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

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s episode is with a founder who is building mission-critical valuation and portfolio monitoring software for alternative asset managers.We are joined by Yann Magnan, the Co-Founder and CEO of 73 Strings, to discuss how valuation work and portfolio monitoring is moving from manual to automated and why that’s so important for the industry. 73 Strings has leveraged AI and automation to more seamlessly and cost-effectively extract data, monitor portfolios, and streamline middle-office processes for valuations. 73 Strings works with a number of the industry’s top alternative asset managers and has received investment from Blackstone, Fidelity International Strategic Ventures, and Broadhaven Ventures, amongst others.Yann has brought his experience as a senior member of the Duff & Phelps team, where he was EMEA Market Leader and member of the Global Operating Committee and as a Partner at EY’s Transaction Advisory Services to help bring valuation and portfolio monitoring solutions into the mainstream.Yann and I had a fascinating conversation about how technology innovation is impacting private markets. We discussed:The challenges with manual valuation services businesses.How to create uniformity and standardization with private markets fund performance data.How AI is changing private markets post-investment reporting processes.Does automation in private markets help big funds or small funds more?The evolution of post-investment private markets market structure.The biggest technology innovation still missing from private markets.Why the growth of the wealth channel and evergreen funds increases the need for more streamlined reporting and valuation solutions.Thanks Yann for coming on the show to share your views and wisdom on private markets.A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency.To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products.Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus’ technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at [email protected] thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.Show Notes00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message01:56 Welcome to Alt Goes Mainstream02:05 Introducing Yann Magnan and 73 Strings03:56 Yann's Background in Valuation Services04:33 The Inefficiencies of Manual Valuation05:20 The Genesis of 73 Strings06:11 The Importance of Experience in Private Markets06:24 Automating Valuation Processes08:32 Challenges in Standardizing Valuation09:13 The Role of Human Judgment in Valuation10:24 AI's Potential in Valuation11:10 Accountability in Automated Valuation12:47 73 Strings' Data Handling and Partnerships14:07 Standardizing Data Across Portfolios15:44 Impact of Automation on Human Processes17:02 Growth of the Wealth Channel and Evergreen Funds17:59 Accelerating Need for Better Valuation Software19:37 Challenges of High-Frequency Reporting19:59 Technological Implications of Daily Valuation20:31 Private Assets and Technology Infrastructure20:44 Industry Resilience and Smart People20:59 Forefront Firms and Blackstone Partnership21:48 Valuation Process and Data Control23:11 Extensibility to Other Asset Classes24:12 73 Strings' Versatile Platform25:13 Howard Marks on Asset Allocation25:52 Atomic Unit of Value in Valuations27:31 Data Sharing Across Business Units30:24 Automation Benefits for Large and Small Firms31:33 Building Technology for Large Firms34:16 Trust and Experience in Client Relationships35:09 Strategic Investors and Their Value37:37 Industry Participation and Standardization39:13 Maturity and Cost of Technology40:22 Future of Data in Private Markets41:39 Convergence of Private and Public Markets42:11 Volatility and Transparency in Private Markets43:14 Attracting Retail Investors44:41 Conclusion and Final Thought

Welcome to the 14th episode of the Monthly Alts Pulse, a collaboration between iCapital x Alt Goes Mainstream. Here’s the latest episode of the Monthly Alts Pulse, a live conversation in studio with Lawrence Calcano, the Chairman & CEO of iCapital. As the leader of a platform with over $200B of assets that is responsible for the majority of individual and advisor-led investment flows into the alts space, Lawrence and iCapital have their finger on the pulse of what’s happening in private markets.On this episode, Lawrence and I had a fascinating and lively discussion. We covered:Has private markets moved from access as table stakes to customization and differentiation?What are the different phases of private markets — and how has iCapital built solutions for each?Is data the oil for private markets?How will model portfolios fit into the wealth channel’s adoption of private markets?If advisors now have access to private markets, how do they differentiate?How does the trend of OCIOs being acquired by wealth managers factor into the continued evolution of wealth channel adoption of private markets?The nuances of diligence on fund managers.Why do private markets “start and stop at the advisor’s desktop?”What's the interplay between brand, access, and customization?Thanks Lawrence for a great episode … looking forward to next month’s conversation!Show Notes00:00 Introduction00:23 Trends in Wealth Management: Customization and Differentiation00:46 The Evolution of Private Markets Access01:28 Building Bespoke Programs for Advisors01:50 The Importance of Better Fit for Clients02:26 Infrastructure and Customization in Wealth Channels02:39 Phases of Evolution in Wealth Management03:29 Expanding Product Access and Automation03:49 Creating an Operating System for Wealth Management04:30 The Role of Model Portfolios04:56 The Role of Technology and Tools in Customization05:21 Differentiation Through Custom Solutions06:17 Understanding Customization in Wealth Markets07:11 The Role of Diligence in Wealth Management09:40 Reconciling Efficiency and Thoughtful Allocation09:59 Advisors' Role in Customization and Differentiation10:08 The Advisor's Role in Client Education11:01 The Future of Secondary Markets and Evergreen Products12:07 Tools for Advisors: Information and Fit14:57 The Importance of Education and Technology16:17 Product Innovation and Customization19:23 Conclusion: Balancing Tensions in Wealth Management

Everyone is talking about evergreens.Alt Goes Mainstream has collaborated with iCapital and Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Head of Portfolio Management Nick Veronis to dive into the evergreen question with some of the leading practitioners in private markets.This three part series with industry experts from Vista Equity Partners, KKR, and Hamilton Lane shines a light on one of the fastest-growing areas in private markets and its impact on the wealth channel.The three part series features:Vista Equity Partners Managing Director, Global Head of Private Wealth Solutions Dan Parant.KKR Managing Director, Head of Americas, Global Wealth Solutions (GWS) Doug Krupa.Hamilton Lane Managing Director, Co-Head US Private Wealth Solutions Stephanie Davis.Please enjoy the third episode of the series as Nick and I talk with Hamilton Lane's Stephanie Davis.Show Notes00:00 Introduction: Setting the Stage00:17 Early Days in the Evergreen Space00:33 Stephanie's Journey into Private Wealth00:40 From Merrill Lynch to Hamilton Lane01:15 The Evolution of Alternative Investments02:09 Success in Early Evergreen Structures02:23 Challenges and Innovations in Distribution03:01 Nick's Perspective on the Evergreen Space03:20 Hamilton Lane's Thought Leadership03:50 The Importance of Private Companies04:29 The Evolution of Evergreen Funds05:11 Optimal Structures for Evergreen Funds05:35 Target Audience and Distribution Strategies06:25 Commitment to Evergreen Structures06:50 Multi-Manager Approach and Diversification07:18 Adoption of Private Capital by Advisors07:49 The Role of Private Equity in Evergreen Funds08:50 The Importance of Fee Efficiency09:45 Educating Investors on Evergreen Structures15:00 The Power of Compounding in Evergreen Funds16:02 Institutional Interest in Evergreen Funds21:54 The Role of Liquidity in Evergreen Investments22:28 Educating Advisors and Clients25:48 Challenges in Advisor Education28:14 Allocation Strategies for Evergreen Funds31:22 The Future of Evergreen Structures31:36 3.0 in the Evergreen Space34:07 Manager Selection in Private Markets35:18 The Evolving Relationship of Public and Private Markets36:03 Closing Thoughts and Key Takeaways36:33 Disclaimer and Informational Purposes

Everyone is talking about evergreens.Alt Goes Mainstream has collaborated with iCapital and Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Head of Portfolio Management Nick Veronis to dive into the evergreen question with some of the leading practitioners in private markets.This three part series with industry experts from Vista Equity Partners, KKR, and Hamilton Lane shines a light on one of the fastest-growing areas in private markets and its impact on the wealth channel.The three part series features:Vista Equity Partners Managing Director, Global Head of Private Wealth Solutions Dan Parant.KKR Managing Director, Head of Americas, Global Wealth Solutions (GWS) Doug Krupa.Hamilton Lane Managing Director, Co-Head US Private Wealth Solutions Stephanie Davis.Please enjoy the second episode of the series as Nick and I talk with KKR's Doug Krupa.Show Notes00:23 Doug's Background in Private Markets01:18 Early Career as a Financial Advisor01:55 Understanding Overfunded Pensions02:47 Focus on Making Private Markets Accessible03:12 Building Innovative Solutions at KKR03:25 Evolution of Wealth and Asset Management03:55 Challenges in Private Markets05:05 Partnering with KKR05:55 KKR's Commitment to the Wealth Channel06:04 Innovations in Fund Structures06:59 The Conglomerate Model07:15 KKR's Approach to Wealth Channel07:46 Expanding Access to Private Markets08:34 Delivering the Same Investment Experience09:36 Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs for Wealth Channel09:59 Legislation and Access to Private Markets12:56 Evergreen Structures vs. Conglomerate Model17:37 Investor Behavior in Evergreen Structures18:12 Adoption of Evergreen Strategies21:24 Educating the Industry on Evergreen22:55 The Shift from Public to Private Markets24:00 KKR's Educational Initiatives26:06 Rebranding Alternatives as Private Markets28:53 Partnerships and Hybrid Solutions29:04 Market Structure Evolutions31:11 Future of Private Markets32:32 Dominant Players in Private Markets34:18 Rapid Adoption of Evergreen Strategies34:59 Disruption in the Industry35:18 Final Thoughts on Private Markets38:58 Closing Remarks39:06 Disclaimer and Legal Information40:55 Copyright Information