and what does

• Advice for students, allocators, and managers navigating a changing landscape

Why This Episode Matters:

In a market where everyone sounds the same, content is no longer optional—it’s a strategic advantage.

This episode is about understanding that shift.

Through humor first—then through experience.

Guest:

Johnny Hilbrant — creator of “PE Guy,” a rapidly growing parody brand across LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube, known for its sharp take on private equity culture and communication.

Governance Over Everything: Inside the CIO Seat (WVU Live)

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

What does it look like to sit in the CIO seat?

This episode of Dakota Live was recorded on campus at West Virginia University, bringing students directly into the room with institutional investors responsible for billions in capital.

Rob Morier sits down with:

Jim Bethea, CIO of the WVU Foundation
Craig Slaughter, CIO of the West Virginia Investment Management Board
Josh Hall, Dean of the WVU Business School

This is not a surface-level discussion.

It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how portfolios are actually built—and what matters far more than most people think.

We cover:

How endowments and pensions allocate capital
The real role of governance in investment outcomes
How CIOs evaluate managers (and why it’s not a pure science)
Private markets vs public markets today
Active vs passive: where the opportunity may be shifting
What students and young professionals need to know to break into investing

One of the biggest takeaways:

Most CIOs don’t spend their time talking about managers.

They talk about governance, process, and decision-making.

If you’re an allocator, asset manager, or student trying to understand how institutional investing actually works—this episode is for you.

Inside an Emerging Manager: Building from the Ground Up

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Instead of sitting across from an allocator, this week we flip the table—and sit in the seat of an emerging manager building a firm from the ground up.
In this conversation with Brandon Ladoff, Founder & Portfolio Manager of Denmark Capital, we explore what it actually looks like to launch a boutique investment firm in today’s market—where every decision mirrors the exact questions allocators ask behind closed doors.

From fundraising realities to portfolio construction, from volatility to conviction, this episode is a case study in what emerging managers must get right to survive—and win.

What we cover:
• The leap from established firm to founder: “burning the boats”
• How emerging managers think about alignment, patience, and capital base
• The tension between unconstrained investing and allocators’ expectations
• The reality of fundraising when your strategy embraces volatility

Why this episode is different:
Most conversations focus on how allocators evaluate managers.

This one shows you the other side:
👉 What it feels like to be the emerging manager
👉 The trade-offs you don’t see in pitch decks
👉 The conviction required when there’s no institutional safety net

As discussed in the episode, launching a firm is less about theory and more about execution under uncertainty—a real-time test of everything we try to understand in emerging manager due diligence.

Seeding the Next Generation of Asset Managers: Hedge Funds, VC, and Private Equity Compared

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

What does it really take to back the next generation of investment managers?

In this special live recording of the Dakota Live Podcast from Drexel University’s Boathouse Row, host Robert Morier moderates a rare discussion on GP seeding across three different asset classes—hedge funds, venture capital, and lower-middle-market private equity.

While GP seeding is often discussed within a single asset class, this conversation brings together three distinct perspectives to explore how the strategy evolves depending on the market, the structure of capital, and the type of investor being backed.

The panel examines how seed investors identify emerging talent, structure alignment with founders, and help new firms overcome the “chicken-and-egg” challenge of launching a fund.

Joining the discussion:

Scott Schweighauser, Founder & Managing Partner of Borealis Strategic Capital Partners – sharing the hedge fund seeding perspective and the importance of identifying talent early.

Andrea Lo, Founder & Managing Partner of Main Character Capital – discussing GP seeding in venture capital and how to back the next generation of specialized VC managers.

Dan Pogue, Vice President at Catalyst Partners – explaining how seed investors support first-time private equity managers and help institutionalize emerging firms.

Together, they explore:

✓ How GP seeding differs across hedge funds, venture capital, and private equity
✓ Why alignment, structure, and value-add matter in early-stage asset management
✓ The evolving economics of GP stakes and revenue-share structures
✓ How investors identify emerging managers before they become household names
✓ The challenges of launching a firm in an increasingly competitive fundraising environment

For allocators, emerging managers, and anyone interested in the institutional investment ecosystem, this episode offers a rare cross-asset look at how early capital shapes the future of asset management.

Underwriting Consumer VC: Early-Stage Due Diligence and the Operator Edge

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode of dakota Live!, we step into a space where venture capital meets operator realism.

While we often sit with allocators and emerging manager gatekeepers, today we turn the lens toward the managers themselves — and examine how early-stage consumer investing mirrors the same discipline allocators demand in emerging manager due diligence.

Robert Morier sits down with Sean Kelly and Christine Wang of Family Fund to unpack what underwriting consumer brands can teach us about underwriting people — and why early-stage due diligence in venture is less about trend-chasing and more about pattern recognition, character assessment, and disciplined execution.

This conversation moves beyond surface-level “consumer is back” narratives. Instead, we explore:
• Why Series A consumer investing may offer asymmetric risk/reward in a valuation-compressed environment
• How data-rich consumer businesses reduce “taste risk” through measurable retention, velocity, and unit economics
• The difference between community as a vanity metric and community as a moat
• How emotional resonance paired with rational economics creates durable companies
• What allocators often misunderstand about consumer venture — and why specialization may be the real edge

For institutional investors and consultants evaluating emerging managers, this episode offers a parallel lens:

Just as consumer VCs must separate fad from durable trend, allocators must separate storytelling from scalable process.

If you allocate to venture, evaluate emerging managers, or think deeply about how consumer behavior drives GDP and exit pathways, this conversation offers a structured view of what early-stage investing looks like beneath the narrative layer.

Understanding Volatility in a Structurally Shifting Market

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0500

In the latest episode of dakota live!, we step into a part of the market that rarely gets explained well — the mechanics of volatility trading.

As equity markets move through higher dispersion, regime shifts, and increasingly systematic flows, some of the most interesting price discovery is happening in derivatives.

Volatility isn’t just a hedge or a headline metric. It’s an asset shaped by positioning, liquidity, and structural supply-demand imbalances.

We discuss how firms like Zero Delta, a hedge fund of funds, allocating to specialists trading single-name and index options — evaluate markets where dealer gamma positioning, liquidity fragmentation, and flow-driven distortions can create temporary pricing inefficiencies.

This is a conversation about process.

How experienced volatility traders:

✓ Interpret skew and term structure
✓ Think about convexity and asymmetric payoffs
✓ Adjust exposure as opportunity sets expand or compress
✓ Trade relative value rather than directional views

The broader takeaway for institutional allocators is structural. As passive flows grow and options volumes reach record levels, derivatives markets increasingly reflect stress and opportunity in real time.

Volatility trading — when executed as disciplined relative value — can become a way to engage dislocations created by crowding and hedging demand, rather than simply reacting to them.

If you allocate to hedge funds — or evaluate them — understanding how volatility traders actually think beneath the surface of the VIX is imperative.

If you’re an individual market participant trading your own account, appreciating how professionals interpret skew, positioning, liquidity, and convexity can sharpen how you think about risk.

This episode is about framework — a closer look at the mechanics that drive derivatives markets and the discipline required to navigate them.

How University Endowments Invest | Private Equity & Institutional Strategy

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0500

In this special “On the Road” episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, Robert Morier travels to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville for a live CIO panel discussion on endowment management, private equity, private credit, asset allocation, and manager research & due diligence.
Featuring:

Rip Mecherle, CIO, University of Tennessee System ($1.8B endowment)
Cathy Ulozas, CIO, Drexel University
Bridget Sproles, Partner & Co-Head of Healthcare Practice, Cambridge Associates
Ryan Farley, Professor and Director, Torch Fund Program, University of Tennessee

Recorded in front of students from Drexel University and the University of Tennessee, this episode explores how institutional investors think about:

Endowment portfolio construction (public vs. private markets)
Private equity allocation strategy and long-term commitments
The risks and realities of private credit in today’s market
How CIOs underwrite managers and assess integrity, culture, and risk
Teaching students to think like real-world investors

The panel also shares candid career lessons — including trading mistakes, surviving market crises, and the importance of adaptability in finance.
If you’re interested in institutional investing, asset allocation strategy, manager due diligence, endowment management, OCIO relationships, hedge funds, private markets, or building a career in investment management, this conversation is essential listening.
Learn how top CIOs make capital allocation decisions under uncertainty — and how students can prepare to enter the world of institutional asset management.

Why Banks Are Increasing Private Market Exposure—A Manager Research View from PNC Bank

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0500

Retail and wealth management platforms inside large banks are increasing exposure to private markets—but not through hype, shortcuts, or “democratization” headlines.

They’re doing it through institutional-grade manager research, governance, and due diligence.

In this episode of Dakota Live, host Robert Morier sits down with Scott Lavelle, Managing Director and Head of Investment Advisor Research & Product Management at PNC Bank, to unpack how one of the largest U.S. bank platforms evaluates, selects, and monitors investment managers across public and private markets.

Scott oversees the teams responsible for sourcing, vetting, and monitoring external managers—while also determining how private market strategies are structured, governed, and delivered to retail and wealth clients at scale.

What this episode covers

Why retail bank platforms are expanding private market allocations—and why most clients are still under-allocated relative to policy targets
How banks are introducing evergreen private market structures cautiously, selectively, and with fiduciary discipline
The manager research process behind private equity, private credit, venture, and hedge fund strategies inside a regulated bank environment
Why due diligence—not product demand—drives platform decisions
The role of operational due diligence in private markets (and why it’s risk you never get paid to take)
How banks think about fees, access, and manager skill when evaluating private strategies
Where fund-of-funds still make sense (and where they no longer do)
How institutional governance changes the pace—but improves the durability—of private market adoption

Rather than relying on industry buzzwords, Scott explains—step by step—how PNC has selectively added private market strategies, expanded alternatives exposure, and evolved its platform only where investment merit, manager capability, and client outcomes align.

This is a rare look inside how retail banks actually make private market decisions—from the perspective of the people accountable for getting them right.

The Joy of Discovery | GP Seeding, Hedge Funds & Manager Research with Scott Schweighauser (Borealis Strategic Capital Partners)

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Dakota Live!, host Robert Morier sits down with Scott Schweighauser, Managing Partner of Borealis Strategic Capital Partners, for a wide-ranging conversation on GP seeding, hedge fund history, and why now is such a compelling moment to back emerging managers.

Scott brings decades of experience across trading, fund-of-funds investing, and early-stage hedge fund seeding to unpack how the hedge fund industry has evolved—from the early, relationship-driven days through institutionalization, the GFC, and today’s renewed focus on differentiated alpha.

The discussion explores why emerging managers can outperform early in their lifecycle, how thoughtful seed structures create alignment, and what allocator-grade manager research and due diligence really look like in practice.

The conversation also weaves in Scott’s lifelong passion for rowing—using the sport as a powerful metaphor for teamwork, trust, grit, and leadership. From sunrise rows on the Charles to building durable investment partnerships, Scott shares why having fun in the work matters, and how joy, curiosity, and discipline coexist in great investing organizations.

Key topics covered:

• GP seeding and strategic capital for emerging hedge fund managers
• A brief history of hedge fund investing—and why the opportunity set is changing
• Why “why now” matters for seeding and early-stage manager selection
• Manager research, sourcing, and qualitative due diligence
• Alignment, structure, and avoiding adverse selection in seeding deals
• Early-stage performance dynamics and the “emerging manager premium”
• Rowing, leadership, trust, and building teams under pressure
• Why curiosity and enjoyment are underrated edges in long-term investing

Whether you’re an allocator, GP, institutional sales professional, student of the markets, or simply curious about how investment talent is identified and supported, this episode offers a thoughtful, experience-driven look at hedge funds, seeding, and the human side of manager selection.

Aksia, Alternatives & the Wealth Channel | Chris Schelling on Private Markets Today

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier welcomes back Chris Schelling for his second appearance on the show—and his first since joining Aksia.

Aksia is one of the world’s leading alternatives research and portfolio advisory firms, advising on approximately $400+ billion across private equity, private credit, real assets, and hedge funds.

With deep institutional roots and a global footprint, Aksia is known for its rigorous manager research, operational due diligence, and portfolio construction expertise—capabilities that have made it a trusted partner to pensions, endowments, sovereign wealth funds, and increasingly, the private wealth channel.

Chris brings a rare perspective to this conversation. Having served as a senior institutional allocator, a multi-family office CIO, and now a Managing Director at Aksia focused on the wealth channel, he sits at the intersection of institutional-grade alternatives and advisor-led portfolio construction.

This conversation goes beyond headlines. Topics include:

Why Aksia’s institutional research engine matters as alternatives move into private wealth
How private credit, hedge funds, and private equity are evolving post-2025
The role of portfolio construction, liquidity management, and governance in alternatives
Where Chris sees real opportunity—and real risk—across private markets
What wealth advisors often misunderstand about alternatives (and how Aksia is addressing it)

This episode offers a first look at how Aksia is translating decades of institutional expertise into the wealth channel, and how Chris is helping advisors think more clearly about alternatives—not as products, but as portfolio tools.

If you’re an allocator, advisor, GP, or investment professional navigating the next phase of private markets, this is a conversation worth your time.

Inside a Single Family Office: How CIOs Allocate Capital, Select Managers, and Think Long-Term

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode of dakota live, host Robert Morier sits down with Stephanie Szymanski, Chief Investment Officer of Lakeview Capital Management, for a wide-ranging, practitioner-level conversation on how single-family offices actually invest.

Stephanie pulls back the curtain on what it means to run portfolio construction inside a single-family office, covering how family office CIOs think differently from endowments and foundations when it comes to asset allocation, manager selection, liquidity, and after-tax outcomes.

This episode is essential viewing for:
• Asset managers seeking to work with single-family offices
• Emerging managers navigating early allocations
• Allocators and CIOs comparing family office vs institutional models
• Students and analysts interested in family office careers

Topics covered include:
• How single family offices structure multi-asset portfolios across public and private markets
• The role of hedge funds as diversifiers, return enhancers, and risk reducers
• Why many family offices invest earlier than institutions—and how they assess manager risk
• Active vs passive decision-making in global equities
• How family offices evaluate emerging market and ex-US equity managers
• The realities of private equity pacing, distributions, and capacity constraints
• Why many family offices do not focus on direct investing
• Manager due diligence, triangulation, and relationship-driven underwriting
• What asset managers misunderstand most about family offices
• Career advice for analysts and investors interested in allocator roles

Stephanie also shares practical insight into:
• Running a lean investment team
• Hiring and developing junior analysts
• Building conviction without rigid RFP processes
• Why focus and strategy discipline matter more than scale

If you want a real-world look at how single family offices make investment decisions, this conversation delivers clarity, nuance, and uncommon transparency.

How to Earn Investment Conviction: From Mean Reversion to Manager Selection with Springtide Partners

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode of dakota live!, host Robert Morier sits down with Aaron Dirlam, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Springtide Partners, for a wide-ranging conversation on building conviction in uncertain markets—and why humility remains one of the most underappreciated edges in investing.

Founded in 2017, Springtide Partners has grown into a trusted investment partner for RIAs, family offices, and financial institutions, advising on over $80 billion in client assets. In this discussion, Aaron shares how Springtide’s mean reversion framework, disciplined research process, and client-first mindset have been refined through multiple market cycles—from pre-COVID volatility to today’s rapidly shifting macro environment.

Key topics include:
・How Springtide approaches manager research and due diligence, with a heavy emphasis on qualitative judgment, succession, and culture
・Why mean reversion remains central to portfolio construction—and where the opportunity set looks most compelling today
・The evolution of the OCIO model, rising client service expectations, and what RIAs truly need from outsourced partners
・Springtide’s framework for private markets, including secondaries, venture capital, private credit, and niche real assets
・The role of humility—in founders, portfolio managers, and investment teams—and how it shows up in long-term performance

Aaron also reflects on nearly two decades of partnership with his co-founder, the lessons learned building a boutique investment firm, and how Springtide balances conviction with risk control in an increasingly competitive landscape.

This episode is a must-listen for CIOs, manager research professionals, RIAs, and allocators seeking a clearer lens on conviction-driven investing—and what it truly means to earn a seat at the table.

Inside SEI: New Year, New Mandate | A 2026 CEO Conversation with Ryan Hicke

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0500

We’re kicking off 2026 the same way many investors are setting their New Year’s resolutions: by going straight to the source.
In our first episode of the new year, Dakota Live goes on site to SEI’s headquarters in Oaks, Pennsylvania to sit down with Ryan Hicke, CEO of SEI Investments (NASDAQ: SEIC).
These on-location CEO episodes consistently generate the strongest engagement across our audience of allocators, asset managers, advisors, and institutional sales professionals—and this one delivers on every front.
What This Episode Covers (and Why It Matters in 2026)
As a publicly traded, global financial services firm operating at the intersection of asset management, technology, operations, and advice, SEI offers a unique lens on where the industry is headed. In this wide-ranging conversation, Ryan Hicke and his colleagues Michael Lane, Head of Asset Management and Sean Lawlor, Head of Strategic Growth Initiatives share how SEI is thinking about:

Growth vs. Risk: Why SEI focuses on accelerating good outcomes rather than merely avoiding bad ones
Culture as Strategy: How SEI’s open, meritocratic culture drives innovation and accountability
Private Markets & Alternatives: What the future portfolio really looks like beyond the traditional 60/40
Tokenization, AI, and Technology: Why SEI wants a “courtside seat” to emerging technologies instead of watching from the sidelines
Stratos Wealth Acquisition: How integrating advice reshapes SEI’s long-term strategy across administration, asset management, and client outcomes
Public Company Discipline: Balancing quarterly earnings pressure with long-term shareholder value creation
Leadership in a Changing Market: What it actually means to lead through complexity, regulation, and rapid industry change

This is not a headline-driven discussion. It’s a candid look at how a public company CEO thinks about decision-making, capital allocation, talent, and culture when the stakes are real and the time horizon matters.
A New Year Perspective from the C-Suite
We close the episode with a New Year reflection—professional and personal—on leadership, judgment, balance, and what it means to build durable organizations in a world that rewards speed but punishes shortsightedness.
If your 2026 resolution includes:

Understanding how publicly traded investment firms think strategically
Gaining insight into where asset management, alternatives, and advice are converging
Learning how CEOs actually weigh growth, risk, and culture behind closed doors

This episode is for you.

On the Road in Waco, Texas | Inside Baylor University with CIOs, Allocators & Students

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0500

In this special On the Road episode, we travel to Baylor University in Waco, Texas, to record a live, on-campus conversation with some of the most thoughtful allocators and investment leaders in the institutional investment world.
Hosted from Baylor’s campus, this episode brings together endowment leadership, OCIOs, asset managers, and students for a wide-ranging discussion on long-term investing, manager research, risk, character, and relationship-driven decision-making—the things that actually matter when capital is on the line.
Joining the conversation:

Dave Morehead, Chief Investment Officer, Baylor University
Renee Hanna, Managing Director of Investments, Baylor University
Chris Dion, Co-Chief Investment Officer, Brockenbrough
Michael Holmberg, Senior Portfolio Manager, Neuberger Berman

Together, they explore how real investment decisions are made—not in theory, but in practice.
What this episode covers

How institutional investors think about risk, conviction, and portfolio construction
Why relationships and trust are competitive advantages in manager selection
The role of character in underwriting GPs, OCIOs, and long-term partners
Emerging managers vs. scale managers: where alpha really comes from
Why Baylor has avoided private credit—and what that says about discipline
How allocators collaborate with one another while still competing
What “wearing risk” actually means inside an investment office
Advice for students entering asset management, investing, and finance careers

The episode opens with personal travel stories—missed flights, first road trips, international misadventures—that set the tone for a broader theme: learning happens on the road, through experience, mistakes, and shared perspective. From there, the conversation moves deep into the realities of endowment management, OCIO partnerships, and strategic alignment between LPs and GPs.
This recording is also part of an experiential learning initiative that brought Drexel University students to Baylor through a competitive writing contest, giving them firsthand exposure to institutional investing, allocator thinking, and professional dialogue in action.
If you’re interested in:

Institutional investing
Endowments and foundations
Manager research and due diligence
OCIO models
Private markets and portfolio construction
Teaching finance through real-world experience

…this episode offers a rare, candid look inside how thoughtful investors think, collaborate, and lead.
Recorded live at Baylor University | Waco, Texas.
Part of the On the Road series.

NEPC Uncovered: The OCIO Model, Private Markets & What’s Next with Scott Perry

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode of dakota live!, Robert Morier welcomes Scott Perry, Partner and Head of OCIO Portfolio Strategy at NEPC, one of the largest investment consulting firms in the industry.

Scott brings nearly two decades of institutional experience and a candid perspective on how the OCIO model is evolving — from portfolio construction and liquidity management to alignment of incentives, pacing, and risk.

We cover what it really takes to be an effective discretionary partner in a world defined by complexity, compressed alpha, and a rising demand for private markets access.

Scott breaks down NEPC’s “secret sauce,” including second-level thinking, cross-asset research collaboration, 250-point due-diligence checklists, and the importance of doing the “dirty work” — the legal, operational, fiduciary, and back-office responsibilities that clients often underestimate.

We also dive into the strategic acquisition wave sweeping the investment landscape. Scott offers an inside look at NEPC’s partnership with Hightower, why the RIA channel represents a major growth opportunity, and how private market capabilities and model portfolios will increasingly blur the lines between institutional and wealth.

And, because relationships are still the game behind the game, we talk basketball. NEPC’s legendary Friday-morning runs, the roots of the Year Up Charity Tournament, and how the same court-sense — knowing when to pass, when to take the shot, and how to read the room — translates into durable client partnerships and long-term trust.

Topics Covered:
• OCIO evolution and what institutions should look for in a partner
• Democratizing the endowment model — and why access still matters
• How NEPC evaluates managers (and why attribution beats storytelling)
• Strategic acquisitions & the Hightower partnership
• Private markets pacing, venture vs. buyout dispersion, and niche lending
• The rise of active ETFs and the future of manager-client alignment
• Relationship building, committee dynamics, and managing emotion

Whether you’re a CIO, allocator, manager, RIA, or an emerging professional in the field, Scott offers one of the clearest views into how OCIO decisions get made — and how the industry is changing in real time.

Watch, learn, and subscribe for more insights from the people shaping institutional investing.

Inside Taft-Hartley Allocations with Investment Performance Services (IPS)

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0500

In this week’s episode of Dakota Live, Robert Morier sits down with Jennifer Mink, President of Investment Performance Services (IPS). With IPS advising on approximately $70 billion in assets—98% of which are Taft-Hartley (Union) plans—this conversation offers a rare masterclass on how to navigate the unique ecosystem of union pensions.

Jennifer takes us behind the curtain of IPS’s rigorous investment consulting practice, breaking down exactly how her team approaches manager research, due diligence, and the critical "finals" presentation.

If you are an asset manager looking to work with the Taft-Hartley community, this episode is essential listening. Jennifer explains why understanding the "people behind the pension" is just as important as the performance numbers.

We cover:

The Taft-Hartley Landscape: Understanding the specific needs of Union plans and why Defined Benefit plans remain the "Gold Standard" in this space.
The IPS Manager Research Process: How a manager goes from an initial email to an onsite visit, and finally, to the Investment Committee approved list.
The "Finals" Pitch: Jennifer reveals what works (and what doesn't) in that critical (and timed) presentation—including a cautionary tale about knowing your audience (the "Wegmans story").
Alternative Investments: The current appetite for Private Credit, the enduring role of Hedge Funds, and the specific ERISA fiduciary requirements managers must accept.
Building Trust: Why "calling people back" is a competitive edge and how to build long-term relationships with trustees.

Subscribe to the Dakota Live Podcast to stay ahead of the curve in institutional investing and investment sales. Whether you are focused onmanager research, mastering due diligenceprocesses, or navigating the complexities of Taft-Hartley pension funds, our interviews provide the inside track.

Join us as we unlock the strategies behind successfulasset allocation, explore the shift to private markets, and help you connect with the topinvestment consultants and decision-makers shaping the future of the industry.

The CIO's Playbook with American Beacon Advisors

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0500

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Paul Cavazos, Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer at American Beacon Advisors.
Paul brings more than 25 years of experience managing institutional portfolios for major corporate plans—including Chrysler, Boeing, and DTE Energy—before joining American Beacon to lead their investment strategy, manager oversight, and OCIO business.
Paul shares how those years as an asset owner shaped the way he evaluates investment managers today: his emphasis on disciplined oversight, quarterly underwriting, long-term partnership, and understanding the “why” behind performance—good or bad.
He also discusses what he believes makes a truly effective sub-advisory relationship, and why transparency, consistency, and communication matter far more than flash.
Join us as we explore:
• How Paul approaches the CIO role across multiple vehicles—mutual funds, ETFs, CITs, and OCIO portfolios
• What thoughtful manager research looks like when you’re meeting every quarter, not once a year
• The tension between value and growth, and how he thinks about concentration risk today
• The growing role of private markets and how American Beacon evaluates new opportunity sets
• His views on global investing—from the U.S. to Europe to Asia—and what investors may be underestimating
• The leadership lessons, mentors, and soft skills that shaped his career
• The advice he gives young professionals on patience, preparation, and showing up fully
Paul’s perspective is both practical and generous—rooted in decades of real responsibility, committee work, governance, and decision-making under scrutiny.
It’s a wide-ranging conversation that brings clarity to how a seasoned CIO thinks about risk, alignment, manager selection, and the evolving landscape of institutional investing.

Empowering Emerging Managers: A Conversation with Chrissie Pariso of MPowered Capital

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode of dakota live!, host Robert Morier sits down with Chrissie Pariso, Managing Partner of MPowered Capital, to discuss what it takes to identify, underwrite, and empower the next generation of investment managers. With over two decades of allocator experience—from leading Exelon’s Private Equity Manager Program to joining MPowered Capital alongside industry legend Marcia Page—Chrissie offers an insider’s perspective on manager selection, due diligence, and firm building in today’s complex private markets.

From her early career in capital markets to her leadership at MPowered, Chrissie shares how emerging managers can position themselves for success, the importance of character and transparency in fund management, and how the Multiplier Program at MPowered helps first-time firm builders develop operational excellence, institutional credibility, and lasting impact.

Whether you’re an allocator evaluating boutique funds, a GP raising capital for the first time, or an investor looking to understand the future of the emerging-manager ecosystem, this episode delivers invaluable lessons from one of the industry’s most thoughtful leaders.

Key Topics:
✅ The evolving role of emerging managers in private markets
✅ How due diligence and character assessment drive investment decisions
✅ MPowered Capital’s bespoke capital solutions and the Multiplier Program
✅ Why smaller, undercapitalized firms often generate outsized alpha
✅ The importance of mentorship, resilience, and values-based leadership in firm building

For Allocators:
✅ Understand how institutional investors assess manager integrity and firm readiness
✅ Learn where GP seeding and co-investment strategies fit within asset allocation models
✅ Gain insight into the qualities that distinguish managers who thrive in today’s fundraising environment

For Asset Managers:
✅ Discover how to tell your firm’s story and build credibility with allocators
✅ Learn how to manage your firm’s first 180 days with institutional discipline
✅ Hear how MPowered helps emerging GPs navigate operational, strategic, and fundraising challenges

Tune in to learn how experienced allocator Chrissie Pariso and MPowered Capital are redefining the future of emerging managers, private equity, and institutional due diligence through values-based investing and innovative capital solutions.

Listening First with Crewcial Partners

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0500

In this episode, host Robert Morier sits down with Kyle Marmelstein, Investment Director at Crewcial Partners, live from Newport, Rhode Island.

With over 15 years in institutional consulting and manager research, Kyle shares insights into building lasting partnerships, managing risk through market cycles, and why empathy and listening are essential tools in the allocator’s toolkit.

From the lessons of 2008 to today’s private equity dislocations, Kyle offers a grounded view of what it means to invest with conviction, humility, and purpose.

Crewcial Partners is an independent investment advisory firm based in New York, serving endowments, foundations, and mission-driven institutions across the U.S. With over 40 years of experience, the firm designs customized portfolios that align mission with performance, grounded in rigorous research, transparent communication, and long-term partnership.

Key Insights for Allocators

Hybrid OCIO models — Kyle explains how Crewcial Partners bridges advisory and execution, offering clients flexibility while maintaining investment discipline.
Private equity secondaries — Learn how current market dislocations are creating opportunity for smaller endowments and foundations to enter private markets more efficiently.
People and process alignment — Discover why trust, transparency, and culture drive Crewcial’s due diligence and client partnerships more than any model or metric.

Key Takeaways for Asset Managers

Preparation and empathy win the meeting — Kyle emphasizes the importance of knowing allocators’ pain points and coming prepared to connect, not just to sell.
Tell your story honestly — Authentic storytelling, humility, and transparency—especially about mistakes—build trust faster than performance charts ever will.
Understand the human side of due diligence — Hear how allocators like Kyle “build the mosaic” over time, testing conviction and consistency through multiple meetings.

Listen now to hear how one allocator’s journey from the 2008 crisis to today’s dynamic markets reveals enduring truths about partnership, patience, and purpose in investing.

Manager Research in Focus with CW Advisors

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Recorded from the beautiful Castle Hill Inn in Newport, Rhode Island, this special episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast captures the energy and insights of the Havener Capital Partners StorySales Accelerator Capstone Event.

In this conversation, host Robert Morier sits down with Evan Butler, Investment Analyst at CW Advisors, to explore the art and science of manager research and due diligence from the perspective of both the Chief Investment Officer and the analyst. Evan shares how CW Advisors identifies and underwrites top-tier managers across asset classes, balancing institutional rigor with a boutique approach to client service.

Evan shares his journey from studying marketing at Bryant University to becoming a key member of CW’s alternative investment research team—illustrating how data analytics, storytelling, and relationship-building converge in the modern investment landscape.

From sourcing niche managers and structuring bespoke client portfolios to managing the delicate balance between performance and partnership, Evan offers an authentic look into the relationship between idea generation, investment committee collaboration, and client education.

Recorded amid the ocean air of Newport, this conversation dives deep into:

• The evolving relationship between CIOs and analysts in modern wealth management
• The discipline behind manager sourcing and due diligence
• How CW Advisors balances accessibility with institutional-quality investments
• The mentorship and decision-making process that defines successful investment teams

This episode reminds us that great investing—like great conversation—is built on curiosity, collaboration, and trust.

The OCIO Playbook with Prime Buchholz

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0400

What’s changed—and what still matters—in the OCIO model? In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Adam Lerner, Senior Director of Investments at Prime Buchholz, to unpack how a research-driven OCIO and consulting platform evaluates managers, constructs portfolios, and serves nonprofit clients across endowments, foundations, healthcare systems, and more.

Founded in 1988, Prime Buchholz is one of the industry’s leading independent investment consulting firms, advising on over $80 billion in assets for a diverse range of clients, including colleges and universities, foundations, endowments, hospitals, pension plans, and other long-term investors.

We dig into sourcing, underwriting, and ongoing due diligence; active vs. passive in public equities; portfolio concentration; operational red flags; and how client service and technology shape today’s OCIO experience.

In this conversation:
- The OCIO landscape and Prime Buchholz’s client mix (education, foundations, healthcare) and footprint from Portsmouth (NH), Boston, and Atlanta.
- Research philosophy: why qualitative conviction drives the “A-list,” and how holdings-based questioning tests process discipline.
- Common diligence pitfalls: process drift, team turnover (culture tells), and capacity creep—especially in less-liquid segments.
- Balancing quant screens with judgment (including niche screens like risk-aware 130/30) and aligning manager roles inside the total portfolio.
- Technology’s role: the Prime Plus portal for scenarioing managers, tracking characteristics, and improving meeting-to-meeting clarity with committees.
- Endowment model realities: liquidity, governance, and mission-aligned investing—what’s evolving and what endures.

Whether you’re considering an OCIO platform, running due diligence, or managing client relationships, this conversation is a reminder that consistency, transparency, and conviction remain the hallmarks of enduring investment leadership.

Reentering with Rigor: Sean Poe on Manager Selection at Key Private Bank

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Fixed Income and the Future of Asset Allocation: Inside the CIO Mindset with Nick Gentile

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Dakota Live!, host Robert Morier sits down with Nick Gentile, Interim President and Chief Investment Officer of Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors, to explore how a mission-driven $29 billion organization navigates today’s complex fixed income and alternative markets.

Nick Gentile, a seasoned fixed income specialist, offers an inside look at how his team approaches asset allocation, manager selection, and liquidity management while staying true to the Knights’ Catholic investing principles. From private credit and securitized products to real estate debt and duration positioning, Nick shares how the firm balances stewardship with innovation in a volatile rate environment.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into:

How a values-based investment philosophy informs portfolio construction.
The evolving role of private credit and real assets in institutional portfolios.
What CIOs look for in external managers during the due diligence process.
How insurers and asset allocators are adapting fixed income strategies post–rate cycle.
Lessons in leadership, communication, and risk discipline from a CIO who rose through the ranks.

Whether you’re an allocator, asset manager, or student of investment strategy, this episode offers a masterclass in CIO decision-making, fixed income portfolio design, and faith-driven investing.
Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube to understand how one of America’s most enduring institutions is redefining stewardship for the modern markets.

Identifying the Hidden Signals in Manager Research with Dr. Dali Ma

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Learn how allocators identify early warning signs, build vision-based trust, and evaluate managers effectively.

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Dr. Dali Ma, Head of the Management Department at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business, to explore how timeless principles of leadership apply directly to today’s asset management and allocator community.

Dr. Ma shares actionable insights that asset managers and allocators can incorporate into their manager research and evaluation processes, including:
The Role of Character: Why courage, patience, and integrity in leadership remain irreplaceable, especially as artificial intelligence takes over technical tasks.
The Pitfalls of Pattern Recognition: How overreliance on short-term performance and surface-level communication can mask deeper organizational weaknesses, and how allocators can uncover them during due diligence.
The Value of Information: Why decision quality should be judged in the context of information available at the time (not just outcomes) and how allocators can fairly assess managers’ choices through this lens.
Trust in Fundraising and Asset Allocation: Moving beyond interaction-based trust toward vision-based trust—and why boutique managers who clearly articulate a differentiated future are more likely to stand out with investment committees.
Cognitive Diversity & Early Warning Signs: How giving analysts a voice, fostering psychological safety, and embracing cognitive diversity can prevent blind spots and strengthen investment teams.

For asset managers, Dr. Ma offers guidance on building trust and culture that endure market turbulence. For allocators, he provides frameworks to evaluate leadership teams more deeply, beyond performance numbers—focusing on vision, character, and the ability to act responsibly in times of uncertainty. Whether you are raising capital, allocating to managers, or evaluating long-term partnerships, this episode provides a unique academic and practical perspective to sharpen your approach.

Scaling Healthcare for Life: A Conversation with Adele C. Oliva of 1315 Capital

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0400

On this special episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, we take a slightly different path from our usual allocator conversations. Thanks to a connection made by one of our Drexel University summer interns, we sit down with Adele C. Oliva, Founding Partner at 1315 Capital, a Philadelphia-based healthcare growth equity firm managing over $1 billion in assets.

Adele shares her journey from Baxter and Apex Partners to co-founding 1315 Capital, and how she built a firm dedicated to scaling commercial-stage healthcare products, services, and wellness companies. With her perspective as both a nationally recognized healthcare investor and a mentor to emerging leaders in private equity, Adele offers lessons on building culture, evaluating teams, and navigating growth equity in healthcare.

While our conversation may not follow our traditional allocator focus, it holds valuable insights for both asset managers and allocators. Adele’s views on commercial-stage investing, the importance of capital efficiency, and the evolving role of private equity in healthcare provide practical takeaways for anyone working across the investment ecosystem.

From Philadelphia’s unique life sciences advantage to the importance of mentorship, presence, and pattern recognition, this episode is a reminder that great investing begins with people, culture, and curiosity.

Tune in to hear how Adele and her team at 1315 Capital continue to shape the future of healthcare investing, and how a student’s initiative helped make this conversation possible.

Dakota Live! Podcast: After the Exit - Teaching the Next Generation of Investors with Chris Cesare

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Dakota Live!, we sit down with Chris Ceasare, institutional investing veteran, teacher, and mentor—focused on turning theory into practice and helping students and managers communicate what truly matters.

From UPS’s pension desk to co-founding Rocaton and navigating the OCIO wave, Chris Cesare has seen how real decisions get made, and how great managers actually communicate.

Now a University of Connecticut adjunct professor, Chris shares practical lessons on integrity, “managing by commitment,” simplifying complex strategies, and why the analyst of the future will spend less time reporting and more time thinking.

With guest host Kiera Liesinger (UConn ’26), we dig into mentorship, boutiques vs. scale, and leaving the pitch book in the bag.

In this episode

✅ Plan-sponsor lessons from UPS: decision processes, culture, and humility
✅ Building Rocaton, the OCIO shift, and life inside GSAM post-acquisition
✅ Communicating without the crutch of a deck: clarity over complexity
✅ Boutique edge vs. big-firm scale—and fitting managers to clients
✅ The new analyst: less reporting, more analysis (and what that demands)
✅ Teaching investing at UConn: turning theory into practice
✅ AI as co-pilot (not autopilot) in the classroom and office
✅ Mentorship: how to ask, how to help, how to grow

Chris has sat on every side of the table—plan sponsor, consultant, OCIO, and now educator—and he turns that vantage point into usable rules: manage by commitment, simplify the pitch, fit managers to clients, and train analysts to analyze.

You’ll get stories you can apply in your next IC, client meeting, or class, plus a sober take on boutiques vs. scale and AI’s real role in the craft. If you sell, allocate, or teach in this business, this episode will pay for itself.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Client Service as Strategy: Verger Capital’s OCIO Approach

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this special episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier takes the show back on the road to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he sits down with Jim Dunn, Chief Executive Officer of Verger Capital Management.
From his beginnings as a first-generation college graduate and collegiate soccer goalie to leading one of the most respected OCIO firms in the country, Jim shares how formative experiences in athletics, lifeguarding, and family life shaped his views on risk, leadership, and client service.
Jim offers candid insights into:

How Verger’s client-first service model differentiates it in a crowded OCIO marketplace.
The evolution of the OCIO landscape, from investment performance to operational excellence and governance.
The risks of private credit: “When we look at these private credit portfolios, a lot of them have high PIK rates… when there’s distress, that becomes equity. Your correlations go to one. And then what are you going to do?” Actionable takeaway: stress test exposures, as today’s yield can quickly morph into equity-like risk in downturns.
Why the move of private equity into 401(k) portfolios will likely lower return expectations and reshape how the asset class is accessed.
How allocators evaluate venture capital and emerging managers, not just on investment edge but on the durability of their business model across Fund I, II, and III.
Why saying “yes” to uncomfortable opportunities can open the door to leadership.

Recorded in Verger’s Winston-Salem offices with Wake Forest University as our backdrop, this episode feels like a “back-to-school” conversation, reminding us that leadership and stewardship are learned through discipline, service, and the willingness to listen.

Dakota Live! Podcast: CIO Insights with Caprock’s Vivek Jindal: Building Portfolios Across Public & Private Markets

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Join Dakota Live! as we sit down with Caprock Group CIO Vivek Jindal to discuss his first 100 days, the investment landscape, and where he sees opportunity in alternatives, venture capital, private credit, and impact investing. Discover how Caprock’s culture and customized approach shape long-term success.

We’re kicking off a new season of the Dakota Live! Podcast with a rare opportunity: sitting down with a CIO in the earliest days of their leadership journey.

With $13.8 billion under advisement as of June 2025, $4.4 billion of which invested in alternative investments, Caprock employs a full balance sheet approach to wealth management.

Vivek explains how his background and Caprock’s culture are shaping a differentiated approach to client portfolios: “My goal always…is how can each of these portfolios and each of these families, regardless of the wealth, be treated as single family offices within a multi-family office construct.”

We explore:

• How he aims to treat every client portfolio like a single-family office within a multi-family construct.
• Why alternatives, venture capital, and private credit remain central to the opportunity set.
• The importance of culture at Caprock and why finding a firm where “the investment mandate and the investment process…match how you would invest your own capital” is essential to long-term success.
• His perspective on customization vs. scale, and how systems and collaboration help preserve quality in manager research.
• Leadership lessons and how they inform his vision today.

Whether you’re an allocator, asset manager, or simply curious about the investment landscape, this episode offers an uncommon, front-row perspective on what it takes to step into the CIO seat, and why culture and process matter just as much as performance.

Listen now to launch the season with fresh insight into the future of investing.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Consistency and Culture with CIBC Private Wealth

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Dakota Live! Podcast, we sit down with Angela Williams, a Senior Investment Analyst at CIBC Private Wealth in Boston.

Angela brings over 25 years of industry experience to her role, where she is responsible for manager due diligence and selection for CIBC Private Wealth's Multi-Manager Investment Program.

Angela shares her insights into the rigorous process of manager research, emphasizing the critical balance between strategy differentiation and risk management. Whether it's her focus on building truly active portfolios or her approach to understanding a manager's character, Angela offers a deep dive into what it takes to identify and work with top-tier asset managers.

CIBC Private Wealth, managing over $100 billion in assets, provides customized wealth management solutions that integrate active and alternative strategies across asset classes. Known for their selective approach to external partnerships, CIBC balances a robust lineup of proprietary and external strategies, emphasizing due diligence and portfolio alignment to meet diverse client needs.

Angela’s work, rooted in a commitment to quality research and a nuanced understanding of active management, drives CIBC’s focus on sustained, risk-adjusted growth for its clients.

Tune in as Angela details her process for conducting comprehensive due diligence, her criteria for selecting managers who align with CIBC’s vision, and the importance of blending innovative strategies with traditional risk controls. From practical tips for institutional investors to valuable lessons for emerging managers, this episode is packed with insights into the world of investment analysis and decision-making at CIBC Private Wealth.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Venture Capital Fund of Funds and the Emerging Manager Outlook with Slipstream Investors

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Alex Edelson, Founder & General Partner of Slipstream Investors, a venture capital fund of funds dedicated to backing emerging pre-seed and seed-stage managers.

Alex shares his unique journey from law to venture capital, his lessons as Chief Strategy Officer and COO at QED Investors, and why Slipstream focuses on smaller, harder-to-access funds with outsized return potential.

We cover:
- What makes emerging managers so compelling, and so difficult to evaluate
- The role of fund-of-funds in today’s venture landscape
- Key insights into portfolio construction, reserves, and risk-taking in early-stage VC
- How pattern recognition, sourcing advantages, and founder relationships shape success
- Alex’s outlook on venture capital today and what’s ahead for the ecosystem

Whether you’re an allocator, manager, or entrepreneur, Alex’s perspective offers a window into the next generation of venture capital investing.

Finding the Edge: Sourcing Investment Opportunities with Matthew Wright of the Disciplina Group

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Matthew Wright, founder of Disciplina Group and former Chief Investment Officer at Vanderbilt University, for a deep dive into manager research, due diligence, and portfolio construction in the OCIO market.

Matthew shares his philosophy for sourcing and underwriting emerging managers, with a particular focus on boutique, employee-owned firms that bring a true “edge” to private markets, venture capital, and hedge funds.

He explains how Disciplina builds conviction-driven allocations in less efficient markets, balances liquidity and return expectations, and integrates alternatives into client portfolios for mission-based institutions.

In this episode:
- How to find and evaluate emerging managers before the crowd
- Building a repeatable due diligence process for alternatives
- Opportunities in multi-stage venture capital and niche private strategies
- Hedge funds as true diversifiers, not equity proxies
- Why conviction sizing matters as much as diversification

If you want to hear how a seasoned CIO approaches alternative investing and manager selection and learn strategies to sharpen your own process, this conversation is for you.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Doing the Research: Systematic Investing with Ken Frier of Atlas Capital

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, Robert Morier sits down with Ken Frier, Chief Investment Officer at Atlas Capital Advisors, to discuss the role of systematic investing in portfolio construction and decision-making. With more than three decades of experience managing institutional capital at Disney, Hewlett-Packard, Stanford Management Company, and the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust, Ken brings a deep understanding of asset allocation, quantitative investing, and cost-conscious portfolio construction.

Whether you're an allocator evaluating systematic managers or a sales professional seeking insight into how data-driven investors think about portfolio construction and decision-making, this episode offers a unique window into how one investor has built a philosophy shaped by decades of experience across some of the most complex institutional portfolios.

Atlas Capital Advisors is a San Francisco-based registered investment advisor providing outsourced CIO (OCIO) and portfolio management services to high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutions. The firm emphasizes systematic asset allocation and direct implementation, offering clients institutional-quality portfolios with a focus on transparency, liquidity, and long-term value.

The conversation delves into how Ken’s early background in mathematics and computer science laid the foundation for a career focused on developing repeatable investment algorithms. You’ll hear how a pivotal moment during the dot-com bubble crash reshaped his thinking about portfolio risk, leading to a career-long commitment to evidence-based decision making.

Ken shares how Atlas Capital uses a top-down, factor-based, algorithmic approach to investing across global markets, as well as his candid take on why investors can fail to adjust asset allocation, even in dramatically shifting environments. The episode also touches on the role of liquidity, the rise (and risks) of private credit, and the evolution of ETFs.

From lessons in risk management to the realities of cost, complexity, and governance, Ken offers a grounded perspective on what it takes to make disciplined, data-informed decisions in today’s investment landscape.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Strategic LP Perspectives & the Future of Emerging Managers in Venture Capital

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this powerful episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, we dive deep into the future of venture capital, emerging manager selection, and the evolving dynamics between GPs and LPs with two thought leaders reshaping the industry: Rohit Yadav, author of The Big Book of Venture Capital, and Jamie Rhode, Partner at Screendoor, an LP platform backing early-stage managers with institutional rigor and long-term vision.

Why This Episode Matters
This episode is a must-watch for anyone navigating today’s venture capital landscape, whether you're an emerging manager building your first fund, a GP scaling through Fund II or III, or an allocator rethinking your approach to early-stage investing. Rohit and Jamie bring unmatched clarity and data-driven insight to questions that matter now more than ever:
- What does it take to build a resilient, DPI-generating venture firm?
- How are LP expectations evolving post-ZIRP, post-COVID, and amid shrinking liquidity windows?
- What is the real path forward for exit strategies beyond the IPO myth?

Key Topics Covered
- The role of fund-of-funds in early-stage VC, and why Screendoor is not just picking managers, they’re helping build firms with longevity.
- The power-law myth and how transparency, institutionalization, and repeatability are reshaping LP/GP relationships.
- The need for introspection (not revolution) in venture capital: a central theme from Rohit's Rethinking Venture Capital: A Strategic Lens.
- The future of M&A and secondaries as legitimate exit pathways and how GPs can (and must) be prepared.
- Why early-stage VC is where the outliers live—and how to create a portfolio that finds them.
- How Screendoor evaluates emerging managers, with real talk on what matters more than polish: character, track record repeatability, and transparency.

About BigBook.vc – Venture Knowledge Alpha
Visit: https://www.bigbook.vc
The Big Book of Venture Capital is not a venture fund—it’s a knowledge project. Created by Rohit Yadav, this open-source platform is dedicated to democratizing access to venture capital insights across the global ecosystem. With quarterly strategic reports, cross-sectional data from hundreds of sources, and community-driven dialogue, BigBook.vc offers the venture industry's most comprehensive and strategic research platform. It’s built for allocators, emerging managers, founders, and anyone shaping the future of innovation.
About Screendoor

Screendoor is reimagining LP/GP alignment in early-stage VC. With a fund-of-funds approach backed by leading GPs, Screendoor supports diverse emerging managers with not just capital, but decades of lived experience. Their platform is built for allocators who want disciplined, cost-effective access to the edge of what’s next—and for GPs who want to build enduring firms, not just raise funds.

Watch this episode if you want to:
- Understand the emerging manager landscape post-2021
- Learn how to build a more effective allocation strategy in early-stage VC
- Hear how seasoned LPs like Jamie are transforming access, transparency, and performance metrics
- See how Rohit is laying down the intellectual scaffolding for VC 3.0

This is one of our most important conversations yet, don’t miss it.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Private Market Manager Research with Windrose Advisors

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier welcomes Amanda Kane, Director of Private Investments with Windrose Advisors, for an in-depth discussion on private market manager research and its critical role in portfolio construction.

With extensive experience in asset allocation, investment due diligence, and manager selection, Amanda shares insights on navigating private equity, private credit, and venture capital allocations for families, foundations, and endowments.

Amanda discusses Windrose’s rigorous due diligence framework, how they identify and evaluate managers, and the importance of vintage year diversification in building resilient private market programs.

She also provides valuable advice for asset managers looking to establish relationships with allocators, emphasizing the balance between persistence and professionalism.

Key topics include:

✔ The evolving landscape of private equity and private credit
✔ The sourcing and selection process for alternative investment managers
✔ How Windrose ensures a diversified private market allocation
✔ The role of co-investments in their strategy
✔ Insights into venture capital trends and early-stage investment opportunities
✔ How asset managers can effectively engage with allocators

If you're an allocator, asset manager, or investment professional looking to gain a deeper understanding of private market investing, this episode is packed with actionable insights from an experienced industry leader.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Inside Fixed Income Manager Research with Marquette Associates

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In the latest episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, Robert Morier welcomes Frank Valle, Associate Director of Fixed Income at Marquette Associates, for a thoughtful and practical conversation on manager research, fixed income portfolio construction, and the evolving dynamics of investment consulting.

Frank shares insights from nearly two decades in the industry, offering valuable perspective for both asset managers and institutional allocators. From core and core-plus strategies to satellite exposures like structured credit and emerging market debt, Frank explains what makes a manager stand out—and what makes a process sustainable.

Key topics include:

• The critical role of communication and team dynamics in evaluating investment managers
• Marquette’s four-phase manager review process and how it applies across asset classes
• Attributes that define successful fixed income strategies, including risk positioning and alpha generation
• How Marquette constructs fixed income portfolios for OCIO clients using core, core-plus, and multi-sector approaches
• Trends in investment vehicles, including separate accounts, commingled funds, mutual funds, and ETFs
• The growing relevance of structured credit and enhanced indexing
• Perspectives on private credit, liquidity risk, and the blending of public and private fixed income
• The future of technology and AI in the manager selection process—and the enduring importance of relationships

With higher yields and increased dispersion across credit sectors, the current environment has brought fixed income back to the forefront of institutional portfolios. As interest rates, inflation expectations, and geopolitical risk continue to shape the market, understanding how managers assess credit, manage liquidity, and position portfolios is more important than ever for generating stable, risk-adjusted returns.

Whether you are selecting managers or being selected, this conversation offers a clear window into what matters most to consultants and their clients today.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Inside the Private Markets Playbook with HB Wealth

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Join host Robert Morier and Andrew O’Shea in this insightful episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast as they sit down with Zach Ruchman, Managing Director of Private Investments at HB Wealth, a $26 billion multi-family office and RIA.

With a background that spans from global public policy to direct private equity co-investments, Zach shares his journey and offers a masterclass on navigating private investments in today’s evolving wealth management landscape.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How HB Wealth approaches asset allocation for private equity, venture capital, and private credit
• The must-ask questions when evaluating a manager (including a unique take on "Why do you exist?")
• Why alignment, transparency, and purpose-built vehicles are at the heart of Zach’s investment philosophy
• How operational due diligence serves as a critical downside protection tool
• The rise of independent sponsors, secondaries, and evergreen vehicles—and how to think about each
• Why GP-LP relationships are more like long-term marriages than transactions

Zach also shares how he manages a high-volume manager pipeline, what goes into a multi-year due diligence process, and how HB Wealth seeks private market alpha, not just beta, for its clients.

Whether you're an allocator, asset manager, or aspiring investor, this episode delivers actionable insights on selecting the right managers and building a resilient private markets program.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Inside the WK Kellogg Foundation's Investment Strategy with Shanelle Brown

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Join us for an exclusive conversation with Shanelle Brown, Managing Director of Public Equity at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

With more than a third of the Foundation’s assets under her oversight, Shanelle offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how a values-based organization navigates the complexities of global markets while staying grounded in its purpose: to ensure children, families, and communities thrive.

From the structure of the investment office to manager research and selection, Shanelle breaks down how the team thinks about portfolio construction, due diligence, and long-term partnerships.

You’ll learn about:

• The evolution of Kellogg’s investment team, moving from generalists to dedicated asset class specialists
• Their two-stage manager underwriting process and the key qualitative factors they evaluate—including character, culture, and transparency
• The Kellogg team’s approach to risk, portfolio sizing, and where they are currently focused (hint: Japan, Energy, and Europe)
• How asset managers can avoid the dreaded “bankruptcy folder”—yes, it’s real—and what it means for communication
• The Foundation’s openness to emerging and crossover managers, and the factors that drive conviction
• Why student questions at the end of the episode are a must-listen—covering leadership and lessons from failure

Whether you're an allocator, asset manager, or student of finance, this episode offers rare transparency into how a leading foundation aligns capital with purpose.

Shanelle Brown: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanelle-b-1715514/

Robert Morier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertlmorier/

Kiera Liesinger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kieraliesinger/

Makhia Peoples: https://www.linkedin.com/in/makhiappj/

Paetyn Knepp: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paetyn-knepp-a55638358/

Our Website:
https://dakota.com

W.K. Kellogg Foundation:
https://www.wkkf.org/

🎙️ Listen to the Podcast:

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/3NUXRMzfr56xQ9VDeavhjN?si=bc5764c861054069

Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dakota-live-podcast/id1652357638

00:00 Intro
01:36 At the desk
03:25 What's going on in Westwood?
04:08 Landing on UCLA
05:03 Deciding on a career path
07:42 Approaching problems
09:55 Experience at Exelon
11:24 What's your style?
12:22 Structure at Kellogg
13:45 Compass direction
15:28 External research
16:13 Long-bias public equities
17:57 Managing risk
20:11 Sourcing a manager
21:47 Manager underwriting process
24:41 Qualitative factors
28:15 How communication takes place
31:18 Reunderwriting
33:35 Concentration
35:16 Conviction
37:36 LP network
38:18 Integration of AI
41:06 Investment trends
42:50 Lasting partnerships
45:04 What are you working on now?
46:22 Emerging managers
47:52 Mentors
49:22 Advice for young professionals
50:56 Student Question #1: Values
52:51 Student Question #2: Experience and advice for women of color
54:10 Student Question #3: Most important skill/value
55:38 Outro

Dakota Live! Podcast: Empowering Institutional Investors with Callan

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Explore the world of investment consulting with Lauren Mathias, Senior Vice President at Callan, on this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast.

Lauren shares her journey from an analyst to a leader in manager research and due diligence, covering non-U.S. equities and her role as Callan's Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Champion.

Gain insights into Callan’s collaborative culture, their bespoke approach to manager evaluation, and their mission to drive better investment outcomes.

Callan has been a cornerstone in investment consulting for over 50 years, advising over $3 trillion in institutional assets. Known for its robust educational initiatives like the Callan Institute and Callan On-Demand Education (CODE), the firm emphasizes client-centered values and collaboration in the asset management industry.

In this episode, Lauren discusses the importance of long-term relationships, sustainability in investment strategies, and her work in identifying top-tier managers. She also reflects on her journey, the transformative power of mentorship, and the evolving landscape of global investing.

Listen now to understand the intersection of character, leadership, and due diligence in today’s investment world.

Don't forget to subscribe for more industry-leading insights!

Dakota Live! Podcast: Private Credit & the OCIO Mindset with Adam Ladd of Windrose Advisors

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Welcome back to the Dakota Live! Podcast—where insights from top allocators and industry professionals meet the practical tools needed to succeed in asset management.

In this episode, we head to Boston to meet with Adam Ladd, Vice President at Windrose Advisors, for a conversation about the art and science of manager due diligence—and why private credit has become one of the most relevant and nuanced asset classes in today’s institutional landscape.

A former investment associate at Amherst College’s Investment Office, Adam brings a disciplined, endowment-style approach to manager selection and portfolio construction at Windrose.

He shares how his background as a volunteer firefighter and endurance athlete helps him remain calm under pressure and committed to a lifelong learning mindset—skills he brings to evaluating high-conviction, often early-stage, private credit managers.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

Why Windrose prefers concentrated, non-sponsored private credit strategies over diversified direct lending portfolios
How to assess alignment between a manager’s origin story and their current strategy
What distinguishes Windrose’s high-touch, in-person due diligence model
How OCIOs balance fiduciary responsibilities with highly personalized client mandates
The role of private credit in shortening the J-curve and enhancing liquidity within broader private portfolios

We also dig into how Windrose identifies and supports fund-one managers, and how Adam’s approach to research combines empathy with rigor—a balance Windrose believes allows their portfolios to reflect both the numbers and the narratives behind them.

If you're in manager research, institutional sales, or just curious about how top OCIO platforms make investment decisions, this episode is a must-listen.

Windrose Advisors LLC (“Windrose”) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about Windrose including their investment strategies and objectives can be found in their ADV Part 2, which is available upon request.

This material is distributed for informational purposes only. The opinions expressed are those of Windrose. The opinions referenced are as of the date of publication and are subject to change due to changes in the market or economic conditions and may not necessarily come to pass. Forward looking statements cannot be guaranteed. There is no guarantee of the future performance of any Windrose investment strategy. Material and information discussed has been derived from sources considered to be accurate and reliable, but makes no representation thereof and accepts no liability or any loss arising from use or reliance herein.

It should not be assumed that any sectors, strategies, or investments discussed were or will prove to be profitable, or that investment recommendations or decisions we make in the future will be profitable. Nothing herein should be construed as a solicitation, recommendation, or an offer to buy, sell or hold any securities, other investments or to adopt any investment strategy.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Seeding Next-Gen Venture Managers with Main Character Capital

Wed, 28 May 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Join us for an insightful episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast featuring Andrea Lo, Founding and Managing Partner at Main Character Capital. Andrea shares her unique journey across venture capital, fund operations, and blockchain innovation—and how those experiences led her to launch a GP seeding strategy focused on backing the next generation of bold, high-conviction fund managers.

In this episode, Andrea breaks down the art and science of sourcing emerging GPs, conducting institutional due diligence, and designing bespoke GP staking deals with long-term alignment in mind. She also shares how she identifies "main character" managers, what makes a differentiated fund strategy, and how LPs can access uncrowded opportunities in venture, private equity, and digital assets.

Topics Covered:

✅ The evolution of GP staking and how it applies to venture
✅ Sourcing and underwriting next-gen managers
✅ Structuring incentive-aligned partnerships between LPs and GPs
✅ Why authenticity, adaptability, and strategic storytelling matter

Whether you’re a current allocator, emerging manager, or student of the industry, Andrea’s perspective offers a masterclass in identifying and cultivating long-term investment franchises.

Andrea Lo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreatlo/
Robert Morier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertlmorier/
Our Website:
https://dakota.com
Guest Website:
https://www.maincharactercapital.com/

📺 Watch the Podcast:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DakotaLivePodcast

🎙️ Listen to the Podcast:
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/3NUXRMzfr56xQ9VDeavhjN?si=bc5764c861054069
Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dakota-live-podcast/id1652357638

Chapter Markers:

00:00 Intro
01:56 Andrea Lo intro
04:17 GP Staking versus Fund to Funds
06:15 Career path
11:14 Desirable traits of partners
13:25 Sourcing partners
20:29 High yielding questions for partners
27:30 Crowded markets
30:27 First 90 days after an investment
37:06 Portfolio construction
41:55 Global opportunities
45:47 AI defense
49:41 AI outpacing its infrastructure
54:59 Key experiences
01:01:28 Where the strategy fits in an allocation model

Main Character Capital is a private investment firm. This podcast is intended solely for informational purposes and should not be construed as investment advice or an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities or investment products. All opinions expressed are current as of the date of recording and are subject to change without notice. Certain information has been obtained from third-party sources believed to be reliable, but Main Character Capital makes no representations as to its accuracy or completeness. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal, and there is no guarantee that past performance will be indicative of future results.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Reentering with Rigor - Sean Poe on Manager Selection at Key Private Bank

Wed, 21 May 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier welcomes Sean Poe, Director of Investment Manager Research at Key Private Bank, for an insightful conversation about investment philosophy, rethinking career paths, and the art of selecting managers across public and private markets.

With a dynamic background that spans equity research, private investing, and operating roles at firms like Wayfair and Lowe’s, Sean brings a unique perspective to portfolio construction and manager evaluation. Listen in to explore how Sean’s unconventional path has shaped his views on risk, alignment, and long-term partnerships—and how he's applying those lessons at Key Private Bank, where he oversees manager research and multi-strategy portfolios within a $60 billion platform.

Listeners will gain insight into:
• Key’s seven P’s framework for manager research—from people to partnership
• How "Poe's Alpha" measures real-world investment friction
• Building trust and alignment in manager relationships
• Why operational experience makes for sharper allocators
• The evolving role of fund structures, from SMAs to evergreen private equity
• Lessons in networking, career pivots, and transparent storytelling

Whether you’re an asset manager seeking to stand out or an allocator curious about evaluating skill vs. luck in today’s markets, this episode offers practical wisdom and fresh perspective from a seasoned decision-maker who's been on both sides of the table.

Key Private Bank is the marketing name through which KeyBank National Association (KeyBank) provides a range of financial products and solutions.

This material is presented for informational purposes only, and is not intended to be an offer, recommendation, or solicitation to purchase or sell any security or product or to employ a specific investment strategy. KeyBank does not, nor do its subsidiaries or affiliates, represent, warrant, or guarantee that this material is accurate, complete or suitable for any purpose, situation, or any investor and it should not be used as a basis for investment decisions. It is not to be construed as individual tax or financial advice, nor relied upon or used in substitution for the exercise of independent judgment.

Any opinions, projections, or recommendations contained herein are subject to change without notice, are those of the individual author(s), and may not necessarily represent the views of KeyBank or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.

Banking products and services are provided by KeyBank, Member FDIC. Trust and certain custody and investment management products are provided by KeyBank, a national bank with fiduciary powers. KeyBank is an Equal Housing Lender. All loans provided by KeyBank are subject to underwriting, credit, and collateral approval, in addition to origination or other transaction fees. Financing availability may vary by state. Restrictions may apply NMLS ID 399797.

Investing involves risk, including potential loss of principal amount invested. There is no guarantee that investment objectives will be achieved. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Asset allocation and diversification do not guarantee returns or protect against losses.

Non-Deposit products are:
NOT FDIC INSURED ● NOT BANK GUARANTEED ● MAY LOSE VALUE ● NOT A DEPOSIT ● NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL OR STATE GOVERNMENT AGENCY

Dakota Live! Podcast: Lessons from a Single-Family Office with Verdis Investment Management

Wed, 14 May 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Jamie Biddle, Founding Partner and CEO of Verdis Investment Management, a single-family office managing capital for multiple generations of the DuPont family.

Together, they explore the philosophy and practice behind multi-generational investing, how legacy shapes long-term investment decisions, and why family offices think differently from traditional institutions.

Jamie walks us through the transition from his early venture capital career to building Verdis from the ground up, and how lessons from history—both personal and financial—inform his firm’s investment decisions today.

Listeners will gain insight into:

Verdis’ endowment-style approach to asset allocation
The balance between risk, liquidity, and long-term compounding
A unique indexing strategy for early-stage venture capital
How character, behavior, and trust factor into manager selection
Why family offices value entrepreneurial thinking
The enduring truths that guide a family with 10 generations of stewardship

Whether you're an allocator, asset manager, or simply curious about how long-term wealth gets managed with precision and purpose, this is an episode not to miss.

Jamie Biddle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamescbiddle/

Robert Morier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertlmorier/

Andrew O'Shea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-o-shea-03717516/

Our Website:
https://dakota.com

Verdis Investment Management:
https://www.verdisinvestment.com/

00:00 Intro
02:08 Jamie Biddle Intro
03:31 Legacy and family history
05:58 Early career
09:25 Inspiration to start Verdis
10:50 VC versus family office mindset
12:07 Strategic direction
13:18 The team
16:32 Endowment pitfalls
17:59 Asset allocation model
22:13 Balancing public and private markets
23:09 Indexing early-stage venture
27:40 Due dilligence for early stage venture
29:32 Manager research process
34:36 Investing in the right people
36:36 Geography of early stage venture
37:45 Current macroeconomic environment
39:00 Active management in public equities
41:19 Market-cap weighted indexing
43:06 Co-investments
45:00 Importance of LP network
47:03 Democratization of private markets
49:01 Advice for manager's seeking partnership with Verdis
52:18 Biddle family history
53:50 Importance of The Andalusia Foundation
58:15 Outro

Dakota Live! Podcast: The Importance of Portfolio Innovation with Partners Capital

Wed, 07 May 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Alex Band, Chief Investment Officer of Partners Capital, for an in-depth discussion about the evolving landscape of institutional investing and Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) services.

Alex shares his journey from biochemical sciences to finance, pivotal lessons from his career, and how these experiences have shaped his contributions at Partners Capital.

Discover how Partners Capital approaches OCIO services with a focus on dynamic strategies, emerging managers, and innovative investment structures. Alex also provides a sneak peek into the key elements of their investment program, exploring features such as talent acquisition, manager selection, and risk management.

Packed with valuable insights, this episode offers a forward-looking perspective on investment opportunities for 2025 and advice for young professionals entering a complex world.

Tune in to learn how discipline, curiosity, and adaptability drive success in investment management.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Growth, Innovation, and the Future of Private Markets with Cerity Partners

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Chris Burrows, Partner at Cerity Partners, to explore the modern allocator’s toolkit for private market manager selection.

With nearly two decades of experience leading private markets research, Chris shares how data, technology, and deeper qualitative insights have reshaped due diligence—going far beyond past performance.

From virtual due diligence to the increasing role of culture in manager assessments, this conversation dives into the key trends shaping private markets today.

Chris also reflects on the importance of relationships in capital allocation, the growth of private markets, and how Cerity’s scaled fiduciary approach is redefining client and manager partnerships.

Tune in for insights on:

✔️ How manager selection has changed over the years
✔️ The balance between quantitative and qualitative diligence
✔️ The rise of non-traditional and emerging managers
✔️ Navigating liquidity challenges in private investments

Plus, Chris shares his own career journey, from Home Depot cart collector to leading private market investments at a $100B+ firm.

Join us for this informative and insightful episode with Chris Burrows and Cerity Partners.

Dakota Live! Podcast: The Waco Edge: Investing with Purpose at Baylor University

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this compelling episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Renee Hanna and Kailey Ransom from Baylor University's Office of Investments to explore how a mission-driven approach informs manager research, team dynamics, and long-term investment success.

Baylor’s $2.1 billion endowment supports a range of initiatives including scholarships and professorships—and behind the numbers is a deeply collaborative team led by values, diligence, and a commitment to developing strong investment partnerships.

Renee, Managing Director of Investments, shares insights from her 17-year tenure building out Baylor’s private markets portfolio with intentionality and discipline. Kailey, a rising talent and investment analyst, reflects on her transition from Baylor student to staff and the unique opportunity to learn from a tight-knit, high-performing team. Together, they walk us through how manager selection at Baylor is guided not only by performance, but by integrity, alignment of values, and a firm’s "why"—what drives them beyond money.

Key takeaways for listeners:

• Integrity is a Non-Negotiable: Baylor's deep-dive due diligence starts with reference checks from friends, neighbors, and former colleagues.
• Team Collaboration Matters: With a flat structure and shared decision-making, the private investment team evaluates every GP through a unified lens.
• Focused and Intentional: With a relatively concentrated private markets book (favoring sub-$500M funds in tech, healthcare, and consumer), Baylor only adds 1–2 managers annually—and expects to grow alongside them.
• Mission Alignment: The endowment supports transformational student experiences, making investment outcomes personal for the team.
• The Waco Advantage: A tight campus community away from coastal financial centers allows the team to think independently while staying connected to its purpose.

Whether you're an allocator, GP, or student considering a career in finance, this episode offers a rare look into how a university investment office balances discipline, culture, and conviction in building a portfolio that lasts generations.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Constructing the Future of Wealth Management with CW Advisors

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier welcomes back Jennifer DeSisto, Chief Investment Officer of CW Advisors, for a wide-ranging conversation about her new role and the rapidly evolving RIA landscape.

Now overseeing a $14 billion platform, Jen shares how she's building out CW Advisors’ investment platform from the ground up, integrating private markets, tax-managed strategies, and institutional-level manager research across a growing network of acquired firms. With a sharp focus on scalable infrastructure, Jen walks us through what it takes to harmonize disparate teams, systems, and philosophies into one unified, forward-looking investment platform.

Listen for insights on:

Building a CIO-led investment process in a fast-growing RIA
The current outlook for private equity, private credit, and hedge funds
What RIAs need from asset managers today—and what makes a great pitch
CW’s approach to structuring its team and onboarding acquired firms
How semi-liquid structures and platforms like CAIS are shaping private market access
The priorities for expanding into public markets, emerging markets, and co-investments
Recruiting and mentoring investment talent in a competitive environment

Whether you’re an allocator, asset manager, or just curious about how RIAs are evolving into institutional-caliber investors, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at strategy, integration, and leadership in action.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Investing Early with the Brooklyn Youth Charitable Investment Group

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this special release episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, we sit down with Jasper Gould and Emile Chilingirian, co-founders of the Brooklyn Youth Charitable Investment Group (BYCIG), just as students in New York and across the country begin their spring break.

It’s a timely opportunity to pause, reflect, and start conversations that matter—like how we talk to our kids about money, investing, and making a difference.

Together, we explore how a student-led initiative is managing real investment portfolios, giving back through philanthropy, and showing that the path to financial literacy can (and should) start early—with support from families, schools, and communities.

This is a perfect episode to listen to together with your kids over the holiday break and spark meaningful discussions about money, responsibility, and the world around them.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Following the Fundamentals with the Knights of Columbus

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this unique episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, Robert Morier sits down with Anthony Minopoli, President and Chief Investment Officer of Knights of Columbus, to explore nearly two decades of leadership, investment insights, and values-based decision making at one of the largest Catholic financial institutions in the world.

What makes this episode stand out is Tony's dual perspective as both an allocator and a former consultant, offering listeners a rare inside look at the full lifecycle of manager research, from sourcing and underwriting to long-term partnership. With a portfolio that spans traditional fixed income, public equities, and private alternatives—including senior secured lending and water infrastructure—Tony shares real-world anecdotes from industry icons to demonstrate how process, discipline, and values coexist in institutional investing.

The conversation covers everything from building repeatable investment philosophies and manager selection criteria to navigating Catholic investment guidelines in both public and private markets. Listeners will hear how Tony evaluates managers not just on performance but on process, people, and purpose, including the seldom-discussed importance of manager “sell discipline.”

Whether you're a seasoned asset manager or new to the sales side of the business, this episode is a masterclass in CIO engagement—and a compelling reminder that, as Tony puts it, “every strategy will be out of favor at some point.”

Tune in for practical wisdom, memorable stories, and a glimpse into how character and conviction guide one of the most values-aligned CIO seats in the industry.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Inside Fixed Income Manager Research with Marquette Associates

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In the latest episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, Robert Morier welcomes Frank Valle, Associate Director of Fixed Income at Marquette Associates, for a thoughtful and practical conversation on manager research, fixed income portfolio construction, and the evolving dynamics of investment consulting.

Frank shares insights from nearly two decades in the industry, offering valuable perspective for both asset managers and institutional allocators. From core and core-plus strategies to satellite exposures like structured credit and emerging market debt, Frank explains what makes a manager stand out—and what makes a process sustainable.

Key topics include:

The critical role of communication and team dynamics in evaluating investment managers
Marquette’s four-phase manager review process and how it applies across asset classes
Attributes that define successful fixed income strategies, including risk positioning and alpha generation
How Marquette constructs fixed income portfolios for OCIO clients using core, core-plus, and multi-sector approaches
Trends in investment vehicles, including separate accounts, commingled funds, mutual funds, and ETFs
The growing relevance of structured credit and enhanced indexing
Perspectives on private credit, liquidity risk, and the blending of public and private fixed income
The future of technology and AI in the manager selection process—and the enduring importance of relationships

With higher yields and increased dispersion across credit sectors, the current environment has brought fixed income back to the forefront of institutional portfolios. As interest rates, inflation expectations, and geopolitical risk continue to shape the market, understanding how managers assess credit, manage liquidity, and position portfolios is more important than ever for generating stable, risk-adjusted returns.

Whether you are selecting managers or being selected, this conversation offers a clear window into what matters most to consultants and their clients today.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Seeding the Next Generation of Private Market GPs with New Catalyst Strategic Partners

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Demetrius Sidberry, Managing Director at New Catalyst Strategic Partners, to explore the transformative role GP seeding and strategic capital are playing in shaping the future of private markets.

From early-stage seeding opportunities to structured partnerships and growth capital, Demetrius walks us through the increasingly institutionalized world of GP staking and how his team is catalyzing success for fund managers launching their first through fifth funds.

The conversation dives into the rise of pre-consensus investing, the nuances of underwriting next-gen managers, and why building institutional-quality businesses—not just portfolios—is essential for long-term value creation.

With the backing of Apollo and a team built from some of the industry's most respected platforms, New Catalyst is helping emerging GPs scale with purpose, equity, and vision.

If you're curious about what it takes to stand up a new private equity firm, attract strategic capital, or differentiate your strategy in a competitive market, this episode offers the blueprint.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Unlocking Alpha in Private Markets with Epic Funds

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Alec Garza, Managing Partner at Epic Funds, to explore how smaller, differentiated private market investments can drive superior risk-adjusted returns.

Epic Funds specializes on identifying and partnering with managers in niche, under-the-radar segments of private markets, collaborating through primary funds and co-investments to unlock distinct sources of returns and risk. Alec shares how his time at IWP Family Office shaped his investment philosophy, leading to the launch of Epic Funds and the development of a scalable due diligence process to underwrite hard-to-access, high-potential opportunities in private markets.

In this episode, we discuss:
✅ The challenges and advantages of small and emerging managers
✅ Where private credit and real assets fit in today’s evolving investment landscape
✅ The long-term approach to manager selection and building trust in due diligence
✅ The rise of continuation vehicles and evergreen funds—are they here to stay?
✅ Lessons from endurance sports that apply to investing

Alec also shares his firm’s competitive edge—leveraging network effects, pattern recognition, and a hands-on investment process to identify managers others may overlook.

Tune in to discover what it takes to succeed in private markets, why niche managers matter, and how patience, persistence, and deep research drive long-term investment success.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Navigating Uncertainty with Brian LaBore

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0400

With increasing market volatility and shifting capital allocations, experienced hands are invaluable. On this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, we sit down with Brian LaBore, founder of LaBore Investment Partners, to take a top-down view of today’s markets and the trends shaping manager selection. With over 25 years of investment research and advisory experience, including two decades at Greycourt, Brian has been at the forefront of manager due diligence for ultra-high-net-worth families and family offices. His insights into active vs. passive capital flows, the shift from public to private markets, and the challenges of China allocations offer a clear-eyed perspective on where institutional investors are focusing their attention. Brian also discusses the critical role of behavioral finance in portfolio decision-making, how investors react to underperformance, and why short-term relative performance often matters more than many assume—even for long-horizon strategies. He highlights where opportunities may be emerging, particularly in U.S. small caps, long value/short growth, and biotech, while addressing the growing headwinds in asset management, including continued talent migration to private markets and increased market volatility. For asset managers looking to break into institutional portfolios, Brian shares practical advice on how to position an investment strategy, communicate competitive advantages, and align interests with investors. If you’re navigating today’s investment environment—whether as an allocator, asset manager, or investment professional—this conversation is packed with actionable insights.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Building Resilient Portfolios: A Live Panel on Manager Selection

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Join us for a special live episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, recorded at Loyola University Chicago. Our latest show presents a unique opportunity to hear from three distinguished leaders in the world of manager research and selection:

Katharine Wyatt, CIO, Loyola University Chicago
Stephanie Szymanski, CIO, Lakeview Capital Management
Aoifinn Devitt, Senior Investment Advisor, Moneta

In this insightful discussion, our panelists dive deep into the evolving landscape of manager research, the future of due diligence, and what it takes to build resilient investment frameworks in today’s market. They also share career advice for aspiring investment professionals, offering guidance on navigating industry challenges and seizing opportunities in a rapidly shifting environment.

Exclusive takeaways from this episode include how to identify high-performing investment managers in an era dominated by passive investing, the role of AI in manager selection, and why emerging managers continue to face hurdles despite innovation in the space.

The panelists also discuss the power of relationship-building in due diligence, the impact of market cycles on active management, and practical strategies for young professionals looking to break into institutional investing.

Whether you're an investor, allocator, or student looking to break into the field, this episode delivers practical insights and real-world perspectives from industry leaders.

Tune in to hear how institutional investors approach manager selection, assess emerging managers, and incorporate technological advancements like AI in the due diligence process.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Looking Beyond the Crowd with Titan Advisors

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0500

In the latest episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier welcomes Chris Paolino, Co-Chief Investment Officer at Titan Advisors, a global alternative investment firm managing approximately $3.7 billion for institutional investors. family offices, and high net worth individuals.

With decades of experience in manager research and due diligence, Chris shares his insights into hedge fund investing, portfolio construction, and the evolving landscape of alternative investments.

He reflects on how his early exposure to financial markets, coupled with his deep institutional experience at Hartford Investment Management and United Technologies Corporation, shaped his approach to absolute return strategies, manager selection, and risk management.

Key topics include:

🔹 Hedge Fund Due Diligence – What separates top-performing managers from the rest?
🔹 Evolving Investment Trends – The rise of private credit, hedge funds, and commodities in institutional portfolios.
🔹 The Importance of Contrarian Thinking – Why Titan Advisors focuses on out-of-favor areas and where they see opportunity today.
🔹 Macroeconomic Shifts & Market Volatility – How liquidity, interest rates, and geopolitical risks impact portfolio construction.
🔹 Emerging Manager Programs – Why Titan invests early in new hedge fund managers and how they assess a firm’s durability and edge.
🔹 Advice for Young Investors – Chris’s thoughts on career longevity, continuous learning, and the power of networking.

With a passion for capital markets and a strong conviction in risk-aware investing, Chris offers a masterclass in how institutional investors navigate manager selection, due diligence, and portfolio construction in a rapidly changing world.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Growth, Innovation, and the Future of Private Markets with Cerity Partners

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Chris Burrows, Partner at Cerity Partners, to explore the modern allocator’s toolkit for private market manager selection.

With nearly two decades of experience leading private markets research, Chris shares how data, technology, and deeper qualitative insights have reshaped due diligence—going far beyond past performance.

From virtual due diligence to the increasing role of culture in manager assessments, this conversation dives into the key trends shaping private markets today.

Chris also reflects on the importance of relationships in capital allocation, the growth of private markets, and how Cerity’s scaled fiduciary approach is redefining client and manager partnerships.

Tune in for insights on:

✔️ How manager selection has changed over the years
✔️ The balance between quantitative and qualitative diligence
✔️ The rise of non-traditional and emerging managers
✔️ Navigating liquidity challenges in private investments

Plus, Chris shares his own career journey, from Home Depot cart collector to leading private market investments at a $100B+ firm.

Join us for this informative and insightful episode with Chris Burrows and Cerity Partners.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Private Market Manager Research with Windrose Advisors

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Dakota Live! Podcast: Reactivating Investments with CIBC Pension Fund

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode of The Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Yasir Mallick, Executive Director and Head of Public Markets at CIBC Pension Fund.

Yasir shares insights into the evolving landscape of Canadian institutional investing, detailing his experience in manager selection, due diligence, and portfolio construction across public equity, fixed income, hedge funds, and private markets.

With a career spanning major institutions like UBC Investment Management, Ontario Power Generation, and the University of Toronto Asset Management, Yasir discusses his approach to reactivating investment programs, optimizing portfolio allocations, and navigating the complexities of sourcing and underwriting managers.

He also delves into the challenges and opportunities facing Canadian pension funds today, from global diversification strategies to the shifting role of hedge funds and private markets.

Tune in to hear Yasir’s unique perspective on aligning investment decisions with institutional goals, balancing innovation with stability, and what he looks for in asset managers.

Whether you're an allocator, manager, or investment professional, this conversation offers valuable takeaways on institutional investing and a masterclass on the Canadian pension market.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Breaking Into Venture Capital with Girls Into VC

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode of the Dakota Live Podcast, Robert Morier sits down with Isabella Mandis, the inspiring founder of Girls Into VC, to explore her journey in venture capital and the future of private markets.

With the increased adoption of private markets in retail portfolios, Isabella shares her insights on how venture capital serves as both a starting ground for company growth and an incredible platform for career development.

As a Harvard undergraduate studying statistics and data science, Isabella brings a unique perspective to the VC world, blending analytical skills with entrepreneurial passion. We dive into what it’s like finding a career in venture capital, the importance of networking with purpose, and how aspiring VCs and founders can break into this dynamic field—even while still in school.

If you have a student at home who’s starting to think about internships or future career paths, this episode is a must-listen for both of you.

Isabella offers invaluable insights from the importance of networking with purpose to actionable steps for building entrepreneurial and analytical skills. Isabella’s advice is tailored to students navigating their early career journeys.

Listening to this episode together can spark meaningful conversations about career exploration, the value of internships, and the opportunities in fields like private markets and venture capital, offering both inspiration and practical guidance.

Whether you’re curious about navigating venture capital, fostering a career in private markets, or how initiatives like Girls Into VC are reshaping the industry, this episode is packed with actionable advice.

Tune in to hear Isabella’s story and learn how you can grow your career and knowledgebase in one of the most innovative spaces in finance.

🔗 Visit www.girlsintovc.com for more information on Isabella's groundbreaking organization.

Dakota Live! Podcast: GP Staking and Emerging Manager Success with Xponance Alternative Solutions

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, Robert Morier sits down with Marquette Chester, Head of Alternatives, and Michael A.B. Orr, Chief Investment Officer at Xponance Alternative Solutions (XAlts), a subsidiary of Xponance focused on GP stakes investing and emerging manager research.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Xponance Alternative Solutions brings decades of experience in private equity, private credit, and real assets, with a mission to support the growth and success of diverse and lower-middle-market managers.

Marquette and Michael have built a robust platform that combines innovative portfolio construction with a commitment to partnership and transparency.

Xponance specializes in GP stakes investing, a rapidly growing asset class that involves taking equity stakes in asset management firms. Unlike traditional fund investments, GP stakes investing enables allocators to participate in management fees, carried interest, and balance sheet growth of the firms they back.

Marquette and Michael share how Xponance approaches this space with a focus on fostering the next generation of alternative investment managers and creating long-term value for their investors.

Join host Robert Morier as he delves into the intricacies of GP stakes investing, the importance of people-first investment strategies, and the critical role of diversity and innovation in alternatives. Hear about the challenges and opportunities of identifying and supporting emerging managers, Xponance’s partnership with Investcorp, and their vision for shaping the future of private markets.

Whether you're an institutional investor, an emerging manager, or simply curious about the mechanics of alternatives, this episode provides a fascinating deep dive into a key segment of the investment landscape.

Tune in to learn more about Marquette and Michael’s personal journeys, their insights on portfolio construction, and their advice for thriving in today’s dynamic private markets.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Empowering Institutional Investors with Callan

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Explore the world of investment consulting with Lauren Mathias, Senior Vice President at Callan, on this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast.

Lauren shares her journey from an analyst to a leader in manager research and due diligence, covering non-U.S. equities and her role as Callan's Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Champion.

Gain insights into Callan’s collaborative culture, their bespoke approach to manager evaluation, and their mission to drive better investment outcomes.

Listen now to understand the intersection of character, leadership, and due diligence in today’s investment world.

Don't forget to subscribe for more industry-leading insights!

Dakota Live! Podcast: Building Financial Resilience with Bernstein Private Wealth Management

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Kick off the new year by focusing on what matters most. In the latest episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, Robert Morier sits down with Clare Golla, National Managing Director of Philanthropic Services at Bernstein Private Wealth Management, to explore their unique approach to building financial resilience for families and nonprofits alike.

Clare shares insights into Bernstein's "OCIO Plus" model, where outsourced CIO services go beyond traditional offerings to include holistic advice on investment and spending policies.

Learn how Bernstein works with individual families to craft tailored investment and philanthropic solutions that align with their values and goals.

We also delve into Bernstein's investment philosophy, which balances in-house capabilities with carefully selected external managers to deliver customized solutions. Clare explains how the firm's 60-year history in investment management enables them to address complex client needs with a combination of transparency, efficiency, and a commitment to results.

From creating bespoke strategies for nonprofits to empowering families to make meaningful change, Clare's passion for combining mission and money shines through.

Don't miss this inspiring conversation to start your year with purpose and performance.

Dakota Live! Podcast: The Specialist Equities Model with Loyola University Chicago

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, Robert Morier sits down with Sam Johnson, Director of Investments at Loyola University Chicago, to explore how the university approaches manager research and due diligence.

Rooted in Loyola University Chicago’s value of cura personalis—which emphasizes care for the whole person—Loyola’s investment philosophy reflects a commitment to thoughtful decision-making and long-term impact.

Sam shares insights into the strategic shift toward a specialist equities model, the development of their private markets program, and the importance of alignment between managers and endowment goals.

Learn how Loyola's concentrated portfolio strategy prioritizes partnering with top-tier managers across asset classes and how their thoughtful approach to relationship-building and collaboration drives long-term success.

What you’ll take away from this episode:

🔍 Loyola’s Approach to Manager Research: How the team identifies and partners with the top managers through rigorous due diligence and a collaborative process.
📊 The Shift to a Specialist Equities Model: Insights into why Loyola moved from a generalist approach to specialists and how this has impacted endowment performance.
🏛️ Strategic Portfolio Construction: How Loyola balances a concentrated portfolio with long-term investment goals to support its mission.
🚀 Emerging Opportunities: Explore trends in private equity, venture capital, and public markets that Loyola is focused on for future growth.

Whether you're an allocator, asset manager, or simply curious about how endowments make decisions, this episode is packed with actionable insights and behind-the-scenes perspectives.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Mission-Driven Investing with the Hershey Trust Company

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, Robert Morier sits down with Leslie Lenzo, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Hershey Trust Company, to explore her inspiring journey from rural Iowa to leading a mission-driven institution dedicated to making a lasting impact.

Leslie shares insights into her investment philosophy, manager research process, and the delicate balance between short-term decisions and long-term sustainability.

Key topics include:

Navigating private markets and finding areas of opportunity.
Asset allocation strategies and adapting to market challenges.
Building a diverse and collaborative investment team.
Why emerging managers are essential to the portfolio.
Advice for aspiring asset managers and investment professionals.

Join us for this engaging conversation packed with valuable lessons on leadership, innovation, and aligning investments with purpose.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Private Equity Deals with Ted Seides of Capital Allocators

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Ted Seides, renowned host of the Capital Allocators podcast, best-selling author, and a leader in private equity insights.

Ted shares his journey from building a multi-billion-dollar hedge fund to pioneering in the podcasting world, and how his experiences have shaped his entrepreneurial outlook.

In this episode, Ted discusses:

The evolution of the Capital Allocators Podcast and its impact on the investment community.
Key lessons from his career, including his new book, Private Equity Deals.
The challenges of governance in investment decision-making.
His perspective on private credit, sustainable investing, and the Total Portfolio Approach.
Advice for young professionals entering the finance industry.

Discover behind-the-scenes stories about his memorable guests, the importance of storytelling in business, and Ted's approach to navigating today’s market challenges.

Whether you’re an allocator, asset manager, or student, there’s something here for everyone.

Link to Private Equity Deals on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Private-Equity-Deals-dealmaking-professionals/dp/1804090735

Dakota Live! Podcast: Investing in Education with the CIO of Drexel University

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0500

In this enlightening episode of Dakota Live!, host Robert Morier sits down with Catherine Ulozas, the seasoned Chief Investment Officer of Drexel University's Endowment. With over 30 years of experience in managing investments across various sectors including insurance companies, banks, and a state pension fund, Catherine shares her unique journey and the strategic decisions that have cemented her success in the investment world.

Join us as Catherine delves into her 14th year at the helm of Drexel University's Endowment, discussing the transformative policies and operational improvements she has implemented. These strategic shifts have not only repositioned assets into a more resilient structure but have also led the endowment to rank in the top 10 percent of the Wilshire Consulting Foundations and Endowment Universe for five consecutive years.

Along the way, Catherine touches on her involvement in significant projects such as the acquisition of St. Christopher's Children Hospital and the development of Schuylkill Yards—an initiative turning 10.4 acres of endowment real estate into a leading innovation hub. Her insights into these projects provide a fascinating look into the intersection of investment strategy and real-world impact.

Furthermore, Catherine discusses her philosophy on investment biases and the importance of self-reflection in decision-making. She emphasizes the value of learning from experience and the necessity of questioning one's own conclusions to avoid potential pitfalls in investing.

Whether you're an asset manager, an asset owner, an educator, a student, or simply someone fascinated by the intricacies of investment strategies and their implications, this episode offers a deep dive into the mind of one of the industry's most thoughtful and successful leaders. Tune in to gain a wealth of knowledge on navigating the complex investment landscape, managing an endowment, and making strategic decisions that drive success and innovation.

Don't miss this captivating conversation that bridges the gap between theory and practice, providing listeners with actionable insights and a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the world of institutional investments.

Dakota Live! Podcast: The Importance of Portfolio Innovation with Partners Capital

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Dakota Live! Podcast: Inside the Manager Research Process with DeMarche

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we welcome Hunter Swanson, Senior Research Coordinator at DeMarche, a rising star in the investment consulting industry, to dive into the intricacies of manager sourcing, search, and selection.

Based in Kansas, and with over 50 years of history in guiding institutional investors, DeMarche helps clients develop custom investment strategies while maintaining consistency and transparency. The firm provides a comprehensive spectrum of services ranging from tailored Advisory Consulting to fully discretionary, Outsourced Chief Investment Office (OCIO) to help support their client’s fiduciary responsibilities.

Hunter shares insights into how managers can engage with DeMarche, the importance of a well-defined investment process, and key factors that drive manager approval. He also discusses emerging trends and asset classes that DeMarche is exploring, along with how they evaluate new managers for potential inclusion.

For asset managers looking to connect with DeMarche, Hunter provides actionable advice on navigating the entry points and the rigorous research process they use to identify the best investment partners.

Join us to learn how DeMarche’s comprehensive, long-term approach can help managers position themselves for success in institutional portfolios.

Don’t miss this inside look at the strategies and criteria DeMarche values as they support clients in reaching their financial goals.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Macro Insights with Bryn Mawr Trust

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, we sit down with Andrew Davis, Head of Macro Research at Bryn Mawr Trust. Andrew brings a wealth of experience to the conversation, drawing from his background as an economist and portfolio strategist. He shares how these roles have influenced his approach to portfolio construction, tactical asset allocation, and navigating complex economic environments.

Bryn Mawr Trust is a division of WSFS Bank focusing attention and resources on financial planning for high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutions.

We explore how Bryn Mawr Trust leverages a mix of internal strategies and external manager selection to meet diverse client needs, emphasizing a philosophy of openness and adaptability.

Among key insights, you will come to learn Bryn Mawr Trust’s approach to:

✓ Holistic Client Focus: Bryn Mawr Trust prides itself on providing comprehensive, client-first solutions that integrate investment strategies with financial and tax planning, ensuring a personalized approach that prioritizes client goals.

✓ Open Architecture Strategy: The firm’s investment philosophy emphasizes adaptability and openness, leveraging a combination of in-house strategies and best-in-class external managers to maximize returns and tailor portfolios to unique client needs.

✓ Entrepreneurial & Data-Driven Insights: Bryn Mawr Trust’s approach to manager research and asset allocation is rooted in data analysis and entrepreneurial thinking, allowing the firm to remain agile and proactive in a constantly evolving macroeconomic landscape

Andrew delves into the importance of balancing risk and return, considering liquidity, and navigating the evolving landscape of global macroeconomic conditions, including interest rate dynamics and geopolitical instability.

Tune in to hear Andrew’s perspective on where markets are heading, how his entrepreneurial studies at Wharton influence his investment strategy, and what it takes to succeed in wealth management. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable knowledge from one of the industry's rising stars.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Consistency and Culture with CIBC Private Wealth

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Dakota Live! Podcast: Unlocking the Power of Alternatives with Eric Gerster of AlphaCore

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Eric Gerster, Chief Investment Strategist at AlphaCore Wealth Advisory. With nearly three decades of experience in the financial industry, Eric shares insights into his impressive background in long/short and long only equity management, having worked with notable firms like Point72, Guggenheim, and T. Rowe Price.

AlphaCore is a wealth advisory firm dedicated to helping clients build and preserve their wealth. The firm combines sophisticated wealth planning techniques with investment management services.

This episode delves into AlphaCore’s innovative approach to manager selection and portfolio construction, focusing on alternative investments, including hedge funds, venture capital, and private equity.

Join us as we explore the following topics:

✅ AlphaCore’s differentiated approach to building portfolios by integrating alternative assets like private equity and real estate credit
✅ How AlphaCore tailors client portfolios with a focus on income generation and long-term growth
✅ Why learning from past mistakes and protecting against downside risk leads to more consistent, long-term returns

Eric also explores how AlphaCore identifies and partners with emerging managers, offering a fresh perspective on sourcing talent in venture capital and alternative asset classes.

Join us for an engaging conversation about the complexities of manager selection, AlphaCore's role in helping clients navigate a diversified investment landscape, and the exciting opportunities emerging in venture capital and alternative credit markets.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Inverting the Manager Research Process with Xponance

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, we are thrilled to welcome back Adam Choppin, Vice President, and Assistant Portfolio Manager for Multi-Manager Strategies at Xponance, marking exactly one year since his last appearance.

With over ten years of experience at Xponance, Adam has been instrumental in shaping the firm’s approach to emerging manager selection and portfolio construction.

Join us as we delve into the significant changes in the investment landscape over the past year, exploring how global equity markets have faced considerable challenges.

Adam shares his insights on Xponance’s commitment to identifying and supporting emerging managers, emphasizing the importance of strategic due diligence in driving sustainable alpha. We discuss the evolving dynamics in emerging markets, particularly in India and Latin America, as they emerge as key players in a multipolar world order. Adam also sheds light on the impact of market conditions at the inception of strategies and how investors can effectively navigate these shifts in a complex environment.

As we reflect on Adam’s journey and the lessons learned over the past year, this episode offers valuable perspectives for institutional investors looking to adapt to changing market conditions.

Tune in for actionable insights that can help you stay ahead in today’s investment landscape.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Underwriting from the Windshield with Summation Capital

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Roger Vincent, Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Summation Capital.

With over 25 years of experience in private equity, Roger shares his unique insights on how to approach private equity investing with an endowment-style philosophy. He discusses the importance of diversification, the balance between qualitative and quantitative analysis, and how to build a resilient portfolio that looks ahead—"underwriting from the windshield."

Tune in to learn:

The power of diversification and vintage risk management
Roger’s approach to manager selection and portfolio construction
How Summation Capital aims to reshape private equity access and fees
Why long-term vision and adaptability are crucial for investment success

Roger's in-depth conversation covers his journey from leading Cornell University’s private equity portfolio to launching Summation Capital, his innovative approach to co-investments, and how private equity strategies can help achieve long-term success.

Whether you’re an investor, manager, or student, this episode is a masterclass on navigating the complexities of private equity with precision and foresight.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Respecting the Process with Wilshire

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, Robert Morier sits down with Steven Foresti, Senior Advisor of Investments at Wilshire, who brings over 30 years of experience in investment management. Steve has played a key role in shaping Wilshire’s research efforts and supporting both public and private market strategies.

Wilshire offers a wide range of investment solutions and services for institutional investors, financial advisors, and intermediaries. They focus on tailored advisory and outsourced CIO services. With over $1.4 trillion in assets under advisement and $121 billion in assets under management, Wilshire delivers advanced financial analytics, market-leading indexes, and innovative investment solutions to optimize portfolios and improve investment outcomes.

Join us as we explore how Wilshire is addressing today’s market volatility, the role of outsourced CIOs, and how institutions are adapting their portfolios for long-term success. We also dive into Steve’s career journey, leadership style, and his thoughts on the future of asset allocation.

In sharing his career journey, Steve also discusses how his experiences with vision loss shaped his adaptability, resilience, and collaborative leadership style.

He discusses the evolution of manager research, emphasizing how advances in technology have transformed the way data is gathered and analyzed. Steve also offers insights into Wilshire’s approach to investment processes, underscoring the importance of trust, transparency, and respecting the process in manager selection.

Additionally, Steve explores the role of due diligence at Wilshire, explaining how a structured approach drives successful outcomes in both public and private markets.

Whether you’re an investment professional, allocator, or simply curious about asset management, this episode provides invaluable insights into the way Wilshire operates and Steve’s inspiring leadership journey.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the industry’s leading voices as he reflects on his experiences and shares his vision for the future of investment management.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Unlocking Early-Stage Venture Capital with Screendoor

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, Robert Morier sits down with Lisa Cawley and Jamie Rhode from Screendoor, an investment platform focused on backing the next generation of venture capital managers.

Lisa, Jamie, and Layne Johnson, who was unable to attend the recording, represent Screendoor, an investment platform that invests in new managers, driving the next wave of innovation and new perspectives in venture capital. They provide limited partners with access to highly competitive managers, driving alpha that would be challenging for them to otherwise identify, access, and underwrite.

The conversation explores how Screendoor is addressing critical gaps in the venture capital ecosystem by identifying and supporting new managers, who are driving innovation and building the next wave of venture firms.

Whether you're an allocator, an emerging GP, or just curious about venture capital, this episode provides invaluable insights into how Screendoor's unique approach combines allocator expertise with GP advisors to unlock access to early-stage managers with high return potential.

Lisa and Jamie explain how Screendoor evaluates emerging managers by looking beyond the numbers, focusing on grit, resilience, and unconventional backgrounds to discover the next industry leaders.

Tune in to learn how Screendoor is transforming venture capital by providing access for institutional investors to engage with early-stage managers, fostering a community-driven approach that emphasizes the value of relationship building.

Along the way, Lisa and Jamie share real-world examples of how their hands-on approach has helped early-stage managers navigate the challenges of firm building and capital allocation, illustrating how innovation and new perspectives can drive alpha in venture capital.

Don’t miss this opportunity to discover how Screendoor is shaping the future of venture capital, empowering allocators and GPs alike.

Dakota Live! Podcast: How Character Science Drives Investment Success with KRW International

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, Robert Morier sits down with Kelly Kiel Garramone, CEO of KRW International, to explore how character science is impacting manager research and asset allocation in investment management. Whether you’re an allocator or an asset manager, this episode offers invaluable insights into how character-based leadership can lead to financial success and stronger decision-making.

In an industry where people and culture are recognized as key drivers, why does understanding them remain such a mystery in the due diligence process?

Kelly Garramone and KRW International shed light on the connection between behavior and action, revealing the key attributes that top investment leaders display when managing an organization, team, or strategy.

Tune in to discover how character influences everything from succession planning and organizational culture to managing senior talent and optimizing capacity. Kelly also shares best practices for understanding investor temperament and improving execution.

From an asset allocator’s perspective, you'll learn how understanding your own character is crucial before evaluating the character and leadership of others, and how character-based metrics can improve the overall performance of your team and the investments you select.

For asset managers, discover how small behaviors, such as keeping promises and ensuring congruency between words and actions, can translate directly into business growth and long-term financial performance.

Along the way, we dive into real-world examples from private equity and asset allocator case studies, illustrating how character-driven leadership brings tangible results.

Don’t miss this opportunity to see how character science can shape the future of your investment strategy, team dynamics, and manager research.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Mapping the Future of Alternative Investments with Caprock

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In this captivating episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier welcomes Chris Schelling, Managing Director of Private Markets at Caprock, to explore the intricate world of alternative investments. With a rich background spanning over two decades in the investment industry, Chris has been at the forefront of building portfolios with a keen focus on alternatives, achieving remarkable success through his strategic allocations across hedge funds, real assets, private credit, and private equity.

Caprock is a multifaceted wealth advisory firm that specializes in providing comprehensive investment and wealth management solutions to high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutional investors.

Serving over 300 families, Caprock advises on assets of $8.9 billion dollars as of December 31, 2023. Of which, $4.1 billion is allocated to private markets, and $2.2 deployed with impact intentionality. The firm is an SEC-registered investment advisor and a founding B-Corporation headquartered in Boise, Idaho.

Join us as Chris shares insights from his extensive journey, including the evolution of alternative investments and the importance of sustainability in modern investment portfolios. He also dives deep into his analytical approach to portfolio construction, manager selection, and the critical role of manager research in achieving top-tier investment returns.

Chris is an influential voice in the investment community, sharing his insights and analyses through various publications including his book, ‘Better Than Alpha.’ His writings delve into the nuances of the illiquidity premium, the dynamics of alternative investments, and the evolving landscape of private equity and hedge funds.

This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in the complexities and opportunities within alternative investments, from seasoned professionals to those just starting their journey in the finance industry. Chris's expertise and unique perspectives provide invaluable lessons on navigating the alternative investment landscape and leveraging it for future success.

Whether you're looking to understand the nuances of private equity, hedge funds, or the impact of technological advancements on investment strategies, this conversation offers a comprehensive overview of the current trends shaping private markets.

Don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more episodes filled with expert insights and strategies from leading figures in the investment industry. If you find this episode valuable, please like, share, and comment below with your thoughts or questions.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Inside GP Stakes Investing with Wafra

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, we sit down with Gustavo Cardenas, Managing Director at Wafra, a global investment firm with over $30 billion under management. Headquartered in New York, Wafra has clients around the globe and is owned by the Public Institution for Social Security of Kuwait (PIFSS).

Gustavo specializes in strategic partnerships, also known as GP stakes investing. This asset class, involving backing asset management businesses, has garnered significant interest in the past few years. Wafra was one of its pioneers – it carried out its first GP stakes deal back in 2012.

Wafra focuses on two different types of strategic partnership deals: seeding and staking. The firm backs both established firms as well as the most promising next-generation alternative investment managers. Typically, it regards established firms as those with AUM of more than $5 billion. Anything below that would classify as an emerging business.

Join host Robert Morier as he delves into Gustavo’s unique journey from Nicaragua to New York City, and how he became a leading force in GP stakes investing at Wafra.

We explore the intricacies of strategic partnerships, the future of private equity, and the role of catalytic capital in emerging markets. Gustavo shares valuable insights on what it takes to succeed in the ever-evolving landscape of private markets, offering a deep dive into Wafra’s investment strategies and the firm's vision for the future.

Whether you're an institutional investor, asset manager, or just curious about the behind-the-scenes dynamics of private equity, this episode is packed with expert advice and thought-provoking discussions.

Tune in to learn more about Gustavo’s personal and professional journey, the mentors who shaped his career, and his perspective on the future of GP stakes investing.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Rewriting Wealth Management with Windrose Advisors

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In this insightful episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, we sit down with Celicia Chaung, Deputy CIO of Windrose Advisors, to explore the intricacies of manager research, market insights, and asset allocation strategies that have defined her 20-year career in the investment industry.

Celicia shares her journey from an aspiring doctor to a leading voice in hedge fund research and asset management, offering invaluable advice on finding differentiated managers and constructing resilient portfolios in today's volatile market.

Why You Should Listen:

Gain exclusive insights into Windrose's approach to manager research and selection.
Understand the current market trends and how Windrose Advisors positions their portfolios defensively and opportunistically.
Learn the value of a diversified asset allocation strategy from a seasoned industry expert.

Tune in to learn how Windrose Advisors navigates the complexities of alternative investments, the importance of a global perspective, and the strategic thinking behind their diversified portfolios.

Whether you're an investment professional, a curious learner, or someone seeking a deeper understanding of the financial world, this episode is packed with actionable insights that you won't want to miss.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Redefining Returns with Cambridge Associates

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Dakota Live! Podcast, Robert Morier sits down with Chavon Sutton, Senior Investment Director at Cambridge Associates, for an inspiring conversation that transcends traditional finance. Recorded at the TIDE Spark 2024 conference in Dana Point, California, Chavon shares her incredible journey to becoming a leader in sustainable and impact-driven investing.

Chavon discusses how Cambridge Associates seamlessly integrates sustainability, diversity, and long-term value creation into the investment process. She shares her approach to manager research, emphasizing the importance of intentionality and collaboration with investment managers committed to making a real-world difference.

Throughout the episode, you’ll discover how Chavon is guiding clients to invest in innovative solutions addressing the world’s most pressing challenges, from climate change to healthcare equity. Her unique perspective on balancing financial returns with social and environmental impact is essential listening for anyone looking to align their investments with impact.

Whether you're a seasoned finance professional or new to the industry, this conversation provides valuable insights into how the future of finance can merge profit with purpose. Tune in to learn how Chavon Sutton and her team at Cambridge Associates are shaping a more sustainable, equitable future through smart, impact-focused investing.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Private Equity Seeding with Catalyst Partners

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In the latest episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, Robert Morier sits down with Daniel Pogue, Vice President at Moelis Asset Management, and a pivotal member of the Catalyst Partners team. Join us as we delve into the nuances of private equity seeding and the critical role Catalyst Partners plays in empowering emerging private equity managers.

Moelis Asset Management is a global investment management firm providing asset management services across various strategies, including private equity, credit, and real assets. Moelis Asset Management is a New York city based asset management firm with approximately 8 billion in assets under management across strategies, such as broadly syndicated loans, direct lending, venture capital, and more. Within the firm, the Catalyst Partners team focuses on partnering with emerging private equity managers, providing strategic capital, operational support, and extensive networks to help these managers grow and succeed.

Daniel focuses on partnering with emerging private equity managers, encompassing responsibilities such as manager research, investment sourcing, and capital formation.

Key Takeaways:

Strategic Anchor Capital: Daniel emphasized the importance of providing early, scalable capital to emerging managers. Catalyst Partners doesn't just bring funding; they offer strategic value-add services that help managers build their firms and navigate the complexities of the market.

Focus on Emerging Managers: Catalyst Partners is particularly focused on Fund I opportunities, where they see the most potential for growth and partnership. By providing foundational support, they help these managers transition from concept to reality.

Value-Add Beyond Capital: Beyond financial backing, Catalyst Partners acts as a true partner, offering guidance on back-office operations, networking opportunities, and introductions to LPs. Their approach is hands-on, ensuring that managers are well-equipped to succeed in a competitive landscape.

Human Capital and Team Dynamics: A significant part of Catalyst’s evaluation process is understanding the team dynamics and personality traits of the managers they back. Daniel discussed how they look for qualities like humility, decisiveness, and adaptability, which are crucial for long-term success.

The Independent Sponsor Space: Daniel shed light on the evolving landscape of independent sponsors and how Catalyst Partners views this space as a fertile ground for sourcing high-quality opportunities.

If you're interested in private equity, emerging manager programs, or investment management solutions, this episode is a must-listen. Daniel’s insights provide a comprehensive understanding of the seeding process and how Catalyst Partners is shaping the future of private equity.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Client Collaboration with FEG Investment Advisors

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In the latest episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, Robert Morier welcomes Quincy Brown, Managing Director at Fund Evaluation Group (FEG) and a prominent leader in promoting inclusive investment practices within the asset management industry. With over 27 years at FEG, Quincy has significantly contributed to the creation and implementation of initiatives that support diversity among managers, making a substantial impact on the investment advisory landscape.

This episode not only highlights the sophisticated strategies and manager research practices employed by FEG but also offers a deeper insight into Quincy’s leadership and his forward-thinking approach to managing diversity within the investment sector.

Discover the insights and strategies that Quincy and FEG bring to the table:

Learn about Quincy’s pivotal role in launching FEG's Diverse Manager Initiatives, focusing on creating inclusive environments and identifying diverse investment opportunities.
Explore how community foundations can lead the way in fostering inclusive practices within the asset management industry, setting examples for other types of investors.
Understand the importance of education in fostering diverse perspectives and promoting inclusive investment strategies.
Gain insights into Quincy's personal career journey, the mentors who have shaped his path, and his advice for asset managers seeking to increase diverse representation.

Whether you're an industry professional or an aspiring investor, this discussion will enrich your understanding of investment management and the value of diverse investment practices.

Tune in to explore the intricacies of FEG’s strategies and what sets them apart in the investment world.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Recipes for Success with Doug MacBean, Deputy CIO of Caltech’s Investment Office

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Doug MacBean, Deputy Chief Investment Officer of the California Institute of Technology’s Investment Office (Caltech) joins us at Dakota Live! to share the ingredients from his career and how he approaches his role as an endowment allocator. Like any good recipe, Doug describes the steps to help us better understand his team’s approach to asset allocation and underwriting process as it relates to investment manager research and selection. Sit down for this insightful and informative conversations with one of the industry’s leading investors.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Strategic Growth and Innovation with Vince Smith of the New Mexico State Investment Council

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In the latest episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, Robert Morier is thrilled to welcome Vince Smith, Chief Investment Officer and Deputy State Investment Officer at the New Mexico State Investment Council.

With over 37 years of experience in public fund investment, Vince oversees New Mexico's Permanent Funds, managing a diverse portfolio valued at $53.5 billion.

Under Vince’s guidance, the investment strategies of the New Mexico State Investment Council have evolved to include a comprehensive top-down macro approach. Vince delves into his extensive background and how it has shaped his investment philosophy and strategies.

Discover the insights and strategies that Vince brings to the table:

Macro Perspective: Learn how understanding global economic trends shapes effective investment decisions.

Demographic Shifts: Explore the impact of changing demographics on market strategies and portfolio management.

Trust and Relationships: Understand the critical role of building trustworthy and long-term relationships in the investment world.

This episode not only highlights the sophisticated investment strategies employed by the New Mexico State Investment Council but also offers a deeper insight into Vince’s leadership and his forward-thinking approach to managing public funds.

Whether you're an industry professional or an aspiring investor, this discussion will enrich your understanding of strategic investment management and the value of a well-balanced portfolio.

Tune in to explore the intricacies of Vince’s investment strategies and what sets them apart in the investment world.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Risk Management and Portfolio Strategy with Makena Capital

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In this enlightening episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Breanna Stein Genecov, Director of Portfolio Solutions and OCIO with Makena Capital. With a background in risk management, portfolio strategy, and manager selection, Breanna offers a deep dive into the complex world of Makena Capital’s OCIO business and how the firm shapes investment outcomes for a diverse client base.

Makena Capital Management, LLC was formed in 2005 by senior executives from the Stanford Management Company along with other leading practitioners from elite North American endowments and foundations.

The firm offers investment expertise, scale and access to a diverse client base which includes endowments, foundations, family offices, sovereign wealth funds and international institutions focused on preserving and growing multigenerational capital. As of December 2023, the firm is responsible for over $20 billion in capital under management.

Beginning as an intern with Makena Capital to her role today, supporting the design, implementation, and management multi-asset class portfolios, Breanna enhances our understanding of the role of the OCIO and the strategic decisions that drive Makena’s investment strategy. With an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, her insights are grounded in substantial academic and practical experience, making her perspective invaluable to anyone interested in the dynamics of manager selection and asset allocation.

Episode Highlights:

The Role of OCIO: Explore how OCIOs like Makena Capital manage investments for endowments, foundations, and family offices, ensuring their long-term financial health and growth.
Career Insights: Breanna discusses her career trajectory, including her shift from covering natural resources to multi-asset class solution management, and the impact of her education on her professional path.
Investment Strategies: Gain insights into Makena Capital's approach to investment, focusing on risk management, asset allocation, and the key attributes Makena looks for in asset management partners.
Future of Investing: Discussion on the evolution of investment strategies in response to market changes.

Whether you're a professional in the industry or an interested observer, there's something in this episode for everyone.

Dakota Live! Podcast: CIO Insights with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In the latest episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, Robert Morier welcomes Daniel Gottlieb, Chief Investment Officer for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. Discover how Daniel oversees the tribe’s Permanent Fund Investments (PFI), which manages a diversified portfolio to support the tribe's long-term financial goals and essential community services.

Under Daniel’s leadership, the investment strategies have expanded to include private investments alongside traditional asset classes, reflecting a commitment to diversification and sustainability. With a background in the alternative investment industry, Daniel brings a wealth of expertise in portfolio management and investment strategies.

Daniel shares insights into the tribe’s unique investment strategies, the importance of aligning investments with cultural and long-term financial goals, and the significance of building strong relationships with investment partners.

This episode not only highlights the Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s sophisticated investment approach but also provides a deeper understanding of Daniel’s leadership and the mission-driven goals of their investment department.

Whether you're an industry professional or a curious investor, this discussion will enhance your understanding of strategic investment management and the benefits of a diversified portfolio. Tune in to uncover the intricacies of their investment strategies and what helps them stand out in the investment landscape.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Making a Difference with CHOP

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In the latest episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Jenny Chan, Senior Vice President, and Chief Investment Officer at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Jenny oversees CHOP's substantial investment portfolio, playing a crucial role in supporting the hospital's mission through strategic and innovative investment approaches.

Jenny shares her journey from working in asset management to leading the investment office at CHOP. She delves into CHOP's unique governance structure and the evolution of its investment strategies, highlighting the hospital's commitment to sustainability and mission-driven goals.

Jenny also discusses the challenges and opportunities in managing a diverse portfolio, from venture capital to public equities, and the importance of building strong relationships with investment partners.

In addition, Jenny reflects on the personal and professional influences that have shaped her career, from her time with the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to her leadership role at CHOP. Jenny's journey from bond trading to leading a major healthcare investment team offers inspiring lessons in leadership, continuous learning, and the power of a mission-focused approach.

Join us for this insightful conversation that blends technical expertise with personal reflections. Jenny’s approach to investment management, her focus on sustainability, and her leadership at one of the nation’s leading pediatric hospitals provide a fascinating look into the intersection of finance and healthcare.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Investing in the Future of Pediatrics with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 10:00:00 -0400

In the latest episode of Dakota Live!, we are thrilled to welcome Mike Negussie, a pivotal investor in the world of pediatric healthcare investments. As the Investment Director at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), Mike and the investment team are at the forefront of revolutionizing children's healthcare through strategic investments in biotechnology, life sciences, and more. Dive deep into the world of CHOA, a beacon of hope and innovation, managing over a million patient visits each year and offering over 60 specialized pediatric programs. Discover how the investment team at CHOA is sculpting a brighter, healthier future for children, with Mike and his colleagues leading the charge in analyzing and seizing groundbreaking investment opportunities. Whether you are a budding biotech enthusiast, an investment aficionado, or simply curious about the mechanisms of private and public market due diligence, this episode offers a golden opportunity to gain insights directly from a seasoned expert. Join us as Mike unveils the strategies, approaches, and themes that are currently driving CHOA's extraordinary mission forward. Don't miss this chance to learn from a thought leader in the field, as we explore the intricacies of emerging manager relationships and the current trends in biotechnology and life sciences. Tune in to witness how CHOA is shaping a healthier future, one investment at a time.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Navigating North Dakota’s Investment Landscape: Insights from the Department of Trust Lands

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, Robert Morier welcomes Joseph Heringer, Commissioner, and Frank Mihail, Chief Investment Officer, from the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands.

This conversation provides a comprehensive look into how North Dakota manages its substantial land and mineral assets to support educational institutions and other state beneficiaries.

The discussion highlights the unique structure and strategies of the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands, detailing the management of over 2.6 million acres of land.

Joseph Heringer shares insights into his role and the department's mission to maximize returns and revenue through prudent asset management. The episode delves into the importance of the partnership with the oil and gas industry, which significantly contributes to the state's revenue through royalties.

Frank Mihail discusses his role as CIO, overseeing a $7 billion sovereign wealth fund. He outlines the department’s investment strategies, including the introduction of various asset classes such as venture capital and distressed credit, and the restructuring of public fixed income and real estate investments. The conversation also covers the operational improvements and the use of technology to enhance efficiency in portfolio management.

Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands balances its commitments to education and the energy sector while ensuring sustainable growth and innovation.

Tune in to discover the intricacies of managing state assets and the strategic initiatives that drive North Dakota's investment success.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Mastering OCIO Solutions: Insights from Chestnut Advisory Group

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In the latest episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Amanda Tepper and Ravi Venkatraman, managing partners and co-founders of Chestnut Advisory Group.

Chestnut Advisory Group and the Chestnut Solutions Institute specialize in providing strategic advisory services and investment solutions tailored to the needs of OCIOs (Outsourced Chief Investment Officers). They offer comprehensive support, including market insights, best practices, and customized strategies to enhance the effectiveness and performance of OCIOs in managing their clients' investment portfolios

Amanda and Ravi bring deep insights into the world of investment management and strategic advisory. Their expertise in the OCIO (Outsourced Chief Investment Officer) space and investment solutions industry is unparalleled.

Episode Highlights:

✔ The unique challenges and evolution of the OCIO market.
✔ Key factors driving the growth and consolidation within the investment solutions industry.
✔ The importance of establishing common standards and definitions for investment solution providers.
✔ Chestnut's thesis on the importance of meeting clients' needs and how this approach drives their strategic advisory practice.

Tune In to Learn:

✅ How investors are selecting OCIO partners.
✅ Best practices in OCIO management and discretionary services.
✅ Insights on client-centric solutions and the importance of ongoing education and dialogue.
✅ Emerging trends and innovations shaping the future of the OCIO landscape.

Join us for this engaging conversation on navigating the complexities of investment solutions. Amanda and Ravi's approach to strategic advisory, their commitment to ethical standards, and their leadership in the investment management community provide a fascinating look into the future of the industry.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Making a Difference with CHOP

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Dakota Live! Podcast: Private Equity Investing with Abbott Capital

Wed, 29 May 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In the latest episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Jonathan Tubiana, Managing Director, Investments with Abbott Capital.

Established in 1986, Abbott Capital Management focuses on creating value for its investors through carefully crafted portfolios of private equity investments. The firm is known for its strategic approach to primaries, secondaries, and co-investments, emphasizing the depth of its market insights and the strength of its global relationships. Since joining Abbott Capital in 2009, Jonathan has played a pivotal role in guiding the firm's investment strategy. With a background in finance from Grenoble School of Finance (France) and NYU Stern School of Business, Jonathan brings a wealth of knowledge and international perspective to his role.

Episode Highlights:

Jonathan's career journey and evolution at Abbott Capital.
The importance of team dynamics and cognitive diversity in investment decisions.
How Abbott Capital sources and evaluates private equity managers.
The impact of private wealth and product innovation on private equity.

Join us as Jonathan shares his journey, insights, and expertise in formulating high-performing private equity portfolios and fostering strong client relationships.

Tune In to Learn:

The process and criteria for evaluating private equity managers.
How Abbott Capital manages risk and portfolio construction.
The significance of long-term relationships and client expectations.
The role of innovation and emerging trends in private markets.

Don't miss this insightful conversation with Jonathan Tubiana and learn more about Abbott Capital.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Transforming Healthcare with AdventHealth

Wed, 22 May 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In the latest episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Rob Roy, Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer, and Co-Head of Environmental Sustainability at AdventHealth.

Rob oversees investments for one of the nation’s largest faith-based health systems, which include operating capital and employee retirement portfolios totaling approximately $18 billion. In addition, he co-leads the company's environmental profile transformation, including all emissions, waste, and water streams, and cooperates on the company-wide ESG reporting.

Rob shares the innovative strategies that have transformed AdventHealth's investment portfolio, emphasizing risk management and data-driven decisions. Discover how AdventHealth has evolved from a precarious financial position to a robust, risk-balanced portfolio, leveraging strategic partnerships and a generalist team model to navigate complex investment landscapes.

Rob also delves into AdventHealth's commitment to sustainability and resilience. Learn about their dual focus on reducing environmental impact and increasing resilience to climate change, with initiatives spanning emissions, waste, and water management. Explore how strategic investments in renewable energy and workforce housing not only align with their mission but also provide strong financial returns. Rob's journey from bond trading to leading a major healthcare investment team offers valuable lessons in continuous learning, curiosity, and the power of collaboration.

Join us for this inspiring conversation that blends technical insights with personal reflections. Rob's dedication to aligning investment strategies with organizational values and mission-driven goals is a testament to effective leadership.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Growth of Capital in North Dakota

Wed, 15 May 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Welcome to our latest episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast. In this special episode, we recorded live from North Dakota State University in Fargo, bringing together a panel of distinguished guests to explore the growth of capital in the state and how investment decisions from the State’s Department of Trust Lands, North Dakota State University (NDSU) Foundation, and its student-managed investment strategy come together at the intersection of education, energy, and investment policy in this nuanced institutional market.

Our goal at Dakota Live! is to demystify the investment sales ecosystem by introducing you to the key participants, from chief investment officers to research professionals and consultants down to the next generation of investment professionals.

We’re diving deep into the heart of investment strategy and education to demonstrate the inter-connectedness of our nation's public pension systems and the institutions they support.

Meet Our Panel:

Allyson Peterson: Chief Financial Officer at the NDSU Foundation, overseeing the long-term growth and investment of Foundation assets.
Jon Spahn: President of the NDSU Bison Fund, a student-run equity fund providing real-world investment experience.
Frank Mihail: Chief Investment Officer at the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands, managing investments for the state's Sovereign Wealth Fund.
Joe Heringer: North Dakota Commissioner of University and School Lands, driving policy and strategic direction.

In This Episode:

Introductions and Interconnectedness: How our guests are connected and their shared mission to advance the interests of North Dakota and NDSU.
Investment Strategies and Processes: Insight into the strategies behind managing the NDSU Bison Fund and the Trust Lands' $7 billion portfolio.
Educational Impact: The role of the NDSU Foundation in supporting the university’s goals through effective asset management.
Career Advice for Students: Our panel shares invaluable advice for students about to enter the finance world.

Highlights:

Allyson Peterson discusses the importance of aligning the Foundation’s investments with both long-term goals and immediate university needs.
Frank Mihail talks about the process of filling strategic asset allocation gaps and the importance of consistent performance in investment management.
Joe Heringer emphasizes the significance of promoting the Trust Lands' mission and fostering transparency.
Jon Spahn provides a glimpse into the practical experiences and opportunities offered by the Bison Fund to NDSU students.

This episode is packed with actionable insights and career advice for aspiring finance professionals, and anyone interested in the intricacies of institutional investment.

Special Thanks: A heartfelt thank you to North Dakota State University for hosting us and to Jon Spahn for coordinating this opportunity.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Investment Due Diligence Insights with Fiducient Advisors

Wed, 08 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In the latest episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Joe Cortese, Partner, and Senior Consultant with Fiducient Advisors.

Fiducient Advisors is a full-service asset advisory business founded in 1995. With 215 professionals and $309 billion in assets under advisement (as of December 31, 2023), Fiducient is one of the premier consultancy businesses in the US with providing investment consulting services to retirement plans, endowments and foundations, private clients, and financial institutions.

In this episode, Joe shares his wealth of knowledge and insights on the subtleties of asset allocation, investment strategy design, manager research and selection, and the evolving landscape of investment consulting.

Whether you’re a seasoned investor or new to the field, this episode offers critical insights into managing complex investment portfolios and navigating the challenges of today’s financial landscape.

Disclosure:

This video is intended for the exclusive use of clients or prospective clients of Fiducient Advisors LLC. The information contained herein is intended for the recipient, is confidential and may not be distributed to any other person without the prior approval of Fiducient Advisors. Any dissemination or distribution is strictly prohibited. Information has been obtained from a variety of sources believed to be reliable though not independently verified. Any forecasts represent future expectations and not actual returns; volatilities and correlations will differ from forecasts. This video does not constitute a specific investment recommendation. The opinions and analysis expressed herein are based on Fiducient Advisors' research and professional experience, and are expressed as of the date of this video. Please consult with your advisor, attorney, and accountant, as appropriate, regarding specific investment advice. Past performance does not indicate future performance, and there is a possibility of loss.

This video does not constitute advice or a recommendation or offer to sell or a solicitation to deal in any security or financial product. It is provided for information purposes only and on the understanding that the recipient has sufficient knowledge and experience to be able to understand and make their own evaluation of the proposals and services described herein, any risks associated therewith and any related legal, tax, accounting, or other material considerations. To the extent that the reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to their specific portfolio or situation, prospective investors are encouraged to contact Fiducient or consult with the professional advisor of their choosing.

Certain information contained herein constitutes “forward-looking statements,” which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate,” “intend,” “continue,” or “believe,” or the negatives thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. Due to various risks and uncertainties, actual events, results or actual performance may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements. Nothing contained herein may be relied upon as a guarantee, promise, assurance, or a representation as to the future.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Investing in the Future with the North Dakota Retirement and Investment Office

Wed, 01 May 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In the latest episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Scott Anderson, Chief Investment Officer for the North Dakota Retirement & Investment Office (RIO), which coordinates the activities of the State Investment Board and the Teachers’ Fund for Retirement.

Join us as we delve deep into the intricacies of investment management and asset allocation, and Scott's strategic approach at the helm of one of the nation’s significant investment offices.

Scott discusses the unique challenges and opportunities in managing a diverse portfolio that includes public and private markets, detailing his philosophy on long-term investments and how they adapt to market changes.

This episode offers invaluable insights into effective asset allocation, the impact of technological advancements in investment strategies, and Scott's proactive approach to team building and leadership.

Episode Highlights:

Comprehensive Investment Strategy: Scott shares his transition from technology to investment, highlighting his role in managing $21 billion in assets, including pension funds and a sovereign wealth fund. His approach combines rigorous analytics with a strategic vision, focusing on internal direct investments to enhance control and reduce dependency on external managers.
Innovative Internal Programs: The discussion unveils the launch of internal direct investment programs aimed at improving investment returns and operational efficiencies. Scott emphasizes the shift towards internal management of funds, which supports more strategic asset allocation and risk management.
.Adaptability in Asset Allocation: Scott explains how North Dakota’s investment strategies are adapted to market conditions to optimize the portfolio performance over the long term. He shares insights into how diverse allocations help mitigate risks and capitalize on opportunities across different market cycles.
Technological Integration: The episode covers the integration of advanced technologies, including machine learning and AI, to streamline operations and improve decision-making processes within the investment office.
Future Goals and Strategies: Looking forward, Scott discusses ambitious plans to expand the state’s investment capabilities, including enhancing the state's cash management strategies and further developing internal management capacities.

Whether you're a professional in the investment community or interested in the nuances of public sector investment management, this episode provides essential knowledge and strategies to enhance your understanding of institutional investment frameworks.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Risk Management and Portfolio Strategy with Makena Capital

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0400

The Role of OCIO: Explore how OCIOs like Makena Capital manage investments for endowments, foundations, and family offices, ensuring their long-term financial health and growth.
Career Insights: Breanna discusses her career trajectory, including her shift from covering natural resources to multi-asset class solution management, and the impact of her education on her professional path.
Investment Strategies: Gain insights into Makena Capital's approach to investment, focusing on risk management, asset allocation, and the key attributes Makena looks for in asset management partners.
Future of Investing: Discussion on the evolution of investment strategies in response to market changes.

Whether you're a professional in the industry or an interested observer, there's something in this episode for everyone.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Private Market Innovation and Insights with Hamilton Lane

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In the latest episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, Robert Morier welcomes John Brecker and Jackie Rantanen from Hamilton Lane. Discover how Hamilton Lane, one of the largest private market investment firms globally, leverages its extensive experience to offer innovative solutions to institutional and private wealth investors worldwide.

Hamilton Lane provides innovative solutions to institutional and private wealth investors around the world. Dedicated exclusively to private markets investing for more than 30 years, the firm currently employs nearly 700 professionals operating in offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East.

Hamilton Lane has over $903 billion in assets under management and supervision, composed of $120 billion in discretionary assets and nearly $783 billion in non-discretionary assets, as of December 31, 2023.

John Brecker, Managing Director on the Client Solutions team, shares his journey from financial advising to shaping investment strategies across Hamilton Lane’s client business. Jackie Rantanen, Head of Investor Solutions, and a pivotal member of several executive committees, discusses the evolution of Hamilton Lane's evergreen strategies and the firm's approach to expanding access to private markets for a broader investor base.

This episode not only highlights Hamilton Lane's significant role private markets but also provides a deeper understanding of their client-centric approach, the importance of educational outreach, and the firm’s commitment to technology and innovation. Whether you're an industry professional or a curious investor, this discussion will enhance your understanding of private market dynamics and the strategic foresight that drives Hamilton Lane's success.

From private equity and credit to real assets and infrastructure, Hamilton Lane's approach is holistic and comprehensive. Tune in to uncover the intricacies of private market investments and what helps Hamilton Lane stand out in this competitive landscape.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Investment Manager Research with Vanguard

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In the latest episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, Robert Morier welcomes Matt Piro, Global Head of Oversight and Manager Search at Vanguard. With a staggering $9 trillion in global assets under management, Vanguard stands at the pinnacle of the investment world, and Matt gives us an exclusive look behind the scenes of managing the firm’s approximately $700 billion in subadvisory assets.

Matt shares his extensive journey of over two decades at Vanguard from a phone representative on the direct client desk to leading Vanguard’s subadvisory investments, overseeing 24 subadvisors, and nearly 80 mandates across more than 50 funds globally. His transition through roles in ESG product strategy, Vanguard’s European leadership, and manager research provides a unique lens into the complexities and nuances of global investment management and the inner workings of Vanguard.

This episode offers a treasure trove of insights on:

The evolution of active and passive investments: Where is the industry heading over the next five to ten years?
The meticulous process of manager research and selection at Vanguard, and how it shapes the investment landscape.
The significance of transparency and relationship management in sustaining long-term partnerships with investment managers.
Vanguard's venture into private equity and alternatives, aiming to democratize access to these traditionally exclusive asset classes.
The pivotal role of mentorship in Matt's career and the profound impact of personal tenacity and work ethic learned from his mother's entrepreneurial spirit.

Whether you're a seasoned professional in the finance industry or an individual investor looking to understand the gears that drive the investment world, this episode provides invaluable perspectives from one of the leading manager research professionals in the industry at the world's largest mutual fund provider.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Mapping the Future of Alternative Investments with Caprock

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Dakota Live! Podcast: Steering Through the Currents: Family Office Wealth Management with Gilder Partners for Growth

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In this insightful episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Robert Lovas and Emily Sumner of Gilder Partners for Growth, delving deep into the intricate world of family office investments. Robert Lovas, the firm's President and Chief Operating Officer, and Emily Sumner, the Chief Investment Officer, share their wealth of experience in managing multi-generational wealth, emphasizing growth, sustainability, and the importance of due diligence in today's market.

Gilder Partners for Growth, LLC is a Registered Investment Adviser that offers a family office approach to investment. The firm is based in Raleigh, NC. Emphasizing multi-generational capital growth rather than capital preservation, Gilder Partners for Growth invests across a variety of liquid and illiquid asset classes, expressing high-conviction themes over various holding periods, and utilizing third-party investment managers as appropriate.

The firm’s roots were planted by Ginny Gilder, the firm’s founder, and her father through the Gilder family investment office, the Gilder Office for Growth. Ginny Gilder is a managing member of Force 10 Enterprises which owns the Seattle Storm. She is also an acclaimed author, rower, and philanthropist, having been named to represent the United States in two Olympics, and earning a silver medal at the Los Angeles Olympics. She wrote about her experiences in and out of the boat in her memoir, Course Correction.

This episode covers a wide range of topics, from the challenges and opportunities in asset allocation and diversification for family offices, the impact of sustainability on investment strategies, to the future of family office investments amidst geopolitical and social uncertainties. Robert and Emily also provide invaluable advice for families considering the services of a family office, highlighting the need for clarity, governance, and a personalized approach to investment.

Listeners will gain insights into the unique investment philosophies at Gilder Partners for Growth, the importance of collaboration and trust in the family office community, and the personal journeys of Robert and Emily that led them to their roles in wealth management. Whether you're a seasoned investor or new to the world of family offices, this episode offers a comprehensive look into the strategies, challenges, and rewards of managing family wealth for growth and sustainability.

Tune in to this episode of Dakota Live! Podcast to explore the sophisticated landscape of family office investments with two of the industry's most knowledgeable and insightful professionals.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Mastering Complexity: The OCIO Approach with Meketa Investment Group

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In the latest episode of Dakota Live! Podcast, Robert Morier welcomes Brian Dana, Director of Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) Solutions at Meketa Investment Group. This episode delves into why a range of institutions are increasingly depending on OCIOs to navigate today's complex investment landscape.

Brian outlines how Meketa employs its expertise in governance, market intricacies, and the pursuit of alpha through alternative investments and private markets to provide fiduciary solutions, emphasizing manager research and asset allocation analysis.

Founded in 1978, Meketa is an employee-owned, full-service investment consulting and fiduciary management (OCIO) firm. As an independent fiduciary, it serves institutional investors in non-discretionary and discretionary capacities. As of September 30, 2023, Meketa advises on approximately $1.8 trillion in client assets.

Discover the tailored investment solutions Meketa crafts to address the unique needs of various allocator segments, showcasing a move towards customized mandates that resonate with individual institutional goals.

Learn how Meketa navigates modern investment complexities, their stance on sustainability, and the crucial role of technology in boosting portfolio performance. Brian also unveils the upcoming challenges and opportunities for OCIO firms and shares personal stories underscoring the significance of relationships and mentorship within the industry.

Join us to uncover the future of investment management and obtain invaluable insights from a leading figure in investment consulting and advisory services. This episode is a treasure trove of knowledge, anecdotes, and foresights into OCIO services, perfect for investment professionals, finance students, or anyone intrigued by investment strategy evolution.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Mastering Investment Ecosystems with Tom Brakke

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier sits down with Tom Brakke, Founder of the Investment Ecosystem, to explore the dynamic landscape of investment manager research and asset allocation. Tom's remarkable journey from portfolio manager and director of research to providing pivotal advice and education in the asset management industry offers invaluable insights into organizational design, investment process, and the art of due diligence.

As a forty-year veteran in asset management, Tom shares his experiences and lessons learned over a distinguished career, highlighting the importance of adapting to change and the role of effective communication in investment management. The conversation delves into the complexities of manager research, the challenges of narrative and performance evaluation, and the critical nature of organizational design in aligning investment philosophy with operational reality.

The episode also covers the impact of technological advancements and macro-environmental considerations on investment strategies and decision-making. Tom emphasizes the need for investment firms to stay agile and forward-thinking, shedding light on the significance of understanding market dynamics and the potential pitfalls of traditional investment approaches.

Listeners will gain a deeper appreciation for the nuanced aspects of asset management and the critical thinking required to navigate the investment landscape successfully. Tom's perspective encourages a reflective approach to investment decisions, stressing the importance of continuous learning and open dialogue within the investment community.

As the Dakota Live! Podcast continues to bridge the gap between industry thought leaders and asset allocators, this episode with Tom Brakke stands out as a must-listen for professionals seeking to enhance their understanding of the investment ecosystem and its challenges.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Navigating Wealth Management with Fiduciary Trust

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0500

In this engaging episode of the Dakota Live Podcast, Robert Morier welcomes Harison Sidhu, Head of Manager Selection and Due Diligence at Fiduciary Trust Company. Join us as we delve into Harison's experience in the finance industry, covering his strategic approach to investment manager selection, the intricacies of due diligence, and his perspective on asset allocation.

Fiduciary Trust Company was founded as a family office in 1885 and incorporated as a trust bank in 1928. Throughout their history, Fiduciary Trust has maintained a proud tradition of providing clients with objective and comprehensive investment management, trust, estate settlement, and other services. With over $23 billion in assets under supervision, Fiduciary Trust focuses on Investment portfolios tailored to client needs.

Harison emphasizes the need for a clear understanding of how managers aim to achieve outperformance, their competitive advantage, and in which market environments their strategies are likely to succeed. He highlights the significance of in-person meetings with key decision-makers to fully grasp a strategy. Furthermore, Harison delves into the extensive research undertaken to complement these discussions, including analysis of past returns and current holdings to gauge how a strategy generated historical returns and what factors will drive future returns. This rigorous approach ensures alignment with narratives presented by managers and confirms a solid understanding of the underlying strategy.

Harison also shares personal insights, from the influence of his family and mentors on his career path to his thoughts on the impact of technology and AI in investment management. His unique blend of personal anecdotes and professional expertise offers listeners valuable lessons on navigating the complexities of the investment management landscape. This episode not only illuminates the technical prowess required in finance but also the human elements that drive the industry forward. The conversation also touches on the significance of sustainability in investment decisions, reflecting on how these factors are integrated into Fiduciary Trust's operations.

Harison's role at Fiduciary Trust highlights the company's dedication to meticulous investment manager selection and due diligence, ensuring that client investments are managed with the utmost care and professionalism. This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in the nuances of investment management and the principles that guide industry leaders in making informed, strategic decisions.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Investing in Education with the CIO of Drexel University

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Dakota Live! Podcast: Legacy and Leadership with the CIO of Girard

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0500

As Chief Investment Officer, Timothy Chubb oversees Girard’s investment process and creates strategies that are designed to meet the unique financial needs of every client. Tim passionately shares his knowledge of financial markets and the economy in the latest episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast.

In this special edition release, Tim takes the Dakota Live! team through Girard’s approach to manager research and selection and what a potential client partnership looks like with their firm. Join us as we come to better understand Girard and their allocation to various asset classes and investment strategies.

Legacy and leadership capture the essence of Girard’s rich history, inspired by the legacy of Stephen Girard, founder of Girard Bank and the firm’s evolution into a comprehensive wealth advisory practice under Univest Financial Corporation. The conversation highlights the journey from its roots in the early 19th century to its current position as a leader in providing innovative financial solutions. With a continuity of core values and dedication to serving clients' needs through changing times, Tim shares both the historical depth and forward-thinking approach of Girard.

Girard is a comprehensive wealth advisory practice backed by the strength and stability of Univest Financial Corporation. Girard is made up of multiple affiliated entities including two investment advisor firms, a broker/dealer and the Trust Department of Univest Bank and Trust Co. With $4.5 billion in assets under management and $7.8 billion in total assets, Girard and Univest Trust Company advise clients that include private wealth, investment management, and consulting relationships for municipal pension, retirement, non-profit, and foundation assets.

Dakota Live! Podcast: The Agility Advantage with Coalition Greenwich

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0500

In our latest episode of the Dakota Live Podcast, host Robert Morier engages in an insightful conversation with Todd Glickson, a renowned consultant and Head of the North American Investment Management Practice for Coalition Greenwich, a division of CRISIL. The discussion offers an in-depth exploration of the ever-evolving investment management landscape, highlighting the critical importance of agility for asset managers in today's fast-paced market environment.

Todd shares invaluable insights drawn from his latest research paper, "The Agility Advantage," providing asset managers and allocators with actionable strategies to enhance their agility and, consequently, their competitive edge. The conversation covers a broad spectrum of pertinent topics, including asset management and portfolio construction trends, top traits associated with asset manager agility, and how allocators can identify client-centric business models in their asset management partners.

Moreover, the episode delves into the significance of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence in reshaping investment strategies and client engagement. Todd and Robert discuss the challenges of client onboarding, the nuances of client service excellence, and the implications of industry consolidation on both large firms and boutiques.

This episode is a must-listen for investment professionals seeking to navigate the complexities of the investment sales ecosystem with greater agility and foresight. Join us to gain a deeper understanding of the strategies that define success in the investment industry today. Don't miss out on these critical insights that could redefine your approach to investment management, client service, and manager research and selection.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Innovating Pension Fund Management with the Toronto Transit Commission Pension Plan

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0500

In our latest episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, join us as we delve into the intricate world of pension fund investment with Andy Greene, Chief Investment Officer at the Toronto Transit Commission Pension Plan (TTCPP). With an impressive career spanning over 25 years in pension and investment management, Andy brings a wealth of experience and insights into managing the $8.2 billion defined benefit fund dedicated to the financial retirement security of Toronto's public transport network employees.

Andy's journey from Chicago to Toronto, through various pivotal roles in the investment industry, including his tenure at OPTrust and significant contributions to the University of Wisconsin Foundation, paints a vivid picture of his profound impact on the pension fund industry. Under his leadership, TTCPP has seen substantial growth and innovation, particularly in embracing technology, private investments, and hedge fund strategies into its investment process.

This episode not only explores Andy's strategic approach to balancing stability with returns in a challenging economic landscape but also highlights his successful efforts in building a dedicated investment team from the ground up. With insightful discussions on the importance of sustainability, the role of technology in enhancing investment decision-making, and the challenges and opportunities facing pension funds today, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of pension fund investment.

For more insights into Andy Greene's leadership and the strategic initiatives propelling the TTC Pension Plan forward, be sure to tune into this insightful conversation.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Private Market Consulting with LCG Associates

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0500

In this insightful episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier is joined by Catharine Burkett, the former Co-Director of Private Investments at LCG Associates. Catharine shares her extensive experience in the investment industry, focusing on LCG’s strategic approach to private investments. Founded in 1973, LCG is an employee owned, full service national consulting firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

With a career spanning various aspects of private markets, including venture capital, private equity, and private market fund-of-funds management, Catharine offers valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing investors and fund managers today within private market investing.

This episode delves into Catharine's journey through the investment landscape, LCG’s strategies for assessing and engaging with private market investment opportunities, and her thoughts on current market trends. Whether you're an investment professional seeking to understand the nuances of due diligence and private market manager research or someone interested in the behind-the-scenes decision-making processes within investment consulting, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and expertise.

Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics of private market manager research and asset allocation and the critical importance of due diligence in achieving investment success from one of the leading investment consultants in the industry.

Disclosure:

The views expressed in this podcast may not necessarily reflect the views of LCG Associates, Inc. and do not constitute research or recommendation advice or an offer or a solicitation to buy or sell any security or financial instrument. This material is for informational purposes. The opinions expressed are as of date of publication and are subject to change. The information and opinions contained in this material are not guaranteed as to accuracy or completeness. This material may contain ’forward looking’ information that is not purely historical in nature. There is no guarantee that any forecasts made will come to pass. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the listener. Past performance is not indicative of current or future results. This information provided is neither tax nor legal advice and investors should consult with their own advisors before making investment decisions.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Powering Advisors with Brinker Capital Investments

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Mili Rosen, CFA, a Senior Investment Analyst at Brinker Capital Investments joins us for the latest episode of Dakota Live! In this insightful episode, join us as we delve into a comprehensive discussion with Mili about her career journey, her role at Brinker Capital Investments, and the nuances of investment management and manager research.

Mili shares her insights on various topics, including the challenges of manager research in both public and private markets, the importance of technology in investment analysis, and the approach to early-stage, emerging managers.

Throughout the conversation, Mili emphasizes the importance of understanding the qualitative aspects of investment management, such as the team dynamics and culture of investment firms, alongside quantitative analysis. She also discusses the role of technology in enhancing investment research and touches on topics like liquid alternatives and digital assets in the context of modern investment strategies.

The episode is informative for those interested in the world of investment management, providing a glimpse into the day-to-day responsibilities and considerations of a Senior Investment Analyst and the broader trends in the industry. Mili’s journey, from her education at Penn State University to her current role, also serves as an inspiring narrative for aspiring investment professionals.

Along the way, learn what led Mili to be named one of Citywire’s 2023 Rising Stars in manager research.

Disclaimer:
Orion Portfolio Solutions, LLC d/b/a Brinker Capital Investments a registered investment advisor. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended as specific advice or recommendations for any individual. Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Harmonizing your Asset Allocation with Jennifer DeSisto, CIO of Anchor Capital Advisors

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0500

In this special rerelease of one of our most insightful episodes, we revisit our enlightening conversation with Jennifer DeSisto, the Chief Investment Officer of Anchor Capital Advisors. With $7.4 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2023, Jennifer brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in asset allocation, manager selection, and portfolio management.

In this episode, Jennifer takes us through her professional journey, detailing the evolution of her career in manager research and asset allocation, and the lessons learned along the way. She offers a behind-the-scenes look at managing a diverse portfolio and balancing in-house strategies with external manager selection, highlighting the strategic approach of Anchor Capital in managing approximately $4.9 billion with external managers across all asset classes.

Jennifer also delves into the crucial aspects of business management and product development within Anchor Capital, discussing how the firm adapts to market demands and technological advancements.

For aspiring finance professionals and industry enthusiasts, this episode is packed with invaluable advice and perspectives from one of the industry’s leading investment minds. Whether you’re hearing it for the first time or revisiting it, this episode with Jennifer DeSisto is an essential listen for anyone interested in the dynamics of investment management and the evolving RIA landscape.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Micro and Small Cap Manager Analysis with Acuitas Investments

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0500

In the latest episode of Dakota Live!, we are excited to feature Chris Tessin, Founder and Managing Partner of Acuitas Investments. Chris serves as Chief Investment Officer and Lead Portfolio Manager of the Small and Microcap portfolios. Chris and his team are recognized as industry leaders in investment manager research and multi-manager portfolio management, focusing on those markets they believe are inherently less efficient.

Our conversation covers the inherent inefficiencies that exist within certain global equity markets, and how Acuitas harnesses the expertise of its investment managers to exploit these inefficiencies to the fullest. With a wealth of experience behind them, Acuitas has honed the art of identifying premiere investment managers who can navigate these complex waters.

One of the key features discussed in the interview is the importance of early life-cycle, high conviction investment managers. Chris sheds light on how these managers provide distinct advantages in a constantly evolving investment landscape. Along the way, Chris touches upon the significance of transparent pricing, proper resourcing, and aligned interests to mitigate issues around early-stage investments in the emerging manager space. Tune in to gain invaluable insights into Acuitas' innovative approach to investment management and their dedication to client success.

This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in the entrepreneurial mindset, asset allocation, global micro, and small cap equity management, or simply looking to broaden their institutional financial knowledge from a veteran allocator. Tune in to gain valuable insights into the mindset of an investment leader and founder who understands the significance of selecting investment managers in the most inefficient areas of global markets.

Disclaimer:
This material contains the current opinions of Acuitas and is presented solely for informational purposes. Nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation or solicitation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment or strategy is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable.

Information is obtained from sources deemed reliable, but there is no representation or warranty as to its accuracy, completeness or reliability. All information is current as of the date of this material and is subject to change without notice.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Investing in securities involves risk of loss that investors should be prepared to bear.

Dakota Live! Podcast: The Art and Science of Investing with PFM Asset Management

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0500

In this insightful episode of the Dakota Live! podcast, host Robert Morier engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Alex Gurvich, Director of Investment Research and Head of Asset Allocation for PFM Asset Management. The episode delves into the intricate world of investment decision-making, with a focus on understanding the complexities behind manager research and asset allocation. Alex shares his rich experience spanning over 25 years in various sectors of finance, including his transition from a physics background to a career in finance. His journey illuminates the multifaceted nature of the investment industry and the intellectual rigor required to navigate its challenges.

PFM Asset Management is a leading Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO), working with organizations of all sizes across the nation and have $166.3 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2023. The firm’s focus is solely on institutional clients, including cities, counties, school districts, pension funds, utilities, insurance pools, higher education, and healthcare institutions.

One of the most engaging aspects of the episode is Alex's detailed explanation of the process and philosophy behind selecting investment managers. He emphasizes the importance of understanding a manager's approach to investments, their decision-making processes, and their ability to navigate various market conditions. The conversation particularly highlights the blend of art and science in manager research, underscoring the importance of qualitative assessments alongside quantitative analyses. This inside look into manager selection offers listeners valuable insights into the subtleties of portfolio management and investment strategy.

Alex also discusses the evolution of his own role and the importance of adapting to the changing dynamics of the finance industry. He stresses the need for continuous learning and flexibility, sharing personal anecdotes that reveal the challenges and opportunities encountered in his career. This theme of adaptability resonates throughout the podcast, providing a compelling narrative for listeners interested in the ever-evolving landscape of finance and investment.

The episode concludes with a reflection on the importance of education in Alex's career. He shares his experiences as a teacher and student, emphasizing the value of fostering a learning environment and the impact of nurturing future professionals in the field. This focus on education not only highlights Alex's commitment to the growth of the industry but also serves as an inspiration for listeners at all stages of their professional journeys. The podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intricacies of investment management and the personal growth that accompanies a career in finance.

Disclaimer:

PFM Asset Management LLC ("PFMAM") is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and a subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc. ("USBAM"). USBAM is a subsidiary of U.S. Bank National Association ("U.S. Bank"). U.S. Bank is a separate entity and subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp. U.S. Bank is not responsible for and does not guarantee the products, services or performance of PFMAM.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Empowering Investment Insights with Fiera Capital

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Empowering Investment Insights with Fiera Capital

In this insightful episode of the Dakota Live! podcast, host Robert Morier welcomes Majlinda Kamberi, Senior Investment Officer with Fiera Capital. Majlinda, an industry veteran in private market solutions, shares her extensive knowledge and experience in private market investing. We discuss Majlinda's role at Fiera Capital, where she oversees the private market solutions team. She delves into the intricacies of portfolio construction, investment due diligence, and the unique challenges of managing investments in private credit, real estate, agriculture, timberland, infrastructure, and private equity.

Majlinda's approach is analytical and comprehensive, focusing on bottom-up analysis and risk assessment. Her experience shines as she explains how Fiera Capital navigates the complex landscape of private market strategies, illustrating the firm's commitment to delivering optimized and diversified portfolio solutions.

Fiera Capital is a Canadian asset management firm that provides investment management services. The company was founded in September 2003 and is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. Fiera Capital offers customized solutions to clients in North America, Europe, and Asia. As of September 30, 2023, Fiera Capital has over $114.9 billion in assets under management. The company invests in multiple asset classes, including public and private markets.

Along the way, Majlinda articulates Fiera Capital's approach to sustainability into their investment analysis. This discussion provides valuable insights into how sustainable investment considerations are increasingly influencing asset valuation and investment decisions. The discussion highlights Fiera Capital's efforts in promoting sustainable practices in their investment strategies, aligning with global efforts to foster a more responsible and ethical financial industry.

Key Highlights of the Episode Include:

Understanding Private Market Investments: Majlinda delves into the complexities of managing diverse portfolios, including private credit, real estate, and sustainable investments.

Sustainable Investing Decoded: Discover how Fiera Capital integrates sustainability factors into their investment strategies, pushing the boundaries of traditional asset management.

Navigating Challenges in Investment Management: Learn from Majlinda's extensive experience in due diligence, risk assessment, and portfolio optimization.

A Personal Journey: Get inspired by Majlinda's unique story. At a relatively young age, Majlinda faced challenges that many of us could scarcely imagine. Arriving to the United States as a refugee of war, she describes the opportunity of "being granted a second chance at life." This pivotal moment was not just a shift in geography but a transformation of fate.

Throughout our conversation, Majlinda shares invaluable insights on resilience in the face of adversity, the importance of embracing opportunities, and the transformative power of a positive mindset.

Grab your passports (and notebooks) for this insightful conversation.

Disclaimer:
Information provided in this discussion should not be considered an offer or solicitation with respect to any of Fiera Capital’s offerings. Fiera Capital Corporation does not provide investment advice to U.S. clients or offer investment advisory services in the US. In the US, asset management services are provided by Fiera Capital’s affiliates who are investment advisers that are registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or exempt from registration. Registration with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or training. In other jurisdictions, investment management services are provided by Fiera Capital’s affiliates who are appropriately registered or exempt therefrom in the relevant jurisdiction.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Reverse Networking with Sonia Hunt, Chief Marketing Officer and Best-Selling Author

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0500

As we embrace the holiday season and step into a time of resolutions, family gatherings, and a renewed focus on health and wellness, we are excited to share our latest episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast that aligns perfectly with this spirit of reflection and growth. We had the privilege of sitting down with Sonia Hunt, a remarkable Chief Marketing Officer, health and wellness global speaker, and bestselling author. Sonia's journey is a testament to overcoming adversity and finding balance in the chaos of life, which is particularly relevant as we wind down the year and set our sights on a healthier, more fulfilled future.

Throughout the episode you’ll receive insights into the relationship between personal well-being and professional performance, as well as the concept of "Reverse Networking" and its impact on investment relationships and business development. Reverse Networking is about offering value without immediate expectation of return. It's about building genuine connections and understanding the power of giving before receiving.

Along the way, you will learn strategies for maintaining health and wellness, especially those frequently on the road. You’ll also come to learn Sonia's views on creating a positive organizational culture and the role of leaders in fostering employee well-being. Finaly, Sonia shares the significance of advocacy for oneself.

Over her 20-year career as a Chief Marketing Officer, Sonia has transformed the stories and products of global wellness brands such as Apple, TiVo, Califia Farms, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, and Sephora, with whom she won the 2015 WWD Digital Innovator of the Year award. If you're interested in marketing strategy, this episode offers unique insights into how personal resilience and well-being can be powerfully integrated into innovative marketing practices regardless of your industry, elevating both brand impact and customer engagement.

Shared with you in the heart of the holiday season—a time ripe for reflection and resolution—Sonia shares her remarkable journey which we can all learn from. It's a story that intertwines the challenges of health issues with a narrative of professional triumph and personal growth, offering lessons that are particularly poignant as we embrace a new year filled with hope, health, and wellness ambitions.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Delivering Effective Communication Strategies with Julian Samways of JPES Partners

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0500

Join us as we sit down with Julian Samways, the CEO and Founder of JPES Partners. With a focus on investment management consultancy, JPES Partners offers expert advice to a diverse range of clients, from emerging boutiques to well-established global asset managers and intermediaries.

In this episode, we delve into the nuances of introducing and distributing investment strategies and services within the European market. This discussion is particularly valuable for asset management firms and advisors contemplating European market entry. It's also insightful for global asset allocators seeking a deeper understanding of the investment approaches and strategies adopted by European counterparts.

Julian Samways brings to light key insights from JPES Partners' 2024 Asset Management Agenda research. This includes a deep dive into what allocators are prioritizing, their asset allocation strategies, and areas where asset managers need improvement.

With JPES's mission to offer specialized communication support to the investment industry, Julian assists asset managers in honing their unique selling propositions. Julian emphasizes creating impactful messaging that not only enhances marketing materials but also establishes firms as thought leaders in the investment sector.

Don’t miss this episode, especially if you're aiming to refine your communication strategies. Julian's more than three decades of experience in asset management offers invaluable perspectives for effectively showcasing your investment strategy's merits, cultural adaptability, and value delivery. This is a crucial listen for investors and industry professionals gearing up for the coming year.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Breaking Down Hedge Fund Investments with Crewcial Partners

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0500

James Bell, Consultant and Director of Hedge Fund Research with Crewcial Partners joins the Dakota Live! Podcast to take us through his twenty years of experience in hedge fund investing, and how he and his colleagues at Crewcial Partners underwrite their hedge fund portfolio for their clients. Founded in 1980, Crewcial Partners is an independent investment advisory and OCIO firm focused on providing customized investment advice to non-profit institutions. Crewcial is a boutique firm by design and the benefits are realized throughout their manager research process. Learn how James and the Crewcial manager research team maintain a deep familiarity with existing managers while taking the time to become well-versed with new ones.

Like its namesake, James breaks down Crewcial’s investment and manager research process like a rowing stroke. Beginning with the catch, where James and his team start their process by working with their clients and identifying areas of opportunity in the hedge fund space. To the drive, where the power of the manager due diligence process is demonstrated through teamwork in understanding a manager’s investment thesis and value. Next on to the finish, where James and his team decide on an allocation based on a rigorous research process. Finally, the recovery where the team can monitor their portfolio and continue to understand a manager’s edge as it relates to their client needs.

Join us in understanding why Crewcial believes manager selection is the primary value-add source for their clients’ portfolios. James discusses how the impact is cyclical, and positive over the long term through a disciplined manager research process. If the majority of outperformance relative to peers comes from manager selection, you won’t want to miss how these veterans of manager research approach the hedge fund universe.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Aligning for Clients with Bel Air Investment Advisors

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0500

Join us as Alex Tung, CFA, Associate from the Investment Strategy Group with Bel Air Investment Advisors discusses the firm’s approach to manager research and selection in this rare glimpse into the inner workings of one of the premier wealth advisors in the United States. Celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, Bel Air Investment Advisors is a prominent wealth management advisory firm, providing financial advisory, asset and investment management services to exclusively high net worth individuals, families, trusts, and foundation. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif., Bel Air services over 300 families across the United States and oversees more than $10 billion in assets, including private foundation relationships.

In 2021, Bel Air partnered with Hightower to provide regulatory and compliance, legal, technology, accounting, and human resources support. As such, Bel Air operates as an advisory practice under the regulatory umbrella of Hightower as a registered investment advisor and our employees are employed by Hightower under the supervision of the Bel Air team.

In his role, Alex is integral in all aspects of the research process, including public and private fund due diligence, portfolio performance and risk analytics, asset allocation, and economic and capital market outlooks. Throughout the conversation, you will gain a unique perspective on the firm’s methodologies in understanding client goals, developing tailored financial plans, and ensuring that investment strategies are not just effective, but also resonate with the individual goals and risk profiles of their clientele. As a rising star in investment manager research and selection, Alex takes us through the crucial role of constructing effective investment portfolios.

Whether you're a seasoned investor, a finance professional, or simply someone interested in the dynamics of financial planning and investment management, this episode offers valuable insights. Join us as we uncover the principles and practices that put client needs at the forefront with Bel Air Investment Advisors, setting a benchmark for excellence in the wealth advisory landscape.

Dakota Live! Podcast: A Principled Approach to Investing with the Utah School & Institutional Trust Funds Office

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 07:00:00 -0500

In the latest episode of Dakota Live!, we are excited to feature Peter Madsen, Chief Investment Officer of The Utah School & Institutional Trust Funds Office (SITFO). Join us as we delve into the world of sovereign wealth investors, exploring strategies for managing and growing state funds with a focus on supporting public education. Discover the crucial responsibilities and mission of The Utah School & Institutional Trust Funds Office, directly from the Chief Investment Officer. If you consider education to be an invaluable public resource, take time to learn how the School and Institutional Trusts are creating an enduring investment in their community.

The Utah School and Institutional Trust Funds Office (SITFO) was created in 2015 to manage the State of Utah's permanent school fund. Today, the sovereign wealth fund is managing assets of more than $3.3 billion.

Learn how Peter and his team balance risk with growth, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the funds. Along the way, gain insights into how Peter and his colleagues built out the mission and culture of the funds core beliefs which influence their investment strategies and the adjustments necessary to stay ahead. Hear about exciting future investment areas for SITFO, including early-stage venture capital, lower-middle market private equity, emerging managers, and sustainable initiatives.

Get valuable tips for navigating today's complex financial landscape and how to approach your own investment journey. This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in investment strategies, public fund management, or simply looking to broaden their institutional financial knowledge. Tune in to gain valuable insights into the mindset of an investment leader who understands the significance of managing state assets with a forward-thinking perspective.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Customized Recommendations: Exploring RVK's Inclusive Strategy in Investment Consulting

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 07:00:00 -0500

In the latest episode of Dakota Live!, we are excited to feature Joe Ledgerwood, Director of Investment Manager Research, and Britt Vriesman, Manager Research Consultant with RVK, Inc. Delve deep into the intricacies of manager research as Joe and Britt illuminate RVK’s sophisticated approach to helping their client’s meet their diverse investment objectives and goals. RVK, distinguished as one of the largest fully independent and employee-owned investment consulting firms in the world, is renowned for its bespoke strategic investment advice, catering to a varied clientele including corporate and public retirement systems, Taft-Hartley funds, nonprofit organizations, operating funds, and high-net-worth individuals/families.

RVK's approach to investment consulting is grounded in a comprehensive understanding of the market and a client-centric perspective. This episode will offer an in-depth look at how RVK employs rigorous analytical methods and innovative thinking in manager research. Joe and Britt will discuss how RVK’s team diligently evaluates investment opportunities, verifying that each recommendation aligns not only with market trends but also with the unique needs and risk profiles of their clients. They emphasize the firm's commitment to delivering actionable, forward-thinking advice that navigates the complexities of the financial markets.

Further emphasizing RVK’s excellence in manager research, Joe and Britt share insights into their process of identifying, assessing, and recommending investment managers. They discuss the importance of a multi-dimensional evaluation approach that includes quantitative analysis, qualitative assessment, and ongoing monitoring. This episode provides you with a rare glimpse into the strategic considerations and meticulous diligence that underpin RVK's recommendations.

Throughout the conversation, Joe and Britt also enhance our audience’s understanding of investment strategies, concepts, issues, and their consequences as they relate to the asset management industry. Join us in an engaging conversation about inclusion in the finance industry, particularly focusing on accommodating persons with disabilities.

Special Note: This episode was uniquely recorded at RVK's offices in Portland, Oregon, to ensure an accessible and comfortable environment for Britt, a person with disabilities. This act underscores our commitment to inclusivity and diversity in our podcast and beyond, mirroring RVK's own values of creating an inclusive and empowering workspace for all individuals.

Coalition Greenwich Disclosure: Coalition Greenwich issued the award on April 25, 2023, based on their February through November 2022 study. No direct or indirect compensation has been paid by RVK in connection with obtaining or using this award.

Dakota Live! Podcast: For the Love of Investing with the John Templeton Foundation

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 07:00:00 -0500

In the latest episode of Dakota Live!, we welcome Brian Crawford, Director of Investments at the John Templeton Foundation. More than three decades after its creation, the John Templeton Foundation continues to manifest the character of its founder, Sir John Templeton, who passed away in 2008. He began his rise on Wall Street in 1937 and proved over many decades that he was one of the greatest global stock pickers of the century. Over the course of this informative and insightful episode, Brian Crawford channels Templeton’s investment and philanthropic philosophy for our audience, as he navigates the Foundation’s mission both philanthropically and financially.

Brian Crawford sheds light on how the Foundation's investment strategies align with its core philosophy and mission. Learn about the Foundation's global reach and how its investments are making a difference in various fields such as science, character, and human potential. Along the way, Brian shares valuable insights for those looking to venture into the world of investments with a purpose as he navigates through discussions on asset allocation, manager research, and risk management.

Brian Crawford is a veteran in the world of investments, with a career dedicated to not only growing assets but also making a positive impact on society. His role at the John Templeton Foundation places him at the forefront of marrying financial acumen with philanthropic goals. Join us as we dive deep into the world of investments, philanthropy, and the unique approach of the John Templeton Foundation in leveraging financial strategies for global betterment. Love and investing are critical for human flourishing. The connection between the two might not be evident at first. But both are rooted in a recognition of the inherent value of all people.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Private Market Research and Strategy with AndCo Consulting

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 07:00:00 -0500

In the latest episode of Dakota Live!, we welcome Xinxin Liu, Senior Research Analyst for Private Equity and Credit with AndCo Consulting. AndCo Consulting is an independent, SEC registered institutional investment consulting firm headquartered in Winter Park, Florida. As of December 2022, they are responsible for nearly $91 billion in assets under advisement, advising hundreds of institutional clients across the United States, Bermuda, and Canada.

In her role, Xinxin focuses on private equity and private debt investment research, including the servicing of institutional client relationships. Previously, she held a variety of roles with Wells Fargo for nearly twelve years as an analyst, strategist, and consultant. With responsibilities ranging from manager research focusing on private real assets (real estate, infrastructure, and natural resources) and REITs to leading the sourcing and due diligence of Private Equity, Private Debt, and Private Real Asset funds, Xinxin has an extensive background in manager research and selection which she shares over the course of our informative and insightful discussion.

Dive deep with us into the nuances of investment strategies, manager selection, and market analysis. Along the way, we explore the transformative landscape of private equity and credit, venture capital, and more. Don’t miss this must-listen episode for anyone eager to gain knowledge about investment manager research and private market solutions.

Disclosure:

This material is the product of Dakota live! Podcast. It is being provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be reproduced and should not be regarded as investment advice or as a recommendation regarding any particular course of action and additionally is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon, for legal advice. The opinions expressed herein are solely those of the speakers and may not represent the firm views of AndCo Consulting, LLC. Certain information is based on sources and data believed to be reliable, but AndCo cannot guarantee the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of the information. This presentation does not cover all risks or underlying factors associated with the referenced asset classes. Potential investors should thoroughly review all investment risk factors prior to investing. Please consult with your investment advisor.

The referenced Greenwich Award is not indicative of AndCo’s future performance. These awards or any other rankings and/or recognition by unaffiliated rating services and/or publications should not be construed as a guarantee that a client will experience a certain level of results or satisfaction if they invest with AndCo, nor should it be construed as a current or past endorsement by any of our clients. AndCo did not pay a fee to participate in this award survey.

AndCo Consulting is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Registration as an investment adviser does not constitute an endorsement for the firm by securities regulators nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. AndCo Consulting and Dakota are not affiliated entities.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Planning for the Long-Term with Paul Ried Financial Group

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 07:00:00 -0400

In the latest episode of Dakota Live!, we are thrilled to welcome Adam Jordan, Director of Investments and Chief Compliance Officer at Paul Ried Financial Group, LLC. As Director of Investments, Adam’s responsibilities include developing, implementing, and monitoring client portfolios. This includes designing the overall asset allocation strategies, conducting in-depth market analysis, investment manager due diligence, as well as performing trading activities. Also, as Chief Compliance Officer, Adam carries out supervisory and compliance responsibilities.

Nestled in the heart of Washington, Paul Ried Financial Group has been a beacon of financial strategy, trust, and innovation for its clients. Paul Ried Financial Group specializes in pre- and post-retirement planning for corporate executives, managers, and engineers. The firm integrates investment management, estate strategies, and income-design for clients with total advisory assets of approximately $1 billion.

In our conversation, we delve deep into Adam’s career journey, discussing the intricacies of managing client portfolios, the challenges and rewards of today's financial and regulatory climate, and the evolving landscape of asset management and manager research. Furthermore, we explore the unique strategies and philosophies that have positioned Paul Ried Financial Group as a leading RIA in the Pacific Northwest.

Whether you're an investor, a finance professional, or simply curious about the world of RIAs and investments, this episode promises a wealth of knowledge, straight from the source. Join us for this exclusive interview and glean insights that could reshape how you think about your own financial journey.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Curating Private Market Investments with the New Jersey Division of Investment

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0400

In the latest episode of Dakota Live!, we are thrilled to welcome Dana Johns, Head of Private Equity for the New Jersey Division of Investment. The Division is one of the largest U.S. pension fund managers in the United States. In this insightful and informative conversation, Dana decodes the intricacies of manager research and the importance of a diverse perspective. This perspective comes alive with Dana’s discussion on New Jersey’s Emerging Managers program, which is centered around a platform that will source, conduct due diligence on, invest in, and oversee allocations to emerging managers. Much like curating art, choosing the right private equity managers requires discernment and understanding of potential. You're looking for that unique piece of art or asset manager that stands out and has intrinsic value, even if others haven't recognized it yet. Along the way, we explore the transformative landscape of private equity, venture capital, and more.

Join us for an enriching hour filled with personal stories, expert insights, and a shared vision for a more inclusive future in private markets. This episode isn't just about highlighting challenges—it's about celebrating the progress made and forging a path forward.

Dakota Live! Podcast: A Scientific Approach to Manager Research with Lockheed Martin

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0400

On the latest episode of Dakota Live!, dive deep with our guest, Jason Chang - the Managing Director and Head of External Equities at Lockheed Martin Investment Management Company. With nearly two decades in manager research, Jason unpacks his unique methodologies for manager sourcing, due diligence, and selection. He also provides a glimpse into the collective thought process behind their research decisions. This episode is more than just an interview; it's an exploration into Jason's professional journey and how it has reshaped his perspective on the investment industry. In a financial world full of clamor, discover how a scientific approach can fine-tune your perspective and filter out market distractions. Join us as we delve into the science of risk management and decision-making with Jason and his colleagues at Lockheed Martin.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Investing in the Lives of Others with Verger Capital

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Join us as Taylor Jackson, Investment Director with Verger Capital Management, delves deep into the intricacies of manager research in this interesting and informative discussion. Verger Capital Management is an SEC registered investment adviser providing Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) services to a select group of non-profit institutions. Verger’s mission is to invest in the lives of others, which has led the firm to exclusively serve clients focused on improving lives and providing opportunity. The Verger team’s unique non-profit heritage offers a deep understanding of this segment’s needs, as well as the ability to benefit from the scale and purchasing power of approximately $2.6 billion in assets under management. Verger was founded in 2014 and was created out of the Wake Forest University Office of Investments.

Taylor offers insights into the rigorous due diligence processes that Verger employs to identify top-tier investment managers. We discuss the challenges and rewards of private market investing and the crucial role it plays in a diversified portfolio. Throughout the conversation, Taylor sheds light on how Verger balances risk and reward for its clients. Whether you're an investment novice or a seasoned pro, this episode promises to enhance your understanding of the dynamic world of private markets, asset allocation, and manager research.

Stay tuned throughout the entire episode as Taylor’s colleague, Inge Smith, Marketing Coordinator for Verger Capital closes our discussion with the firm’s approach to community engagement, partnerships, and developing talent.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Assessing True Alpha with Xponance

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Join us as Tracy Cao and Adam Choppin of Xponance discuss the firm’s unique approach to identifying and nurturing up-and-coming investment talent, the challenges, and rewards of supporting emerging managers, and the role of technology and data-driven approaches in shaping manager research decisions. Xponance is a Diverse, Woman-led multi-strategy investment firm founded by Tina Byles Williams in 1996. The firm offers global and non-U.S. equity investment strategies through a multi-manager construct that harnesses the investment edge and focus of entrepreneurial, emerging, and diverse managers. Tracy and Adam guide our audience through Xponance’s proprietary due diligence process and seeding of capacity constrained strategies. Whether you're an investor, a financial enthusiast, or just curious about the discovery of emerging talent in the investment industry, this episode promises a wealth of insights. Along the way, learn more about Xponance's commitment to diversity and inclusion and the importance of supporting emerging managers in the modern financial ecosystem. Tune in and discover what sets Xponance apart in the realm of emerging manager research and advice for aspiring managers and professionals entering the investment world.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Following the Fundamentals with Gerber Taylor

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Join us as Sean Montesi, Partner with Gerber Taylor, dives deep into the nuances of investment management in this interesting and informative discussion. Gerber Taylor is a multi-asset class investment management firm with a heritage rooted in deep fundamental investment research. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, Gerber Taylor has $7 billion in assets under management as of June 2023 and an additional $6 billion in assets under advisement as of December 2022. Sean sheds light on the evolution of Gerber Taylor’s investment strategies, offering a closer look at their diversified asset class allocation process that leads to them to a rigorous manager research and selection process. Along the way, Sean shares how the firm’s research and monitoring provide the framework to know when to stay the course or to make a change when an investment has sufficiently deviated from the underlying thesis. Memphis isn't just the home of blues, BBQ, and Elvis; it's also a burgeoning hub for innovative finance. Join the discussion on the evolving financial landscape with one of Tennessee’s leading investors.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Decoding Manager Research with R.J. Smolenski of Pitcairn

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, we are thrilled to welcome R.J. Smolenski, Managing Director of Investment Research at Pitcairn. Based in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, Pitcairn stands as a beacon in the multi-family office space, steering the financial course for over 125 client families, encompassing around 500 households throughout the U.S. Their expertise also extends to managing 20 single-family offices, overseeing nearly $7 billion in assets. With a rich legacy spanning two decades at the firm, R.J. Smolenski joins us to unravel the nuances of Pitcairn's manager research and selection methodology. Delve deep with us as R.J. delineates the evolutionary journey of their approach, characterized by meticulous planning and incremental adaptations over the years. This conversation promises to shed light on the sophisticated evolution of Pitcairn's investment strategies, offering a closer look at their diversified asset class allocations. Don't miss this opportunity to gain a richer understanding of Pitcairn's success story, and the wisdom that has guided their trajectory over the years. Tune in for an episode brimming with insightful narratives and invaluable perspectives.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Investing in the Future of Pediatrics with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Dakota Live! Podcast: The Value of Why with Franklin Park

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Narayan Chowdhury, Partner, and Co-Founder of Franklin Park joins Dakota Live! to discuss the company's private market investment and advisory business. Founded twenty years ago, Franklin Park is an SEC-registered private markets investment firm that provides their clients access to private equity, private debt, and venture capital. At Franklin Park, Narayan is responsible for the analysis and evaluation of private equity investment opportunities, monitoring clients’ portfolios and conducting industry research. He is also involved in the development and implementation of Franklin Park’s technology platform, and regularly interacts with clients on investment and portfolio matters. Whether you are interested in learning how to access inefficient areas in private markets, how investment strategies deploy capital to early-stage companies, or the mechanics of private market due diligence, we encourage you to watch and listen to how Narayan and Franklin Park find the answer to the why behind a founder’s motivation.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Advising with Integrity with Mill Creek Capital Advisors

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Sam McFall is a Managing Director of Investments with Mill Creek Capital Advisors. Mill Creek was founded in 2006 to provide customized advice to help clients achieve their financial goals. The firm serves over 300 families and institutions as an independent, fully staffed investment office, managing over $8 billion of assets on their behalf. Sam takes the Dakota Live! team in this special edition episode through Mill Creek’s approach to manager research and selection and what a potential client partnership looks like with their firm. Join us as we come to better understand Mill Creek and their allocation to various asset classes and investment strategies.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Under the Wall of Capital with UCLA Investment Company

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Michael Marvelli, Deputy Chief Investment Officer of the UCLA Investment Company joins Dakota Live! to discuss the company's investment strategy, its approach to asset allocation, and investment manager research and selection process. Along the way, Michael walks us through UCLA’s lower middle market (LMM) private equity portfolio from its first LMM commitment in 2016 through today’s investment opportunities. With the increasing availability of dry powder driving activity in the LMM market, Michael walks us through UCLA’s LMM strategy and approach to sourcing investment partners. The UCLA Investment Company provides professional stewardship of investment assets entrusted to The UCLA Foundation for the advancement of UCLA and related charitable purposes. Join us as we come to better understand Michael and his more than twenty-five years of investment and capital markets experience. Whether you are interested in learning about LMM private equity, how endowments are approaching alternative assets, or how UCLA aligns its mission with its investment objectives, I encourage you to watch and listen to how Michael and UCLA uncover new opportunities in this increasingly interesting and challenging area of the market.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Navigating Investments with the CIO of North Dakota Trust Lands

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Frank Mihail, Chief Investment Officer of the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands joins us to share his experiences over his first year in the role and how he is approaching the strategic investments for the $7 billion sovereign wealth fund. The Land Board, which oversees the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands manages 2.4 million mineral acres with interest in more than 8,600 of the 17,400 producing oil and gas wells in the state. The Land Board manages 13 permanent education trusts, including the Common Schools Trust Fund, the state’s primary education trust fund. Over the last decade the Land Board has distributed more than $1.8 billion to K-12 education. Join the conversation as we explore the dynamic landscape of managing North Dakota’s valuable land and resource assets, and the importance of its mission in giving back to public education. Discover the strategies that drive the decisions behind allocating the state’s resources. In this thought-provoking conversation, we learn about the CIO’s approach to identifying investment opportunities that align with the state’s values and objectives. Tune in to gain valuable insights into the mindset of an investment leader who understands the significance of managing state assets with a forward-thinking perspective. Whether you're interested in investments, land management, or the responsible utilization of resources, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge that will leave you inspired and informed.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Understanding Investor Behavior with Vanguard

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Kevin Khang, Head of Active and Alternatives Research and Andy Reed, Head of Investor Behavior at Vanguard sit down to discuss a variety of topics ranging from the fundamentals of behavioral economics to how artificial intelligence is expected to play a role in both research and application. Along the way, Kevin and Andy touch on active and passive management solutions, liquid alternatives, how insights are generated for external value, and how Vanguard sets their priorities and manager research process. The Vanguard Group, Inc. is an American registered investment advisor based in Malvern, Pennsylvania, with approximately $7.7 trillion in global assets under management, as of April 2023. It is the largest provider of mutual funds and the second-largest provider of exchange-traded funds in the world. Join us in this interesting and insightful conversation to help you better understand the gap between what investors should do and what they actually do.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Selling Specialized Solutions with Nisha Atre of Old City Investment Partners

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Nisha Atre of Old City Investment Partners shares her over twenty years of asset allocation and sales experience in this informative discussion on how she has navigated her successful career in asset management. Along the way, Nisha guides our listeners through Old City’s approach to offering specialized investment solutions for their clients. Founded in 2006, Old City identifies high-quality alternative investment sponsors for a growing investor base of families and institutions. Nisha shares her experiences distributing alternatives and how specialist strategies fit into a broader asset allocation model. Join Nisha and Robert as they discuss changes in the industry, and how best to position your investment strategies with investors for the years ahead.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Riding the TIDES with Melvin Lindsey of Nile Capital Group

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Melvin Lindsey, CFA, Founder and Managing Partner of the Nile Capital Group joins us on the Dakota Live! Podcast to share his more than thirty years of experience in business development and manager selection. Mel shares advice and the attributes he and his team look to identify when investing in asset management businesses. Throughout this informative conversation, Mel shares the approach he developed from his success at Julius Baer Investment Management through the formation and launch of Nile Capital nearly a decade ago. By relying on the pillars of talent, innovation, diversity, economies of scale, and speed, which Mel and his colleagues describe as the TIDES, Nile Capital continues to source and stake innovative performance-driven asset management companies. Be sure to catch this masterclass in investment sales and emerging manager development.

Dakota Live! Podcast: The Power of Courage with Doug Hanly of the Louisiana State Police Retirement System

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Doug Hanly, Chief Investment Officer for the Louisiana State Police Retirement System (LSPRS) joins us at Dakota Live! to take us through his experience as the first CIO of the LSPRS. The Louisiana State Police Retirement System is a qualified pension and retirement plan created to provide retirement benefits for Louisiana state police officers and their beneficiaries. Currently, the LSPRS serves over 1,000 active members and over 1200 retired/survivor members. With over $1 billion in assets, LSPRS’ primary goal is to safeguard and manage the funds it holds in trust so that future benefits are guaranteed and protected. Over the course of our conversation, Doug shares how virtues such as courage, strength of voice, and vulnerability have benefited him as it relates to career and investment decisions. Along the way, Doug shares the building blocks he looks for when looking for asset managers as part of his manager research process.

Dakota Live! Podcast: The Power of Authentic Leadership with Venus Phillips of the Kresge Foundation

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Venus Phillips, Managing Director of the Kresge Foundation joins us at Dakota Live! to share her insights and experience in manager selection and asset allocation. Over the course of our conversation, Venus takes us on her career journey and shares with us those who have influenced over the years. The Kresge Foundation is a philanthropic private foundation with over $4 billion in assets. The foundation works to expand opportunities in America's cities through grantmaking and investing in arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services, and community development efforts. Venus is responsible for evaluating investment opportunities and investment managers across all asset classes and geographies for the foundation’s endowment. Join us as Venus shares what the power of authentic leadership means to her and the importance of mission-oriented work. Be sure to stay tuned until the end of the conversation, where Venus answers questions and shares advice to students at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Investing in Times of Uncertainty with Gildas Quinquis of Windrose Advisors

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Gildas Quinquis, Chief Investment Officer for the Boston-based Windrose Advisors, takes us through his nearly thirty-year career in investment management, describing how he approaches the current landscape for his clients and where he is finding areas of opportunity. Gildas oversees investment strategy, asset allocation, and manager selection at this independent boutique wealth management firm that delivers sophisticated, customized investment advice to a select group of families, foundations, and endowments. Founded in 2009 by Boston-area entrepreneurs and experienced institutional investment professionals, the firm has grown to approximately $4 billion in assets under advisement. Gildas shares his team’s process to manager sourcing, due diligence, selection, and how they consider investment decisions. Watch and listen as Gildas shares his professional mission that helps him foster an environment of innovation and growth.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Going Outside the Model with Adam Landau of Cerity Partners

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Adam Landau is a Partner and Co-Market Leader for the Pennsylvania office of Cerity Partners. He is also a member of the firm's Investment Committee. Cerity Partners LLC is a Registered Investment Advisor serving high-net-worth individuals and their families, businesses and their employees, and nonprofit organizations with approximately $62 billion in assets.

In this special edition episode, Adam takes the Dakota Live! team through Cerity's approach to risk management, the firm’s manager research and underwriting process, and what a potential client partnership looks like with their firm. Join us as we come to better understand Cerity Partners and their allocation to various asset classes and investment strategies in the changing intermediary landscape.

Dakota Live! Podcast: An Allocator’s Journey with William Yung of Angeles Investments

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 07:00:00 -0400

William Yung, Partner, and Director of Private Markets at Angeles Investments takes us on his career journey from wealth management to investment manager research for one of the financial industry’s innovative leaders in OCIO and investment consulting. With over seventeen years of investment experience, William is responsible for conducting research in private capital and real asset strategies for the firm. Join us as William takes our listeners through the firm’s approach to manager research and selection. Along the way, we learn more about William and the personal and professional impact of his family’s journey to the United States from China. Globally recognized for their positive impact on their clients and industry, Angeles Investments is a multi-asset investment firm, providing sophisticated, customized investment solutions to institutional and private wealth clients. Founded in 2001, the firm oversees approximately $6.4 billion in discretionary relationships, as well as $33.3 billion in consulting relationships. Angeles is an independent, 100% employee-owned firm with over 40% of clients being with the firm for more than 10 years. A great achievement in today’s industry. Tune in as we come to better understand how this unique organization approaches investment opportunities.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Selling through the Cycle with Laura Esposito of Rockefeller Capital Management

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Laura Esposito of Rockefeller Capital Management shares her nearly twenty-five years of client service and sales experience in this informative discussion on how she has navigated her successful career in asset management. Along the way, Laura guides our listeners through the firm’s approach to providing service and investment solutions for their clients regardless of market conditions. Rockefeller Capital Management was established in 2018 as a leading independent financial advisory firm. Originally founded in 1882 as the family office of John D. Rockefeller, the firm has evolved to offer strategic advice to ultra- and high-net-worth individuals and families, institutions, and corporations. The firm is responsible for over $100 billion in client assets, as of March 31, 2023, and has over 1100 employees in 44 locations across the United States and London. Join us in the room as we come to better understand how this historic organization approaches investment opportunities.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Leading by Example with Angela Miller-May of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Angela Miller-May, Chief Investment Officer for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund joins us at Dakota Live! for a special discussion on how she found her start in the investment management industry and what lessons she has carried forward now leading the $49.5 billion pension fund that services a membership of over 178,000 active members, 262,000 inactive members, 138,000 retired members and over 3,000 employers for Illinois. In our discussion Angela provides insight into strategic portfolio construction, manager selection and due diligence, and how she leads a team of investment professionals to meet IMRF’s investment goals. Tune into this insightful and informative episode and learn why Angela continues to be recognized by the industry as one of its top investors.

Dakota Live! Podcast: A Masterclass in Digital Asset Investing with Joe Marenda of Cambridge Associates

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Joe Marenda, Partner, and Head of Digital Assets Investing with Cambridge Associates shares his experience through this masterclass on blockchain technology and digital assets investing. Joe specializes in discovering and diligencing blockchain-related funds across all fund formats. He also serves as the Head of the firm’s San Francisco office. Joe contributes to firm research on alternative assets in portfolios and crypto-blockchain more broadly. Join us in this fascinating and informative episode as Joe takes us through his experience in building the first blockchain portfolio for a Cambridge client beginning in 2018 and how they approached the firm’s first due diligence on a crypto fund in 2017. Cambridge is a privately held global investment firm providing advisory and investment solutions to institutional investors, including foundations and endowments, pensions, private families, and corporate and government entities. Founded 50 years ago, the firm has eleven offices around the world with over $540 billion in assets under advisement. Learn more about how Joe and his colleagues at Cambridge Associates continue to innovate for their clients in the exciting world of blockchain technology.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Building Client Trust with Greg Leonberger of Marquette Associates

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Greg Leonberger is the Director of Research for Marquette Associates. Greg is responsible for creating the firm’s capital markets research and directing the investment strategies and policy. He also serves as the chair of the investment committee. A partner of the employee-owned firm, Greg has been with the company since 2008. Greg joins us at Dakota Live! to take us through Marquette Associates’ manager research process and how to approach the firm and their clients with private markets through fixed income investments and what they look for in asset management partners. Marquette was founded thirty-seven years ago with the sole objective of providing investment consulting at the highest caliber of client service. As of March 31, 2023, the firm is advising over $351 billion in assets with over 400 clients and 135 employees. Join us to learn how the firm’s approach to client service has made Marquette Associates so successful over the years.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Delivering for Clients with Kate Pizzi of Fiducient Advisors

Wed, 31 May 2023 06:00:00 -0400

Kate Pizzi, Partner and Senior Consultant of Fiducient Advisors joins us at Dakota Live! to take us through her experience from actuary to portfolio manager to investment consultant and what she has learned over the years to help her deliver success for clients and colleagues. Kate services institutional clients by providing advice and counsel on all areas of fund oversight including investment policy development, asset allocation, manager research, portfolio structure, rebalancing, and performance monitoring. Fiducient Advisors is a full-service asset advisory business founded in 1995. With over 200 professionals and $230 billion in assets under advisement (as of June 30, 2022), Fiducient is one of the premier consultancy businesses in the US with providing investment consulting services to retirement plans, endowments and foundations, private clients, and financial institutions. Tune in to this informative and wide-ranging discussion with one of the leading investment consultants in the financial services industry.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Thinking Boldly with Chenae Edwards of NEPC

Wed, 24 May 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Chenae Edwards, Partner with NEPC, LLC shares her investment consulting experience as she discusses the NEPC manager research process, how clients are maneuvering through the current market environment, and her experience in working with non-profit institutions. NEPC is one of the industry’s largest independent, full-service investment consulting firms, serving more than 400 clients with over $1.4 trillion in assets under advisement. With over 350 employees and over 400 clients across channel, NEPC’s five distinct practices and eight regional offices make it one of the more important consultants in the industry. Learn more about what has made NEPC so successful over the years, and how Chenae and her colleagues research and select their investment management partners.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Staying on the Fairway with Andy Spellar, CIO of Fairfax County Employees' Retirement System

Wed, 17 May 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Andy Spellar, Chief Investment Officer for the Fairfax County Employees' Retirement System shares his journey over his two decades for the $5.0 billion Plan located in the suburbs of Washington, DC. Andy started with Fairfax County in June 1998 as a Senior Investment Manager and has been an important aspect of the Plan’s innovative and insightful approach to asset allocation and manager selection over his successful career. Andy shares his process on manager sourcing, due diligence, selection, and how he and his team consider asset allocation decisions. Watch and listen to this insightful episode where Andy shares many of the attributes that have helped him stay in the fairway and continue to deliver for Fairfax County.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Home Country Bias with Ernst Knacke, Head of Research for Shard Capital

Wed, 10 May 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Ernst Knacke, Head of Research at London-based, Shard Capital Partners as well as its subsidiary, LeifBridge Investment Management joins the Dakota Live! Podcast to share his nearly twenty years of experience in manager research and selection. Shard Capital is a leading wealth and asset manager advising over $1.6 billion on behalf of high net worth and institutional clients in both the European and US markets. Ernst shares how he and his colleagues are developing their growing OCIO business through the sourcing of asset managers globally. Ernst in his role as Head of Research, shares how he attempts to minimize the home country bias that permeates through investment portfolios both domestically and abroad. Whether you are a US-based asset manager looking to penetrate the UK/European markets or a UK/European manager looking to penetrate the US market, this is a can’t miss episode.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Listening to Many with Chris Brockmeyer, Director of Employee Benefits for the Broadway League

Wed, 03 May 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Chris Brockmeyer is the Director of Employee Benefit Funds for the Broadway League, the national trade association for the Broadway theatre industry. Join us in this informative and insightful episode as Chris shares how he navigates his role, serving as the Employer Co-Chair on 11 multi-employer pension funds, 6 health funds and 6 annuity/401(k) funds with approximately $9 Billion in assets, covering 140,000 current or future retirees and providing health care coverage for more than 31,000 employees, plus dependents, in the entertainment industry. Chris shares his experience working with both investment consultants and Outsourced CIOs, as well as his work with asset managers across traditional and alternative asset classes. Throughout the conversation, Chris guides us through his philosophy on negotiating and relationship management from the perspective of both unions and employers. If you’re looking to better understand the Taft Hartley landscape, be sure to tune into this episode.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Family Office Opportunities with John Tassone of Forbes Family Trust

Mon, 01 May 2023 12:00:00 -0400

John Tassone is the Director of Investments for Forbes Family Trust. Forbes Family Trust is a multi-family office serving institutions and single-family offices as an outsourced investment advisor. The firm represents over 250 families and 50 institutions globally. John is senior member of the investment team responsible for manager due diligence and monitoring of both public and private investments, as well as asset allocation, portfolio construction, and risk management for client families. John takes the Dakota Live! team in this special edition episode through Forbes Family Trust’s approach to asset allocation, the firm’s manager research and underwriting process, and what a potential client partnership looks like with their firm. Join us as we come to better understand Forbes Family Trust and their allocation to various asset classes and investment strategies.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Recipes for Success with Doug MacBean, Deputy CIO of Caltech’s Investment Office

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Doug MacBean, Deputy Chief Investment Officer of the California Institute of Technology’s Investment Office (Caltech) joins us at Dakota Live! to share the ingredients from his career and how he approaches his role as an endowment allocator. Like any good recipe, Doug shares the steps to help us better understand his team’s approach to asset allocation and underwriting process as it relates to investment manager research and selection. Sit down for this insightful and informative conversations with one of the industry’s leading investors.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Going Off Script with Raz Der-Tavitian, CIO of SLK Private Wealth

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Raz Der-Tavitian, Chief Investment Officer with SLK Private Wealth joins us at Dakota Live! to share his experience as CIO of an independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA). SLK Private Wealth is a $1.6 billion RIA based in Los Angeles. Raz walks us through the investment opportunities he and his colleagues are currently evaluating and how to work with SLK as an asset management partner. Raz takes us from his work with Wilshire, leading their hedge fund and liquid alternatives research efforts to his role today as CIO of a newly launched wealth advisor. Along the way, Raz goes deeper into his underwriting process as it relates to investment manager research and selection. Join us in this wide ranging and informative discussion.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Clarity of Vision with Ryan Hicke of SEI

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Ryan Hicke, Chief Executive Officer of SEI joins us at Dakota Live! to share his journey from intern to the company's CEO. Throughout our conversation, Ryan shares the lessons he's learned from his nearly twenty-five years with SEI and how overcoming his insecurities took him to the highest levels of the company while remaining anchored in what's most important to SEI's culture. SEI is a publicly traded financial services firm delivering technology and investment solutions that connect the financial services industry. As of December 31, 2022, SEI manages, advises, or administers approximately $1.2 trillion in assets including US$815 billion in assets under administration and US$399 billion in assets under management. Join us as Ryan describes what characteristics SEI looks for in asset management partners and how to think about your business as it relates to your capital.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Harmonizing your Asset Allocation with Jennifer DeSisto, CIO of Anchor Capital Advisors

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Jennifer DeSisto, Chief Investment Officer of Anchor Capital Advisors joins us at Dakota Live! to take us through her experience from portfolio manager to asset allocator and what she has learned over the years to help her build multi-asset portfolios on behalf of her clients. Jennifer's responsibilities as CIO include manager selection, asset allocation, business management, and product development for Anchor’s $8.5 billion in assets under management. Anchor Capital is a Boston-based Registered Investment Advisor, managing approximately $5.5 billion with external managers across all asset classes, and an additional $3 billion in fundamental, in-house value-based equity and fixed income strategies. Founded in 1983, Anchor Capital is the 10th largest independent investment adviser in Massachusetts. Tune in to this informative and wide-ranging discussion from employing a founder's mentality to asset allocation and manager research to the importance of increasing diversity in the asset management industry.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Early-Stage Opportunities with Chris Winiarz of Stable Asset Management

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Chris Winiarz, Chief Investment Officer of Stable Asset Management shares his journey from the endowment to the family office model through his role today as CIO of an investment firm focused on building strategic partnerships with top performing emerging managers. Chris takes our audience through what Stable looks for in investment partners when considering an allocation. Stable Asset Management backs top performing investment talent to build next generation asset management firms. Stable oversees over $3 billion in assets under management with over $12 billion of aggregate assets across Stable Partnerships. Stable is among the most experienced and largest strategic partners in the asset management space with offices in New York and London. Since its inception Stable has built 27 strategic partnerships across the liquidity spectrum. The Dakota Live! Podcast was excited to host Chris in our Philadelphia studios and learn more about his experience in investing alongside early-stage investment managers.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Insights into OCIOs with William Kennedy of RiskBridge Advisors

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 07:00:00 -0400

William “Bill” Kennedy is the CEO and Chief Investment Officer of RiskBridge Advisors. RiskBridge serves as an Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) firm providing discretionary investment management, custom research solutions, and investment guidance and implementation. RiskBridge primarily serves non-profit endowments and foundations, pensions, financial institutions, family offices, and ultrahigh-net-worth individuals. Bill takes the Dakota Live! team in this special edition episode through RiskBridge’s approach to risk management, the firm’s manager research and underwriting process, and what a potential client partnership looks like with their firm. Join us as we come to better understand RiskBridge and their allocation to various asset classes and investment strategies.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Finding Fixed Income Opportunities with Will Beck of Wilshire

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Will Beck of Wilshire is a Senior Vice President and member of Wilshire’s Traditional Manager Research Group where he focuses on fixed income strategies. After the fastest U.S. Federal Reserve tightening cycle on record, fixed income markets are the focus of asset allocation conversations across the investment landscape. Join us as Will takes us through the current fixed income environment and where he and his colleagues at Wilshire are finding opportunity. In addition to Will’s responsibilities in identifying, researching, and monitoring fixed income managers, Will is also a rotating member of the Wilshire Investment Committee. He is also a portfolio manager on Wilshire’s active fixed income products and a senior member of the consulting team for the firm’s clients. Will has been with Wilshire for more than 13 years, covering more than 100 unique strategies and representing more than $50 billion of client assets. The Dakota Live! Podcast was thrilled to discuss the fixed income markets with veteran allocator, Will Beck in this timely and informative conversation.

Dakota Live! Podcast: The Art of Storytelling with Aoifinn Devitt, CIO of the Moneta Group

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 07:00:00 -0500

Aoifinn Devitt, Chief Investment Officer at Moneta, and founder and creator of The Fiftyfaces Podcast tells us her story from corporate law to being named the first female Chief Investment Officer of the Moneta Group, a US-based RIA with over $30 bn in investments. Aoifinn is a true modern day renaissance woman, achieving success across multiple disciplines from education to investments to long-distance running, all while creating a central resource of innovative and creative content with her podcast platform. Watch and listen to this insightful and inspiring episode as Aoifinn shares the work she has done with institutional investors for over 20 years, as a consultant and an advisor, across the US, Europe, and Asia. It’s Women’s History Month, and the Dakota Live! Podcast was thrilled to celebrate the vital role of women in American history and in the financial services industry with Aoifinn Devitt.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Running Towards Adversity with Mark Steed, CIO of Arizona PSPRS

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 07:00:00 -0500

Mark Steed, Chief Investment Officer for the Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System shares his journey from an intern to the Plan’s CIO. The Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System provides a uniform, consistent and equitable statewide retirement program for Arizona’s public safety personnel. PSPRS provides retirement benefits and programs to nearly 60,000 active members, retired members and surviving beneficiaries, and to more than 300 employer groups (municipalities, agencies, and districts) throughout the state. Mark has played an instrumental role in transforming the Plan’s $17 billion in investments from a traditional, stock-heavy portfolio to a modern, highly diversified set of investments built to withstand market volatility while delivering significant returns. Mark shares his approach to manager sourcing, due diligence, selection, and how he and his team consider asset allocation decisions. Watch and listen to this special episode where Mark shares his personal and professional mission that helps him think differently about the investment industry.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Engaging OCIOs through Private Market Solutions with Carolyn Patton of TIFF Investment Management

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 07:00:00 -0500

Carolyn Patton, Head of Private Market Client Solutions at TIFF Investment Management shares how their business approaches private market assets on behalf of their clients. TIFF is a leading asset management firm dedicated to delivering comprehensive OCIO and private equity investment solutions to primarily endowments, foundations, and other charitable organizations. As of June 30, 2022, TIFF manages approximately $8 billion on behalf of their members. Looking at current market conditions in the context of the firm’s outlook, Carolyn walks our audience through the diversification benefits of private markets as part of an OCIO solution. Carolyn shares TIFF’s approach to manager sourcing, due diligence, selection, and what areas of the private market universe TIFF is focused. Throughout the conversation, Carolyn expands on TIFF’s broader initiatives around diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability. Join Carolyn in this informative and interactive conversation on what matters when working with institutional OCIO relationships.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Journey through John Hancock Investment Management with York Lo

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 07:00:00 -0500

York Lo is the Head of Alternative Product and LLCs at John Hancock Investment Management where he has been a key member of the team responsible for manager selection and oversight, product development and management for global fund platforms with assets more than US$200 billion. York has launched products across structure, asset class, and style which has contributed significantly to the firm’s growth. Join York as he guides us through John Hancock Investment Management's business while sharing his passion for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in our industry and beyond.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Demystifying the University Endowment Model with Matt DeAngelo of Drexel University

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Matt DeAngelo, Deputy Chief Investment Officer of Drexel University’s Endowment shares how he and his colleagues evaluate asset managers, approach due diligence meetings, and consider allocation decisions in both traditional and alternative assets. In 2021, Drexel University’s endowment surpassed $1 billion for the first time, increasing Drexel’s ability to support and expand its academic and research goals for current and future generations. Matt discusses the steps Drexel University took to reach this successful milestone. Join Matt as he takes you through the Drexel University Endowment model and what drives him in and out of the office.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Targeting the Sub-Advisory Market with Greg Stumm of Resolute Investment Managers

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 08:00:00 -0500

Greg Stumm of Resolute Investment Managers shares his perspective on the firm’s investment process in the context of its multi-affiliate model. Greg guides our listeners through the sub-advisory market and the growth their firm has experienced over the years. Resolute Investment Managers is a diversified, multi-affiliate asset management platform that partners with more than 30 best-in-class affiliated and independent investment managers across style and strategy. Join Greg as he takes us through his experience in building and developing manager and client relationships through the lens of the multi-affiliate model.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Positioning for US Plan Sponsors with Russ Kamp

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Russ Kamp of Ryan ALM shares his more than forty years of investment advisory experience with US plan sponsors as he discusses the current pension landscape and how to position your investment strategies for success. Join Russ for a wide ranging discussion on Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution Plan management in the context of the current economic environment. The conversation explores the use of alternative strategies and attractiveness of bonds to US pension plans, as well as how recent legislative changes are presenting new opportunities for allocators and investment managers alike. If your New Year's resolutions include a more effective sales strategy for US pension plans, be sure to listen to this insightful and informative conversation with one of the industry's leading experts.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Mapping the Morningstar Process with Alyssa Stankiewicz

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 22:00:00 -0500

Alyssa Stankiewicz of Morningstar shares her insights into the firm's manager research process and the key pillars of the Morningstar analyst rating. Alyssa guides the audience through the firm's approach to researching best practices in sustainable investing, and their efforts to improve transparency across the U.S. sustainable funds landscape for investors. Morningstar is a publicly traded financial services firm providing a variety of investment research and investment management solutions. Their research and recommendations in evaluating asset managers and funds are some of the most influential in the asset management industry. Join Alyssa as she shares her journey in this informative and interesting conversation.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Bringing Perspective to Consulting with Alan Spatrick of Meketa

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 19:00:00 -0500

Alan Spatrick shares his forty-two years of investment consulting experience as he discusses the Meketa manager research process, the changes he's seen in the consultant space over the decades, and his advice for investment sales people and fellow consultants in the context of the investment industry. Meketa Investment Group is an employee-owned full service investment consultant and advisory firm. Meketa works with clients on a non-discretionary or discretionary (OCIO) basis. With over $1.7 trillion in Assets under Advisement and an additional $100 billion in Private Markets and Real Estate consulting, Meketa has grown into the third largest institutional consultant in the United States by assets. Learn more about what has made Meketa so successful over the years, and how Alan and his colleagues research and select their investment management partners.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Understanding RIAs with Aldo Vultaggio, CIO

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 13:00:00 -0500

Aldo Vultaggio, Chief Investment Officer at Capstone Financial Advisors, Inc. shares his manager research process, approach to sourcing alternative investments, current investment research focus, and more in this informative conversation on the importance of Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) and Multi-Family Offices. RIA firms have represented the fastest-growing category in the U.S. wealth management market for the past six years. Learn more about why you should not overlook this channel when prioritizing your business development goals, while discovering successful firms like Capstone Financial Advisors.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Selling Asian Equities with Zlata Gleason of Indus Capital

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Zlata Gleason shares her experiences distributing and servicing long-only and hedge fund strategies and the questions clients ask surrounding succession planning, investment management fees, and how specialist strategies fit into a broader asset allocation model. She discusses her approach to selling equity strategies in the context of the sales process she has developed with Indus Capital, an Asian Pacific equities investment manager. Join Zlata and Robert as they discuss the changes they have seen in the industry over the past twenty years, and how best to position your investment strategies with investors for the years ahead.

Dakota Live! Podcast: Approaching OCIOs and Multi-Asset Businesses with Floyd Simpson of PFM Asset Management

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 13:00:00 -0400

Floyd Simpson shares how he evaluates asset managers, approaches due diligence meetings, and considers asset allocation decisions. He discusses his experience in working in Emerging Manager Research, Multi-Asset Strategy Solutions, and an Outsourced CIO business model with PFM Asset Management. In his current role he works with institutional clients to develop and implement Multi-Asset strategies for their portfolios and is a voting member of the Outsourced Chief Investment Officer Investment Committee which has oversight of $16.7 billion Assets Under Management as of June 30, 2022.