In this episode, Michael Scaplen, Head of Business Development at Axos Clearing, hosts an exclusive Axos Clearing “AxKicker Podcast” for the Power Your Advice series. Michael is joined by Chris Versace, the Chief Investment Officer and Thematic Strategist at Tematica Research: the lead Portfolio Manager for the Action Alerts Plus newsletter.
Michael and Chris dive into the current state of the market, the effects of inflation and other factors on it, and how Axos Financial and Tematica Research are prepared for the short-term and long-term impacts.
They also discussed:
The possibility of one more quarter-point coming on
If inflation will continue to rise and the sequential impacts that might follow
The concern of the retail community over-leveraging themselves in this inflation environment
The near future of brick-and-mortar establishments and commercial real estate as a whole
The future of online banking technologies and how Axos Financial is at the forefront of the movement
John Langston is the Founder and Managing Partner of Republic Capital Group, a provider of investment banking services to the RIA, Wealth, and Asset Management communities. The team at Republic Capital offers buy-side and sell-side services, merger advisory, and sourcing equity and debt capital, bringing extensive experience across financial services to their clients.
In this podcast, John dives into the world of M&A, sharing the keys to a successful deal and advice collected from his impressive seventeen years in the financial services industry.
Doug and John also discussed:
Current views on M&A activity in the wealth management space and trends that are circulating
The biggest mistakes buyers and sellers have during the M&A process and how to avoid them
How firms can structure their business to increase their valuation and best integrate post transaction
A recent deal John advised on and how the transaction unfolded
The conversation around cultural fit when companies are making a transaction and why it’s so important
In this episode, Michael Scaplen, Senior Vice President of Sales and Relationship Management at Axos Clearing, hosts an exclusive Axos Clearing Educational podcast for the Power Your Advice series. Michael is joined by Mark Davies, Co-Founder and CEO of S3. S3 is a full-service compliance and trade analytics software, providing financial industry clients with the intelligence, services, and technology that helps them to make their trades.
Michael and Mark discuss regulatory reporting as it relates to the most recent SEC proposals and CAT solutions. We hear about S3’s position in this space and how the firm is keeping its clients informed and their satisfaction prioritized.
They also discussed:
The beginnings of S3 and how the company got off the ground
The target audience of S3 and their customer base
The evolution of the market and the most significant challenges coming for the S3 client base
The four regulations proposed by the SEC and the resource of S3 which clients can leverage to keep informed about such changes in the industry
The S3 CAT (Consolidated Audit Trail) reporting system
The customized experience S3 provides their clients
What Mark sees for the future of the firm and the evolution of S3
Robert Gorman is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Apollon Wealth Management. Apollon works with multiple leading custodians to select the optimal mix of products and services for each investor. With their commitment to providing the highest level of personal service, Apollon Wealth elevates wealth management to a higher standard.
In this podcast, Doug and Robert discuss the partnership between Apollon Wealth and Practifi and how the utilization of technology and the Practifi platform can improve the client experience.
They also discussed:
The growth and journey of Apollon Wealth
Utilizing technology to not only empower your employees but also improve the experience with your clients
Making a match looking around at other FinTech companies to what was important to Apollon Wealth
The factors that were important to Apollon Wealth when looking for the right partner and why Practifi was chosen
How the abilities of the Practifi platform have benefited Apollon and its clients
Bernie Wasserman is the President of Participant Capital, a company that provides individual investors access to Class A real estate development opportunities through a suite of investment vehicles and through their affiliation with Royal Palm Companies.
In this podcast, Doug and Bernie discuss real estate investments, their main drivers, and how Participant Capital positioned itself to serve a plethora of wealth advisors across the globe.
They also discussed:
The kind of advisors Participant Capital serves and the type of funds the firm offers
Participant Capital’s relationship with Royal Palm Companies
Strategies within private real estate that are positioned to perform well in this high-interest-rate market
The considerations when investing in private real estate and how to examine location versus strategy and sector
The areas of risk advisors should be more careful in
What advisors should consider when selecting managers and funds for their clients
The challenges advisors have when accessing real estate investment opportunities today and the evolution of its solutions
John Norris is the Director of Private Wealth at CrowdStreet Advisors. John is responsible for expanding relationships with wealth managers including RIAs, family offices, broker-dealers, and fintech platforms. CrowdStreet Advisors provides advisors and their clients with access to curated, private commercial real estate opportunities selected from CrowdStreet’s proprietary deal flow source from a deep network of 300 real estate sponsors, developers, and operators.
In this podcast, Doug and John discuss the capabilities and custom solutions CrowdStreet offers financial advisors interested in investing in private commercial real estate.
They also discussed:
What attracted John to CrowdStreet and his primary area of focus at the firm
How investing in commercial real estate has changed over the years
The new REIT CrowdStreet Advisors launched: C-REIT
The potential diversification benefits that investing in private commercial real estate can offer a traditional 6040 portfolio, especially in times of market volatility and inflation
What advisors may want to be focusing on in private commercial real estate
Why advisors and investors may want to consider about private commercial real estate and the kinds of investment opportunities available to them through CrowdStreet Advisors
CrowdStreet, Inc. (“CrowdStreet”) offers investment opportunities and financial services on its website. Advisory services are offered through CrowdStreet Advisors, LLC (“CrowdStreet Advisors”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CrowdStreet and a federally registered investment adviser.
Investing in commercial real estate entails substantive risk. You should not invest unless you can sustain the risk of loss of capital, including the risk of total loss of capital. All investors should consider their individual factors in consultation with a professional advisor of their choosing when deciding if an investment is appropriate. Direct and indirect purchase of real property involves significant risks, including without limitation market risks, risks related to the sale of land and risks specific to a given property, which could include the potential for property value loss, potential for foreclosure, changes in tax status and fees, and costs and expenses associated with management of such properties. All investors should consider risks specific to that given property prior to investing.
Though private real estate is, by nature, generally less volatile than the stock market. This lack of volatility does not necessarily translate to private real estate not fluctuating in or losing value. Further, the value of private real estate investments will fluctuate, and the value of real estate often lags behind general market conditions. Further, publicly traded equity REITs may offer more liquidity options than more traditional, non-traded REITs or private placement real estate investments. Non-traded REITS and private placement real estate investments typically have restrictions and limitations on overall liquidity.
This video is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an investment recommendation or advice, or as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy an investment. Though CrowdStreet believes the information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, they make no guarantee, warranty or representation of it.
All information provided is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, or tax advice, or an offer to buy or sell any security or investment product. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources we believe to be reliable but is not guaranteed as to its accuracy or completeness. All examples are hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only.
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
Lincoln Ross is the CEO and President of CircleBlack. CircleBlack provides financial advisors with technology that aggregates data, seamlessly integrates other financial applications, manages data from multiple custodians, and delivers actionable intelligence about client portfolios, and more.
In this podcast, Doug and Lincoln look into the inefficiencies in advisor practice from CircleBlack’s standpoint, and the solutions their all-in-one platform provides.
They also discussed:
The demand for convenience in the financial services industry and why the transformation is needed
The advisor and client exchanges that can and should be offloaded to technology rather than be face to face
CircleBlack’s all-in-one platform, including all of the capabilities that an advisor needs to deliver advice to their clients
Scott Clark is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The True Life Companies. The True Life Companies (TTLC) connects people of vision, property owners, investment partners, and municipalities, to generate and implement innovative solutions to our housing crisis.
In this podcast, Doug and Scott discuss how The True Life Companies is reviving and repurposing underutilized properties to provide housing communities and a piece of the American dream for the younger generation.
They also discussed:
The launching of TTLC, its mission, and how the firm has evolved
The True Life Companies’ path to the advisory community
The company’s strategy for creating livable communities out of run-down pieces of real estate
The data TTLC uses to determine what geographical locations to assist in
Homeownership in the US and the struggle to find attainable and affordable housing
Joe Ujobai is the Chief Executive Officer at Alternative Investment Exchange (AIX), a digital platform built to improve the process for investing in alternatives and enable growth for the industry.
In this podcast, Doug and Joe discuss how AIX combines technology, workflows, and a great client experience to help the advisor get their investor into alternative investments.
They also discussed:
The background of AIX and what it offers from a tech perspective
How AIX works with and helps advisors be more successful
The current challenges that advisors are facing and what AIX is solving for them
How AIX helps reduce advisor’s friction and the other points of friction that can be seen from an industry-wide perspective
What types of alts advisors are looking for in their portfolios and why these specific ones
How AIX is helping the overall alternative investment industry grow
