PODCAST · business
Dakota Live! Podcast
by Robert Morier
The Dakota Live! Podcast is designed for your fundraising needs. The goal of this podcast is to help you better know the people behind the investment decisions. Dakota connects investment salespeople with leading investment decision makers, ensuring you always know who to call and how to approach the markets you are targeting. Dakota Live! presents investment sales people industry and marketing expertise to make their jobs easier.
-
176
Inside LPL’s Alternatives Platform: Manager Research, Due Diligence & What’s Next
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 convergeOne 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.
-
175
Inside Foundation Investing and the OCIO Model | On the Road at Georgia State University
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 FoundationMarkus Krygier — Co-Chief Investment Officer, Strategic Investment GroupDegas Wright — CIO of Decatur Capital Management & Executive in Residence at Georgia State UniversityTogether, 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 decisionsWhy trust, transparency, and great questions are the foundation of any OCIO relationshipThe three pillars of manager due diligence: science, art, and operationsHow to think about liquidity, inflation, and uncertainty in today's marketWhy complexity is often used to "cover weak thinking" — and how to communicate clearly insteadThe 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.
-
174
Habits, Not Assets: What Piada Teaches Investors About Capital Discipline and Scaling Right
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-houseFrom a test kitchen in Columbus to a national inflection point — this is the blueprint.
-
173
Operators as Investors: Scaling Healthcare Platforms
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 nowFrom 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 lensHow Empactful approaches the critical $5–$20M revenue inflection point (where many companies stall) and what it actually takes to scale.Platforms vs. point solutionsWhy scalable healthcare businesses must move beyond single-use cases and into integrated, defensible platforms.The reality of scaling healthcare companiesLong sales cycles, complex stakeholders, and reimbursement dynamics—and how disciplined execution bridges the gap.Operators as investorsWhat changes when the investor has been the CFO, COO, or CEO—and why that matters to both founders and LPs.Alignment with allocator prioritiesLiquidity timelines, DPI focus, and disciplined capital deployment—directly addressing the concerns we continue to hear across the allocator communityWhy 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
-
172
How Top Investment Consultants Pick Managers | The Future of Due Diligence with Callan
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 selectionLean how decisions get made, how managers are evaluated, and how judgment is built over time.
-
171
OCIO in Practice: Jeff Croteau on Total Portfolio Thinking and Manager Due Diligence
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.
-
170
The PE Guy (April Fool’s Day Special) | A Serious Lesson on Content Creation in Financial Services
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 landscapeWhy 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.
-
169
Governance Over Everything: Inside the CIO Seat (WVU Live)
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 FoundationCraig Slaughter, CIO of the West Virginia Investment Management BoardJosh Hall, Dean of the WVU Business SchoolThis 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 capitalThe real role of governance in investment outcomesHow CIOs evaluate managers (and why it’s not a pure science)Private markets vs public markets todayActive vs passive: where the opportunity may be shiftingWhat students and young professionals need to know to break into investingOne 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.
-
168
Inside an Emerging Manager: Building from the Ground Up
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 volatilityWhy 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 netAs 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.
-
167
Seeding the Next Generation of Asset Managers: Hedge Funds, VC, and Private Equity Compared
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 environmentFor 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.
-
166
Underwriting Consumer VC: Early-Stage Due Diligence and the Operator Edge
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 edgeFor 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.
-
165
Understanding Volatility in a Structurally Shifting Market
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 viewsThe 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.
-
164
How University Endowments Invest | Private Equity & Institutional Strategy
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 UniversityBridget Sproles, Partner & Co-Head of Healthcare Practice, Cambridge AssociatesRyan Farley, Professor and Director, Torch Fund Program, University of TennesseeRecorded 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 commitmentsThe risks and realities of private credit in today’s marketHow CIOs underwrite managers and assess integrity, culture, and riskTeaching students to think like real-world investorsThe 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.
-
163
Why Banks Are Increasing Private Market Exposure—A Manager Research View from PNC Bank
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 coversWhy retail bank platforms are expanding private market allocations—and why most clients are still under-allocated relative to policy targetsHow banks are introducing evergreen private market structures cautiously, selectively, and with fiduciary disciplineThe manager research process behind private equity, private credit, venture, and hedge fund strategies inside a regulated bank environmentWhy due diligence—not product demand—drives platform decisionsThe 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 strategiesWhere 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 adoptionRather 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.
-
162
The Joy of Discovery | GP Seeding, Hedge Funds & Manager Research with Scott Schweighauser (Borealis Strategic Capital Partners)
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 investingWhether 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.
-
161
Aksia, Alternatives & the Wealth Channel | Chris Schelling on Private Markets Today
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 wealthHow private credit, hedge funds, and private equity are evolving post-2025The role of portfolio construction, liquidity management, and governance in alternativesWhere Chris sees real opportunity—and real risk—across private marketsWhat 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.
-
160
Inside a Single Family Office: How CIOs Allocate Capital, Select Managers, and Think Long-Term
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 careersTopics 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 rolesStephanie 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 scaleIf you want a real-world look at how single family offices make investment decisions, this conversation delivers clarity, nuance, and uncommon transparency.
-
159
How to Earn Investment Conviction: From Mean Reversion to Manager Selection with Springtide Partners
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 performanceAaron 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.
-
158
Inside SEI: New Year, New Mandate | A 2026 CEO Conversation with Ryan Hicke
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 onesCulture as Strategy: How SEI’s open, meritocratic culture drives innovation and accountabilityPrivate Markets & Alternatives: What the future portfolio really looks like beyond the traditional 60/40Tokenization, AI, and Technology: Why SEI wants a “courtside seat” to emerging technologies instead of watching from the sidelinesStratos Wealth Acquisition: How integrating advice reshapes SEI’s long-term strategy across administration, asset management, and client outcomesPublic Company Discipline: Balancing quarterly earnings pressure with long-term shareholder value creationLeadership in a Changing Market: What it actually means to lead through complexity, regulation, and rapid industry changeThis 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-SuiteWe 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 strategicallyGaining insight into where asset management, alternatives, and advice are convergingLearning how CEOs actually weigh growth, risk, and culture behind closed doorsThis episode is for you.
-
157
On the Road in Waco, Texas | Inside Baylor University with CIOs, Allocators & Students
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 UniversityRenee Hanna, Managing Director of Investments, Baylor UniversityChris Dion, Co-Chief Investment Officer, BrockenbroughMichael Holmberg, Senior Portfolio Manager, Neuberger BermanTogether, they explore how real investment decisions are made—not in theory, but in practice.What this episode coversHow institutional investors think about risk, conviction, and portfolio constructionWhy relationships and trust are competitive advantages in manager selectionThe role of character in underwriting GPs, OCIOs, and long-term partnersEmerging managers vs. scale managers: where alpha really comes fromWhy Baylor has avoided private credit—and what that says about disciplineHow allocators collaborate with one another while still competingWhat “wearing risk” actually means inside an investment officeAdvice for students entering asset management, investing, and finance careersThe 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 investingEndowments and foundationsManager research and due diligenceOCIO modelsPrivate markets and portfolio constructionTeaching 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.
-
156
NEPC Uncovered: The OCIO Model, Private Markets & What’s Next with Scott Perry
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 emotionWhether 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.
-
155
Inside Taft-Hartley Allocations with Investment Performance Services (IPS)
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.
-
154
The CIO's Playbook with American Beacon Advisors
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 fullyPaul’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.
-
153
Empowering Emerging Managers: A Conversation with Chrissie Pariso of MPowered Capital
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 buildingFor 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 environmentFor 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 challengesTune 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.
-
152
Listening First with Crewcial Partners
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 AllocatorsHybrid 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 ManagersPreparation 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.
-
151
Manager Research in Focus with CW Advisors
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 teamsThis episode reminds us that great investing—like great conversation—is built on curiosity, collaboration, and trust.
-
150
The OCIO Playbook with Prime Buchholz
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.
-
149
Reentering with Rigor: Sean Poe on Manager Selection at Key Private Bank
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 storytellingWhether 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.
-
148
Fixed Income and the Future of Asset Allocation: Inside the CIO Mindset with Nick Gentile
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.
-
147
Identifying the Hidden Signals in Manager Research with Dr. Dali Ma
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.
-
146
Scaling Healthcare for Life: A Conversation with Adele C. Oliva of 1315 Capital
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.
-
145
Dakota Live! Podcast: After the Exit - Teaching the Next Generation of Investors with Chris Cesare
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.
-
144
Dakota Live! Podcast: Client Service as Strategy: Verger Capital’s OCIO Approach
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.
-
143
Dakota Live! Podcast: CIO Insights with Caprock’s Vivek Jindal: Building Portfolios Across Public & Private Markets
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.
-
142
Dakota Live! Podcast: Consistency and Culture with CIBC Private Wealth
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.
-
141
Dakota Live! Podcast: Venture Capital Fund of Funds and the Emerging Manager Outlook with Slipstream Investors
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 ecosystemWhether you’re an allocator, manager, or entrepreneur, Alex’s perspective offers a window into the next generation of venture capital investing.
-
140
Finding the Edge: Sourcing Investment Opportunities with Matthew Wright of the Disciplina Group
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 diversificationIf 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.
-
139
Dakota Live! Podcast: Doing the Research: Systematic Investing with Ken Frier of Atlas Capital
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.
-
138
Dakota Live! Podcast: Strategic LP Perspectives & the Future of Emerging Managers in Venture Capital
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 MattersThis 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 AlphaVisit: https://www.bigbook.vcThe 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 ScreendoorScreendoor 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 3.0This is one of our most important conversations yet, don’t miss it.
-
137
Dakota Live! Podcast: Private Market Manager Research with Windrose Advisors
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 allocatorsIf 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.
-
136
Dakota Live! Podcast: Inside Fixed Income Manager Research with Marquette Associates
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 relationshipsWith 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.
-
135
Dakota Live! Podcast: Inside the Private Markets Playbook with HB Wealth
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 transactionsZach 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.
-
134
Dakota Live! Podcast: Inside the WK Kellogg Foundation's Investment Strategy with Shanelle Brown
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 failureWhether 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.comW.K. Kellogg Foundation:https://www.wkkf.org/🎙️ Listen to the Podcast:Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/3NUXRMzfr56xQ9VDeavhjN?si=bc5764c861054069Apple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dakota-live-podcast/id165235763800:00 Intro01:36 At the desk03:25 What's going on in Westwood?04:08 Landing on UCLA05:03 Deciding on a career path07:42 Approaching problems09:55 Experience at Exelon11:24 What's your style?12:22 Structure at Kellogg13:45 Compass direction15:28 External research16:13 Long-bias public equities17:57 Managing risk20:11 Sourcing a manager21:47 Manager underwriting process24:41 Qualitative factors28:15 How communication takes place31:18 Reunderwriting33:35 Concentration35:16 Conviction37:36 LP network38:18 Integration of AI41:06 Investment trends42:50 Lasting partnerships45:04 What are you working on now?46:22 Emerging managers47:52 Mentors49:22 Advice for young professionals50:56 Student Question #1: Values52:51 Student Question #2: Experience and advice for women of color54:10 Student Question #3: Most important skill/value55:38 Outro
-
133
Dakota Live! Podcast: Empowering Institutional Investors with Callan
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!
-
132
Dakota Live! Podcast: Private Credit & the OCIO Mindset with Adam Ladd of Windrose Advisors
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 portfoliosHow to assess alignment between a manager’s origin story and their current strategyWhat distinguishes Windrose’s high-touch, in-person due diligence modelHow OCIOs balance fiduciary responsibilities with highly personalized client mandatesThe role of private credit in shortening the J-curve and enhancing liquidity within broader private portfoliosWe 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.
-
131
Dakota Live! Podcast: Seeding Next-Gen Venture Managers with Main Character Capital
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.comGuest 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=bc5764c861054069Apple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dakota-live-podcast/id1652357638Chapter Markers:00:00 Intro01:56 Andrea Lo intro04:17 GP Staking versus Fund to Funds06:15 Career path11:14 Desirable traits of partners13:25 Sourcing partners20:29 High yielding questions for partners27:30 Crowded markets30:27 First 90 days after an investment37:06 Portfolio construction41:55 Global opportunities45:47 AI defense49:41 AI outpacing its infrastructure54:59 Key experiences01:01:28 Where the strategy fits in an allocation modelMain 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.
-
130
Dakota Live! Podcast: Reentering with Rigor - Sean Poe on Manager Selection at Key Private Bank
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 storytellingWhether 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
-
129
Dakota Live! Podcast: Lessons from a Single-Family Office with Verdis Investment Management
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 allocationThe balance between risk, liquidity, and long-term compoundingA unique indexing strategy for early-stage venture capitalHow character, behavior, and trust factor into manager selectionWhy family offices value entrepreneurial thinkingThe 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.comVerdis Investment Management:https://www.verdisinvestment.com/00:00 Intro02:08 Jamie Biddle Intro03:31 Legacy and family history05:58 Early career09:25 Inspiration to start Verdis10:50 VC versus family office mindset12:07 Strategic direction13:18 The team16:32 Endowment pitfalls17:59 Asset allocation model22:13 Balancing public and private markets23:09 Indexing early-stage venture27:40 Due dilligence for early stage venture29:32 Manager research process34:36 Investing in the right people36:36 Geography of early stage venture37:45 Current macroeconomic environment39:00 Active management in public equities41:19 Market-cap weighted indexing43:06 Co-investments45:00 Importance of LP network47:03 Democratization of private markets49:01 Advice for manager's seeking partnership with Verdis52:18 Biddle family history53:50 Importance of The Andalusia Foundation58:15 Outro
-
128
Dakota Live! Podcast: The Importance of Portfolio Innovation with Partners Capital
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.
-
127
Dakota Live! Podcast: Growth, Innovation, and the Future of Private Markets with Cerity Partners
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 investmentsPlus, 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.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Dakota Live! Podcast is designed for your fundraising needs. The goal of this podcast is to help you better know the people behind the investment decisions. Dakota connects investment salespeople with leading investment decision makers, ensuring you always know who to call and how to approach the markets you are targeting. Dakota Live! presents investment sales people industry and marketing expertise to make their jobs easier.
HOSTED BY
Robert Morier
Loading similar podcasts...