In this special CAIS Live Conversations episode, host Alex Cavalieri sits down with Matt Brown, Founder and CEO of CAIS, for a fireside chat recorded live at the 2025 CAIS Summit. Matt shares how CAIS grew from an idea in 2009 to the leading alternative investment management platform. He reflects on the Summit’s origins, the firm’s culture of trust and innovation, and the trends shaping wealth management—from the rise of alts to the convergence of public and private markets. Advisors will hear firsthand how access, partnership, and purpose continue to drive CAIS’ mission forward.
Chapter 1: Building the Summit — [00:02:46]
Matt shares the origins of CAIS and the Summit, describing how it was created as a space rooted in trust, connection, and meaningful relationship building.
Chapter 2: Defining the Mission — [00:08:58]
He explains how empowering independent financial advisors became the core mission of CAIS—and the driving force behind every initiative.
Chapter 3: The Power of Partnership — [00:10:30]
“Nothing great is built alone.” Matt emphasizes that collaboration and shared purpose have been essential to CAIS’s growth and impact.
Chapter 4: A Culture of Innovation — [00:11:20]
He discusses how CAIS fosters creativity and continuous learning, encouraging teams to explore new ways to better serve advisors and clients.
Chapter 5: The Convergence of Public and Private Markets — [00:21:07]
Matt outlines how evolving product structures and technology are reshaping opportunity—bridging the gap between public and private market access for advisors.
Chapter 6: Lessons in Leadership — [00:35:36]
Reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey, Matt explores the importance of obsession, self-belief, and embracing discomfort as hallmarks of strong leadership.
In this episode of CAIS Live Conversations: Building With Alts—Brad Walker talks with Ken Kencel, Founder, President, and CEO of Churchill Asset Management, about the growth in private credit. They explore how Churchill scaled through PE partnerships, what advisors need to know about deal sourcing and underwriting, plus the shift to evergreen funds and secondaries. Ken shares why client education is just as important as performance when it comes to expanding alts access in wealth management.
Chapter 1: Drexel Days & Industry Origins (00:02:19)
Chapter 2: The TIAA/Nuveen Edge (00:13:11)
Chapter 3: LP Strategy: 325+ PE Funds (00:20:19)
Chapter 4: Market Consolidation (00:26:00)
Chapter 5: Structural Innovation (00:31:00)
Chapter 6: Education Over Performance (00:41:06)
Chapter 7: It's All About People (00:54:05)
Doug Krupa, Head of Global Wealth Solutions at KKR, joins Brad Walker for a deep conversation on how private equity is evolving and becoming more accessible. Doug shares how his early advisor experience shaped his perspective on investor access, KKR’s philosophy around product innovation, and how evergreen strategies are changing wealth management. This episode provides a behind-the-scenes look at how one of the world’s top private market firms is helping make alts available to more investors.
Chapter 1: Origins & Early Lessons on Access (00:01:19–00:07:13)
Chapter 2: Inside KKR—Evergreen, Culture & “One Firm” (00:07:13–00:14:11)
Chapter 3: Market Landscape & Manager Selection 101 (00:14:11–00:23:31)
Chapter 4: Product Innovation—K-Series & Same-Deal Flow (00:23:31–00:35:05)
Chapter 5: Convergence, Education & Lasting Impact (00:35:05–00:50:01)
Chelsea Ganey, Chief Strategy Officer at Moran Wealth Management, joins Alex Cavalieri to talk about her firm’s evolution after breaking away from Wells Fargo and its growing integration of alternatives. She shares insights on client education, secondaries, advisor operations, and the power of personalization in scaling a practice. Listeners can learn how tech and alts are reshaping high-touch client relationships.
Chapter 1: Origins—Chelsea’s Path & Moran’s Breakaway (00:01:19–00:04:12)
Chapter 2: Bringing Alts to Clients—Education, Structures & the 101 (00:04:12–00:08:38)
Chapter 3: Implementation Reality—Ops, Process & Volatility Conversations (00:08:38–00:13:28)
Chapter 4: Personalization at Scale—Tech, Touchpoints & Segmentation (00:13:28–00:21:36)
Chapter 5: Independence & What’s Next—Breakaway Lessons, Alts Roadmap & Recs (00:21:36–00:28:29)
Pam Perskie, CEO and Founder of Seven Mile Advisory, joins host Alex Cavalieri for a compelling conversation on the evolution of wealth, trust, and the modern advisor-client relationship. With over 20 years of experience in the multifamily office space, Pam shares how she built a firm centered on serving families with unique complexities—where personalization, not just portfolio performance, is the true north.
In this episode, Pam breaks down how Seven Mile Advisory is rethinking what it means to be a family office—leveraging technology, integrating with best-in-class platforms like CAIS, and helping clients gain access to institutional-quality alternatives across private credit, real estate, and more.
Chapters:
1. Founding with Purpose (00:01:22 – 00:03:15)
2. Personalization Over Standardization (00:03:15 – 00:07:01)
3. Rethinking Access to Alternatives (00:08:08 – 00:11:10)
4. Trust as a Differentiator (00:16:57 – 00:18:58)
Is the economy heading for a recession or just a slowdown? In this episode of CAIS Live Conversations: Building With Alts, Brad Walker sits down with Apollo Chief Economist Torsten Slok. Torsten breaks down why he sees a “Nike swoosh” recovery ahead—not recession—and the three economic headwinds that could create opportunities in private markets. From his unconventional research process tracking everything from TSA checkpoint data to Broadway show attendance, to why he believes owning the S&P 500 may no longer mean diversification, Torsten shares macro insights driving decisions at one of the world’s largest alternative asset managers. Plus, discover why he wakes up in a church rectory and his upcoming adventure to Greenland.
Chapters:
1. Economic Outlook & Recession Risk (11:49)
2. The Student Loan Crisis (13:09)
3. S&P 500 Concentration Risk (18:29)
4. The Growth Story of Private Credit (21:23)
5. Investment Strategy in Uncertain Times (27:29)
6. Potential Alternative Investment Opportunities (25:00)
7. Advisor Guidance (29:23)
In this episode of CAIS Live Conversations: Building with Alts, Brad Walker sits down with Glenn August, Founder and CEO of Oak Hill Advisors. They discuss four decades of credit cycles, how product innovation is meeting wealth demand, and why partnership and selectivity remain critical as private markets mature.
Chapter 1: Origins in Credit & Early Career (1:24 – 11:45)
Chapter 2: Private Credit’s Evolution (11:46 – 17:46)
Chapter 3: Product Innovation & Convergence (17:47 – 28:19)
Chapter 4: Resilience in Uncertain Times (28:20 – 42:57)
Chapter 5: Leadership, Legacy & Lessons (42:58 – 53:02)
Edward Jones is reimagining the future of wealth management, starting with personalization, access, and trusted relationships. In this episode, David Chubak, Head of Wealth Management at Edward Jones, and Matt Brown, Founder and CEO of CAIS, join host Alex Cavalieri to discuss their groundbreaking partnership, the Generations program, and why alternative investments are becoming central to the advisor-client experience. From product innovation to advisor intelligence, this is a roadmap for a new era of wealth management.
Chapter 1: The Edward Jones Generations Vision (00:00 – 05:15)
Chapter 2: Advisor Empowerment & Industry Access Trends (05:16 – 13:45)
Chapter 3: Convergence of Public & Private Markets (13:46 – 22:50)
Chapter 4: Tech-Driven Personalization & Advisor Intelligence (22:51 – 31:30)
Chapter 5: A Shared Future: Partnership, Culture & the Road to 2030 (31:31 – End)
In this episode of CAIS Live Conversations: Building with Alts, Alex Cavalieri sits down with Brandon Grimm, CIO and Partner at Gilbert & Cook, Inc. Brandon shares his journey from actuarial science to wealth management, the evolution of his firm, and how he’s reshaping his focus on private markets. From debunking liquidity myths to aligning portfolios with client values, Brandon dives into what it really means to help clients live a life of abundance. Plus, get a glimpse into how one Ironman finisher balances investing discipline with personal passion.
In this episode of CAIS Live Conversations: Building with Alts, host Alex Cavalieri sits down with Shannon Saccocia, Chief Investment Officer - Wealth at Neuberger Berman, to discuss how portfolio construction, private markets, and generational wealth trends are shaping the wealth management landscape. Shannon shares her views on public vs. private market allocations, how Next Gen investors think about wealth, and the evolving role of advisors in alternative investments. She also highlights the importance of technology, education, and structured approaches to integrating alternatives into client portfolios.
How are advisors navigating market volatility, macro shifts, and inflation uncertainty? In this episode, KKR’s Paula Campbell Roberts and CAIS’ Neil Blundell join host Alex Cavalieri to explore how private markets, especially infrastructure and private credit, can contribute to portfolio resilience. From risk factor integration to evergreen structures and strategic asset allocation, hear how firms are helping advisors move from theory to implementation in today’s evolving landscape.
In this episode of CAIS Live Conversations: Building with Alts, host Alex Cavalieri sits down with Michael Nathanson, CEO of Focus Financial Partners, for a wide-ranging discussion on leadership, enterprise evolution, and the future of Investment advisory firms.
Michael shares insights into his leadership at Focus, highlighting his dedication to distributed leadership, the firm’s rebranding journey, and how they are redefining what it means to be both independent and interdependent. The conversation also explores the importance of empowering advisors, building enduring businesses, expanding services such as alternative investments, and the trends that may shape the future of wealth management.
Chapter 1: Leading with Vision and Values (00:00:54 – 00:08:59)
Chapter 2: Interdependence as a Growth Strategy (00:09:00 – 00:17:59)
Chapter 3: Branding, Culture, and Building for the Next Decade (00:18:00 – 00:33:59)
Chapter 4: Elevating Client Experience with Alts and Innovation (00:34:00 – 00:50:29)
Chapter 5: Looking Ahead: Industry Trends and Advisor Readiness (00:50:30 – End)
In this episode of CAIS Live Conversations, Brad Walker sits down with Ted Koenig, Chairman and CEO of Monroe Capital, to discuss his path from law and hoops to founding one of the most respected names in private credit. They explore the evolution of the lower middle market, the growth of Monroe Capital, and how private credit fits into today’s investment landscape. Ted also shares his views on private credit’s role in wealth portfolios, convergence with public markets, and how Monroe is innovating product structures to meet the needs of institutional and private wealth clients alike.
Chapter 1: From Basketball Dreams to Private Credit (00:01:32 – 00:03:23)
Chapter 2: Building Monroe Capital—Culture, Discipline, and Market Focus (00:04:21 – 00:08:19)
Chapter 3: Innovating for Private Wealth—The First Private BDC (00:08:59 – 00:13:19)
Chapter 4: Private Credit Today—Stability, Growth, and Market Cycles (00:13:31 – 00:27:11)
Chapter 5: Strategic Growth and Life Beyond the Office (00:33:20 – 00:45:08)
In this episode of CAIS Conversations: Building With Alts, David Copeland, Principal and Co-Founder of Strategic Wealth Partners, takes us on a journey from starting his career at a major wirehouse to independence. With over 30 years of experience, David tells the story of how alternatives became a cornerstone of his client-first approach, offering solutions that seek to reduce portfolio volatility and enhance performance. He also reflects on the challenges and rewards of breaking away, the evolution of wealth management, and why he believes alternatives are more critical than ever in today’s market.
In this episode of CAIS Live Conversations: Building with Alts, Brad Walker, Co-President of CAIS, sits down with Kipp deVeer, Co-President of Ares Management. From the early days of middle-market lending to overseeing a multi-strategy platform with nearly $550B in AUM*, Kipp shares insights into the evolution of private credit, building scalable structures like BDCs, aligning culture in a global organization, and how Ares maintains a competitive edge in a fast-growing market. The conversation also explores how private wealth is converging with institutional trends, an outlook on today’s credit environment, and the value of staying focused in uncertain times.
*As of May 2025
In this episode of CAIS Live Conversations: Building with Alts, host Alex Cavalieri invites Anya Coverman, CEO of the Institute for Portfolio Alternatives (IPA), to discuss the evolving role alternative investments play in wealth management. Anya shares her views on policy advocacy, regulatory developments, and the industry innovation that is shaping access to alts for advisors. Their discussion explores how education, technology, and product innovation are shaping private markets and what the future may hold for accredited investor definitions, retirement plans, and global alternative investments.
(00:00) Introduction & Guest Welcome
(01:18) Anya’s Journey to Leading IPA
(04:06) The Evolving Mission of IPA
(07:06) Expanding Access to Alternatives
(10:13) Regulatory Policy & Accredited Investor Status
(17:03) Wealth Transfer & Retirement Modernization
(21:19) Innovation in Products & Partnerships
(26:15) From “Why Alts” to “How” – Advisor Education
In this episode of CAIS Live Conversations: Building with Alts, Nic Reisenbichler, Manager of Investment Products at Baird joins podcast host Alex Cavalieri, Head of Marketing at CAIS for a deep dive into how Baird incorporates alternative investments in client portfolios. Together, they explore the evolution of private markets and the role of technology in facilitating transactions. Nic also discusses his preferred terminology for addressing alternative investments.
Getting to Know Nic Reisenbichler: From Advisor Support to Alts Leadership (00:00 – 03:36)
The Rise of Private Markets at Baird (03:36 – 06:17)
Why 'Private Markets' Is the Better Conversation (06:17 – 08:52)
How Technology Turned a 17-Day Process into a Streamlined Experience (10:56 – 13:01)
Looking Ahead: Curation, Growth, and the Future of Private Market Access (15:06 – 18:04)
Michael Episcope, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Origin Investments, went from being one of the world’s top traders to building a $3 billion real estate investment platform. In this episode of CAIS Live Conversations: Building with Alts, he sits down with host Brad Walker, Co-President of CAIS, to share his insights on navigating real estate cycles, the evolution of institutional-quality real estate for high-net-worth investors, and how Origin is leveraging data to drive investment decisions.
Michael breaks down the firm’s expansion from equity into credit and its growing 1031 platform, highlighting how advisors and investors can strategically allocate capital in today’s market. If you’re looking to better understand how real estate fits into a diversified portfolio—this episode is a must-listen.
Chapters:
[00:01:18] A Trader’s Evolution: From Markets to Real Estate
[00:06:24] Choosing the High-Net-Worth Lane
[00:11:59] Navigating the Real Estate Cycle
[00:14:09] The Power of Data and MultiLytics
[00:19:01] Rethinking Real Estate Credit
[00:22:45] Expanding Into 1031 Exchanges
Dean Zayed, Founder and CEO of Brookstone Capital Management, has focused on developing a one-stop financial services shop as a Turnkey Asset Management Program with a human touch, which he calls a TAMP-plus. In a conversation with host Alex Cavalieri, CAIS Head of Marketing, Dean speaks about how Brookstone combines technology with personalized advisor support, which, according to Dean, aligns with the broader industry shift from transactional to fiduciary-based, relationship-driven practices.
Chapters
(00:00 - 01:23) Welcome & Introduction
(01:24 - 05:30) Dean’s Career Journey & The Birth of Brookstone
(05:31 - 10:50) Scaling Brookstone & Advisor-Centric Growth
(10:51 - 17:00) Innovation & Industry Disruption
(17:01 - End) Personal Insights & Closing Thoughts
Michael Rees, Co-President of Blue Owl Capital, graduated as a chemical engineer, but after a stint in consulting, started his career in investment banking. He then embarked on an entrepreneurial journey with private markets manager Blue Owl. In this episode, Michael shares insights with host Brad Walker, CAIS Chief Client and Product Officer, on building Blue Owl’s GP stakes business, his vision for the future of alts in wealth management, and Blue Owl’s foray into sports investing with the NBA.
Chapters
(00:00 - 03:30) Introduction & Guest Background
(03:31 - 08:30) Building Blue Owl & Industry Evolution
(08:31 - 12:45) GP Capital Solutions & Wealth Management
(12:46 - 16:30) Expanding into Sports & Acquisitions
(16:31 - End) Personal Insights & Closing Thoughts
