Tag Archives: #Alternatives

Episode 202 – Rate Cuts, Resilience, and Returns with Anastasia Amoroso



Anastasia Amoroso serves as the Managing Director and Chief Investment Strategist at iCapital, a company dedicated to powering the world’s alternative investment marketplace.

In this podcast, Anastasia and Doug engage in a conversation regarding the 2024 Federal Reserve rate cuts and the potential consequences they may entail.

They also discussed:

  • Anastasia Amoroso’s journey to becoming the Managing Director and Chief Investment Strategist at iCapital.
  • The January Fed decision to hold interest rates and the expectations for future rate cuts.
  • The potential effects of a rate cut on the markets and historical trends.
  • The strength of the current economy and its resilience to higher interest rates.
  • Potential stress points in the markets, including refinancing challenges and US government debt.
  • Top investment ideas for the year, including opportunities in private equity, private credit, and venture capital.

 

Resources: iCapital


Episode 194 – Democratizing Access to Alternatives & Portfolio Management with Alan Strauss



Alan Strauss is the Senior Partner and Director of Investor Relations at Crystal Capital Partners: a premier independent platform connecting financial advisors to the trillion-dollar alternative investment industry. 

In this episode, Doug talks with Alan about the essential components of alternative investments driving portfolio success and financial advisor adaptability. 

They also discussed:

  • The growth of alternatives in the financial industry, emphasizing their mainstream acceptance and their role in bringing risk mitigation, lower volatility, and outperformance to investor portfolios.
  • The role of alternatives in asset allocation and their impact on portfolio creation and management.
  • Evolution of the traditional 60/40 portfolio to a more diversified approach.
  • The use of alternative strategies by advisors to drive business growth, compete with larger wealth management firms, and capture more wallet share from clients.
  • The demand for different types of alternatives, including distinctions between liquid and illiquid alternatives and the opportunities in private markets.
  • Common misconceptions about alternatives, and the importance of education to dispel these misconceptions.
  • The role of platforms like Crystal in democratizing access to alternatives and portfolio management, providing lower investment minimums, a unified interface, and tools for education and business development.
  • The importance of diversity and inclusion in the alternative space, both internally within corporate structures and in investor portfolios, with a focus on women as investors and managers.

 

Resources: 

Crystal Capital Partners

 


Episode 181 – Data-Driven Wealth Management with Stephen Daffron



Stephen Daffron is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BetaNXT, the next wave in wealth management technology and outsourcing solutions. Join Stephen as he introduces BetaNXT, its offerings, and the challenges they are helping wealth advisors and investors address.

Topics also discussed:

  • Stephen’s diverse background and his journey and role in co-founding BetaNXT.
  • The evolving wealth management landscape, emphasizing the need for better tools and real-time data to meet changing client demands.
  • The challenges faced by wealth advisors, such as time spent on data gathering, are highlighted, along with the potential benefits of real-time data processing.
  • The acquisition of Mediant, emphasizing its role in enhancing data curation and delivery, ultimately improving the advisor-client experience.
  • The BetaNXT commitment to investing in firms that align with its mission of elevating the wealth management ecosystem.

 

Resources: 

BetaNXT


Episode 157 – The Right Toolkit for the Right Client with Andrew Krei



Andrew Krei is the Co-Chief Investment Officer at Crescent Grove Advisors, based near their Milwaukee office with other offices in Lake Forest and Atlanta. Crescent Grove provides quality investment and financial guidance and solutions to individuals and their families, institutions, endowments, and foundations. 

In this podcast, Doug and Andrew discuss how Crescent Grove Advisors differentiates itself from other firms in the advisory space, offering different business lines for different clients.

They also discussed:

  • The formation of Crescent Grove and the core values and experience the firm provides for their clients
  • How Crescent Grove meets the financial needs of the specialized client base of ultra-high net worth individuals and families, top executives, and first-generation wealth builders
  • Building an investment platform for a diverse group of clients
  • Crescent Grove’s approach to alternatives and how they fit into a client’s asset allocation
  • The investment strategies the firm is steering clients towards and the methodology used to identify managers that offer them
  • The biggest challenges for investors in 2023 and how Crescent Grove is counseling clients
  • The biggest mistake investors are making right now

 

Resources: 

Crescent Grove Advisors