Alt Goes Mainstream

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Building community is central to enabling an industry to grow. There are few better ways to build community and foster trusted relationships than to break bread.As the wealth channel continues to expand its adoption of private markets, peer-to-peer learning becomes ever more important. Sharing experiences and perspectives is what will help the wealth channel adopt private-market solutions thoughtfully and responsibly.That’s what happened at Franklin Templeton’s Private Markets RIA Advisory Council event and dinner at BLACKBARN recently. Bread was broken. Relationships were built.We also found time to record a podcast around a dinner table with Franklin Templeton’s Head of Private Markets - Americas Wealth Management Dave Donahoo and Summit Wealth Group’s CIO Chelsea Ganey. The discussion granted access to a direct, honest, and raw window into perspectives on how asset managers and wealth managers can work together to educate one another and help move the industry forward. And yes, bread was broken before and after the podcast.Please enjoy this fantastic conversation with Dave and Chelsea on the state of private markets and private wealth and how both asset managers and wealth managers can balance customization and differentiation with scale.The dinner table provided a perfect setting to discuss what’s on the menu in private markets and private wealth. We covered:Why there’s no free lunch, just dinner.Are private markets eating the world?Creating curated menus for advisors.The recipes for success in private markets distribution.Thanks, Dave and Chelsea, for such a thoughtful and fascinating conversation.Thanks for reading Alt Goes Mainstream! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work - writing and podcasting about the convergence of private markets and private wealth since December 2020.A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus, the full-service fund administrator and transfer agent powering asset managers in private and public markets. As alts go mainstream, you need real expertise to handle complex fund structures, connect with key distribution partners, and handle sophisticated compliance, reporting, and transparency demands.That’s Ultimus: high-tech, high-touch solutions for over 450 clients and 2,500 funds with $775B in assets under administration. Backed by an expert team of over 1,200 employees, they place client service at the core of their business, helping you navigate complexity during your fund structuring or launch and then supporting you through every stage of growth. Whether you’re already in the market or thinking about entering private wealth, you can trust their team’s deep expertise in retail alternatives to help you reach your goals.Learn more: ultimusfundsolutions.com or email info@ultimusfundsolutions.com.We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.Show Notes00:00 Sponsor Intro by Ultimus00:57 Meet The Guests, Dave Donahoo and Chelsea Ganey01:07 Private Markets Everywhere01:30 Why FormT he Franklin Templeton RIA Advisory Council01:51 Franklin Client-First DNA02:11 The New Franklin Templeton03:05 Beyond Product Feedback03:48 Chelsea On The Value of The Advisory Council04:31 Networking Beats Inbox Noise05:23 Serving Diverse RIAs06:28 Inside One RIA Many Needs07:47 What GPs Should Do Better08:47 Education That Actually Sticks09:55 From White Papers To Tools10:50 Education Then Vs Now11:42 Choice Changes The Pitch12:21 Customization Vs Scale13:26 Centralized CIO Menus15:51 Sober Selling Long Term17:13 Franklins Specialist Platform18:19 Why Specialists Win19:17 Infrastructure Partnership Play20:13 More With Less Managers22:10 Advisor Level Efficiency22:46 Whats Next Product Innovation23:23 Integrity First Adoption24:36 Allocator Lens Shift25:00 Innovation Options Overview25:15 Model Portfolios Debate26:03 Customization Versus Scale26:29 What Private Markets Lack26:44 Meeting In The Middle27:07 Magic Wand Question27:31 Plumbing And Reporting27:45 Ease Without Dilution28:00 Lexington Structure Constraints28:44 Long Term Over Short Term28:56 Need More CIO Mindset29:17 Strategic Allocation Framework29:34 Avoiding Whipsaw Flows30:08 Chelsea On Strategic Thinking30:24 Integrating Alts In Portfolios30:57 Advisor Conversation Shift31:32 Educating On Liquidity31:43 Reframing Private Risk32:07 Control And Recovery Benefits33:07 Dave On Liquidity Risk33:52 Stop Saying Semi Liquid34:19 Structural Liquidity And Trust35:23 Dinner Props And Buckets35:57 Starter Main Dessert Picks36:16 Real Estate Equity Starter36:51 Secondaries Main Course37:11 Real Estate Credit Dessert38:04 Diversify Early Or Regret39:37 Strategic Neutral Analogy40:00 Client Analogies That Work40:34 Zillow House Price Lesson41:40 Baseball Patience Mindset42:52 Fat Pitch Question43:01 Chelsea On Secondaries Credit43:59 Dave Singles Versus Homers44:42 Lead Off Batter Story45:02 No Free Lunch Just Dinner45:40 Closing Thanks And OutroJoin over 16,400 Substack subscribers & followers and 44,000 LinkedIn and podcast followers who are thought leaders and executives from top private markets firms and wealth management like Blackstone, Apollo, Ares, KKR, EQT, Carlyle, Blue Owl, CVC, TPG, Brookfield, Vista, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, BlackRock, Fidelity, iCapital, Franklin Templeton, Nuveen, Hg, Permira, Stonepeak, Hamilton Lane, StepStone, Partners Group, General Atlantic, Hightower, Focus Financial, Corient, Cerity Partners, and more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit altgoesmainstream.substack.com

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.The Goldman Sachs Alternatives Summit “convened leaders across finance, geopolitics, technology, and culture” to discuss themes driving global markets.2025’s Alternatives Summit was about “navigating a world in flux,” as the firm’s recap of its event noted.The event aimed to help investors cut through the noise and put together the pieces of the puzzle in a dynamic and increasingly complex world.Alt Goes Mainstream joined the event to have unscripted conversations with Goldman Sachs Alternatives leaders to cut through the noise by unpacking key themes and trends at the intersection of private markets and private wealth.In this special series, we went behind the scenes at the Goldman Sachs Alternatives Conference and interviewed six Goldman Sachs Alternatives leaders about their current thinking on private markets and how the firm has built and evolved its private markets capabilities.This conversation was with James Reynolds, Global Co-Head of Private Credit within Goldman Sachs Asset Management. He also serves as Chief Executive Officer of Goldman Sachs Asset Management International.James is Co-Chair of the Asset Management Private Credit Investment Committee, as well as a member of the Management Committee, Partnership Committee, the European Management Committee and the EMEA Talent Council. James joined Goldman Sachs in 2000 as an Analyst and was named Managing Director in 2007 and Partner in 2010. James is a trustee of Greenhouse Sports and serves as a member of the Corporation Development Committee of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). James earned a BS from the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées in 1998 and an MSc from MIT in 2000.James and I had a fascinating conversation about Goldman’s extensive history in private credit and the current market dynamics. We covered:Why all capital coming into the private credit industry is not created equal.How Goldman’s culture of “partnership, collaboration, and the right incentives” provides them with an edge in origination.Why James is an “optimistic pessimist.”Narrative versus reality in private credit markets today.What creates alpha in private credit.How to build an investment culture and, in credit, how to build an investment culture that “doesn’t feel pressure to deploy.”Why many investors are focusing on Europe.How the entire platform of Goldman Sachs helps them in private credit.Thanks James for sharing your expertise, wisdom, and passion for private credit, private markets, and private wealth.Show Notes00:00 Introduction: Investment Culture in Private Credit00:40 Welcome to the Alt Goes Mainstream Podcast01:33 James Reynolds’ Background and Career Journey02:05 Early Days of Private Credit03:01 Evolution and Growth of Private Credit03:30 Direct Origination and Financing Solutions04:31 Growth and Capital in Private Credit06:37 Importance of Origination in Private Credit07:05 Goldman Sachs’ Competitive Edge09:19 Global Perspective and Market Trends11:10 One Goldman: Unified Solutions14:49 Navigating Market Trends and Deployments16:04 Investment Culture and Minimizing Defaults18:42 Investment Culture and Team Dynamics20:13 Traits of a Great Credit Investor22:51 Assessing the Business of Asset Management24:58 Opportunities in European Credit Market28:49 Concerns and Future of Private CreditEditing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit altgoesmainstream.substack.com

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s episode dives into the rapidly expanding world of secondaries with a senior leader at one of the pioneering firms in the secondaries space.We sat down at Franklin Templeton’s New York office with Taylor Robinson, a Partner on the Secondary team at Lexington Partners, which has over $77B in total capitalization and is part of Franklin Templeton’s family of private markets funds and strategies.Taylor, who joined the firm in 2008, is primarily focused on the origination, evaluation, and execution of secondary opportunities, including partnership and GP-led transactions. He’s also a member of Lexington’s ESG Steering Committee.Taylor and I had a fascinating conversation about the current state of the secondaries market. We covered many of the hot button topics and trends that are shaping the secondaries market, including:* Why secondaries have become an integral part of many LPs portfolios.* How secondaries have become a portfolio management tool for LPs.* The rise of GP-led secondaries.* Why not all CVs are created equal.* Why secondaries can be a good on-ramp to private markets for wealth channel investors.* What the future holds for secondaries.Thanks Taylor for coming on the show to share your expertise and wisdom about private markets and secondaries.Thanks for reading Alt Goes Mainstream! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work - writing and podcasting about the convergence of private markets and private wealth since December 2020.Show Notes00:00 A Different Way of Thinking About Private Equity01:21 Welcome to the Alt Goes Mainstream Podcast01:31 Meet Taylor Robinson from Lexington Partners02:03 The Evolution of the Secondaries Market02:36 Taylor Robinson’s Career Journey03:16 Joining Lexington Partners During the Financial Crisis04:49 The Growth of the Secondaries Market05:46 Impact of the Financial Crisis on Secondaries06:11 The Role of Liquidity in Market Growth06:59 Current State of the Secondaries Market07:39 Focus Areas in the Secondary Market07:55 Traditional vs. GP-Led Secondary Deals09:06 The Importance of Liquidity10:26 Challenges for Institutional LPs11:39 Active Portfolio Management15:48 Evaluating and Partnering with GPs16:50 The Role of Information and Relationships20:53 Future of Secondary Markets and Regulation23:58 Primary vs. Secondary Fund Investing28:01 Nuances in Secondary Market Strategies32:29 Asset Selection in Secondary Markets32:50 Value Drivers in Secondary Deals33:32 Consistent Return Generation34:44 Specialization in Secondary Markets35:12 Different Ways to Make Returns36:35 Comparing Secondary and Primary Funds38:38 Evaluating Secondary Funds40:20 Evergreen Funds and Secondary Investments44:07 Challenges in Evergreen Space45:01 Investor Preferences and Structures45:26 Wealth Channel and Capital Raising46:50 Skillset for Secondary Investors49:11 Importance of Intellectual Curiosity50:17 Underrated Skills for Success52:03 Industry Trends and GP Consolidation53:36 Understanding Market Dynamics54:58 Training and Retention at Lexington55:25 Future of Secondary Markets56:07 Scale and Growth Potential57:56 Misconceptions About Secondary Markets59:44 Shifting Mindsets on Secondary Investments01:01:10 Evolution of the Secondary Market01:01:39 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsEditing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.Join over 14,800 Substack subscribers & followers who are thought leaders and executives from top private markets firms and wealth management like Blackstone, Apollo, Ares, KKR, EQT, Carlyle, Blue Owl, CVC, TPG, Brookfield Oaktree, Vista, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, BlackRock, Fidelity, iCapital, Franklin Templeton, Nuveen, Hg, Permira, Stonepeak, Hightower, Focus Financial, Cerity Partners, and more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit altgoesmainstream.substack.com

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s episode brings us to the apex of the wealth channel. We sat down in Goldman Sachs’ HQ at 200 West with Sara Naison-Tarajano, a Partner and Global Head of Private Wealth Management Capital Markets and Global Head of Goldman Sachs Apex Family Office Coverage. Sara is also responsible for the One Goldman Sachs Family Office initiative in the Americas.Sara has been at Goldman Sachs for over 26 years, where she’s worked in a number of roles across the firm, equipping her with a multi-disciplinary background that is brought to bear in her current role leading a global platform that delivers multi-asset investing, financing, and direct investment opportunities to some of the world’s largest family offices. Goldman Sachs Apex Family Office Coverage now serves more than 600 family offices across the globe.Sara and I had a fascinating discussion about the growing intersection between private markets and private wealth and what some of the wealth channel’s largest investors find interesting and differentiated in private markets. We covered:* How Sara expected to spend one year at Goldman and it turned into 26 years at the firm.* How her background in derivatives structuring in public markets has helped her approach private markets — and what investors in private markets can learn from being exposed to public markets.* Why Sara decided to create Goldman Sachs Apex to build a dedicated group to help large family offices invest directly into private markets.* How Apex is related to Goldman’s “One Goldman Sachs” initiative.* How the power of the platform helps to differentiate Goldman’s wealth management business.* What lessons the wealth channel can learn from how the UHNW and billionaire family office segment approaches private markets.* Takeaways from the Goldman Sachs Family Office Insights Report.* How the wealth channel can engage the next generation clients and how private markets play a role in reaching the next gen.Thanks Sara for coming on the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast to share your expertise and wisdom on private markets and working with the wealth channel.Thanks for reading Alt Goes Mainstream! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work - writing and podcasting about the convergence of private markets and private wealth since December 2020.Show Notes00:21 Goldman Sachs: A Journey of 26 Years00:41 Welcome to the Alt Goes Mainstream Podcast01:05 Introduction to Sara Naison-Tarajano03:09 Sara’s Unexpected Career at Goldman04:56 Intellectual Curiosity in Financial Services05:36 The Fascination with Derivatives07:18 Transition to Wealth Management08:06 Goldman’s Culture of Creativity and Entrepreneurship08:33 The Rise of Family Offices09:30 The Creation and Vision of Apex11:10 Apex: Serving Sophisticated Family Offices12:21 The Unique Deal Flow of Apex13:12 Early Days and Evolution of Apex16:46 Family Offices as Co-Investors20:25 Misconceptions About Family Offices22:09 Next Generation and Family Offices26:19 Engaging the Next Generation27:41 Long-Term Vision in Wealth Management28:54 Balancing Fast Growth and Long-Term Vision33:03 Public Markets Insights for Private Investors36:31 Access to Capital in Private Markets36:58 Emerging Trends in Private Markets37:25 The Rise of Secondaries37:52 Family Offices and Secondaries39:00 Private Credit and Secondaries39:23 The Permanence of Secondaries40:56 Goldman’s Acquisition in the Secondary Space41:54 Family Offices’ Investment Strategies42:17 US vs Global Family Offices42:49 Private Markets and Inflation44:50 Advice for Wealth Channel Investors45:46 The Importance of Liquidity Planning46:39 Evergreen Funds vs Drawdown Funds49:46 Internationalization of Family Offices52:02 Geopolitical Concerns and Investments53:19 Hedging Strategies for Family Offices55:51 Mega Trends in Investing57:41 AI and Infrastructure Investments59:27 Simple Wealth Management Strategies01:02:12 Fixed Income and Private Credit01:03:09 Understanding Investment Terms01:04:17 Risks in Private Markets01:05:20 Cybersecurity Concerns01:06:06 The Future of Apex01:09:56 Entrepreneurial Endeavors in Wealth ManagementEditing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant. Join over 14,600 Substack subscribers & followers who are thought leaders and executives from top private markets firms and wealth management like Blackstone, Apollo, Ares, KKR, EQT, Carlyle, Blue Owl, CVC, TPG, Brookfield Oaktree, Vista, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, BlackRock, Fidelity, iCapital, Franklin Templeton, Nuveen, Hg, Permira, Stonepeak, Hightower, Focus Financial, Cerity Partners, and more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit altgoesmainstream.substack.com

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s episode takes us inside the world of wealth from the perspective of one of the industry’s largest alternative asset managers that has made the wealth channel core to its firm’s DNA from the beginning.We sat down with Sean Connor, Senior Managing Director and the President & CEO of Global Private Wealth at Blue Owl Capital, a firm with almost $300B in AUM. Sean highlighted a number of key insights for navigating and working with the wealth channel as he shared lessons learned from building a successful private wealth business at a large alternative asset manager.Sean is responsible for bringing the breadth of the Blue Owl investment platform to the global private wealth market. He’s at the forefront of Blue Owl’s private wealth initiatives globally and oversees fund formation, product structure innovation, capital raising, and client servicing. He also oversees business development, marketing, and operations for Private Wealth at the firm. Prior to his current role, Sean was one of the first employees at Owl Rock (now the Direct Lending division of Blue Owl) and was responsible for building out the private wealth business.Prior to joining Blue Owl and Owl Rock, Sean served as a Managing Director of CION Investment Management for over 10 years. Sean was a member of CION’s Investment Committee and was responsible for all aspects of CION’s business including originating, underwriting, and negotiating corporate finance transactions globally. In 2020, Sean was recognized by Private Debt Investor as one of the industry’s Rising Stars.Sean and I had a fascinating conversation about what it’s like to work with the wealth channel. We discussed:* The biggest drivers of AUM growth for Blue Owl and how the wealth channel has been a major part of the firm’s story of scale.* Lessons learned from growing and scaling a private wealth business in the US and internationally.* The differences between the wealth channel a few years ago and the wealth channel today.* What the wealth channel wants and needs from its alternative asset manager partners.* Why Blue Owl focuses on investing in megatrends, like AI, digital infrastructure, and private credit.* The opportunity in the 401(k) and retirement channels.Thanks Sean for coming back on the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast to share your expertise and wisdom on private markets and private wealth.Thanks for reading Alt Goes Mainstream! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work - writing and podcasting about the convergence of private markets and private wealth since December 2020.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 gharris@ultimusfundsolutions.com.We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.Show Notes00:00 Introduction to Ultimus, our Sponsor01:57 Welcome to the Alt Goes Mainstream Podcast and Episode Overview02:10 Guest Introduction: Sean Connor04:07 Growth Drivers for Blue Owl04:52 Diversification and Market Strategy07:05 Brand Essence and Focus12:01 Education and The Nest15:05 Implementation Journey18:53 Customization in Wealth Management20:33 Product Structuring and Creation22:08 Wealth Management Market Structure26:06 International Expansion28:22 Building Brand Internationally30:11 Maintaining Entrepreneurial Culture31:15 Challenges and Strategies31:39 Leadership and Team Continuity32:44 Teaching and Hiring Strategies33:14 Growth Areas in Wealth Business33:26 Evolution of Wealth Business33:57 Opportunities in Private Markets34:14 Growth Opportunities in the US35:02 Global Expansion and Execution35:33 Retirement Market Potential36:04 Regulatory and Adoption Challenges36:57 Retirement Ecosystem Parity38:08 Education and Product Innovation41:51 Private Credit and Direct Lending44:21 Market Structure and Underwriting46:07 Private Companies and Direct Lending46:38 Wealth Channel and Private Credit47:05 Managing Capital Influx52:06 Digital Infrastructure Opportunities52:41 AI and Cloud Computing56:19 Risk Management in Digital Infrastructure01:00:01 Focus on Downside Protection01:01:07 Future Strategies and ExcitementEditing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant. Join over 14,400 Substack subscribers & followers who are thought leaders and executives from top private markets firms and wealth management like Blackstone, Apollo, Ares, KKR, EQT, Carlyle, Blue Owl, CVC, TPG, Brookfield Oaktree, Vista, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, BlackRock, Fidelity, iCapital, Franklin Templeton, Nuveen, Hg, Permira, Stonepeak, Hightower, Focus Financial, Cerity Partners, and more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit altgoesmainstream.substack.com