Discover why investors are turning to alternatives, including private equity, private credit, and digital assets and how each plays a unique role in portfolio diversification and growth. 

Navigating Private Investments and Alternatives with Craig Robson

In this episode of the Wealth Management Invest Podcast, host David Bodamer sits down with Robert Picard, managing director and head of alternative investments at Hightower, to unravel the shifting dynamics of private markets and their role in contemporary investment portfolios. With over 34 years of experience, Robert shares insights into why billionaires and university endowments diverge from the traditional 60/40 allocation model and how individual investors can replicate their success in private markets. 

David and Robert discuss:

- The evolution of private market access for individual investors
- The strategic role of a 20% private market allocation
- The emergence of private credit as a popular asset class
- The rise of evergreen funds and their democratizing effect on access to alternative i-investments
- And more

Connect With David Bodamer:

david.bodamer@informa.com 
Website: https://www.wealthmanagement.com/ 
LinkedIn: David Bodamer : https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-bodamer-9a0581a/  
LinkedIn: WealthManagement.com: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wealthmanagement-com/ 

Connect With Robert Picard:

Hightower: https://hightoweradvisors.com/index.html 
LinkedIn: Robert Picard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robpicard/ 

About Our Guest:

Robert Picard led the creation of the Alternative Investment Platform at Hightower while curating investment opportunities through research and due diligence. Prior to joining Hightower, he was instrumental in building four multi-billion dollar alternative investment platforms at The Carlyle Group/Rock Creek, Optima Fund Management, RBC Capital Markets, and State Street/InfraHedge. Most recently, Mr. Picard served as the Head of Alternative Investments at First Republic Private Wealth Management.


Wealth Management Invest: Unpacking Hightower’s Approach to Private Markets with Robert Picard

Hosted by Kim Le of Stikeman Elliott, this podcast is the first in a two-part series recorded at the firm's M&A 2025 Forecast and Trends Seminar. The Seminar focused on cross-border M&A and particularly on the role of private equity investors on both sides of the Canada-U.S. Border. Moderated by Stikeman Elliott's Mario Nigro, Part I of the discussion features Karen Fisman of PwC, Kevin Overby of Chicago-based Keystone Partners, Chris Hutchinson of EY, and Mike O'Brien of Valspring Capital, based in Boston. Topics of discussion included the impact of tariffs on cross-border deal flow, opportunities in Canadian healthcare, and the recent shift in interest toward the industrial sector. Part II of the Seminar will be posted on March 31st. 

Private Equity 2025: Canadian and U.S. Perspectives (Part I)

Hosted by Kim Le of Stikeman Elliott, this podcast is the second in a two-part series recorded at the firm's M&A 2025 Forecast and Trends Seminar. Kim moderated the discussion with panelists Andrew Walton from Ironbridge Equity Partners, Rieshdah Gabier from FirePower Capital, Hai Tran-Viet from the Canadian Business Growth Fund, Ryan Farkas from BDO, and Shannon Martin from OPTrust. They explore the current state of the transactional market, how their portfolio companies are responding to the current tariff landscape, and how deal processes might change as a result. 

Private Equity 2025: Canadian and U.S. Perspectives (Part II)

With the new tax year starting on 6 April, Richard Hattersley runs through the key changes, from the rise in employer national insurance to HMRC’s focus on debt management. He also covers the MTD countdown, HMRC’s confidence in a 2026 rollout and whether it’s time to rethink the UK tax year. Tom Herbert shares the latest MTD software market updates.

Herbert also looks into the latest in artificial intelligence (AI), starting with ICAEW president Malcolm Bacchus’s call for a mindset shift in the profession. Herbert then highlights recent AI product launches from Jenesys, NetSuite and Vinyl.

Lastly, Matthew Ord looks at Wilson Partners’ acquisitive growth, with their latest deal doubling the team working in high-growth tech and life sciences. Tom Herbert explores why now is a smart time to target these sectors, while the team weighs in on the rising concerns around private equity’s growing role in accounting following their partnership with PE firm Fordhouse.


No Accounting for Taste ep186: New tax year, AI and acquisitive growth

Tom Herbert returns from the Sage Future user conference in Atlanta and spills all. He shares Sage’s artificial intelligence insights, classified into waves, and explores what each means. While discussing tech adoption, he argues that it’s not all about the technology, explaining other ways to get the attention of customers. 

Richard Hattersley reflects on the government's spending review. While no tax changes were announced, he talks about the document confirming a £500m investment in HMRC’s digital services. Alongside this, another document was released: Tax Policy Making Principles. Hattersley explains the concept of this document, its principles and whether they’ll remain unbroken.

Matthew Ord closes the podcast with a look at private equity’s presence in audit. He recalls his chat with CEO Bruce Cartwright on why audit quality must stand apart from private equity’s influence. The team discusses the fine balance that the profession needs to get right seeing as both private equity and audit have come under scrutiny.


No Accounting for Taste ep191: Tech adoption isn’t all about the technology

It’s not surprising that tech-native firms see the wealth management industry’s high margins and sticky revenue, even with its notoriously disjointed and sometimes subpar tech stacks, and think, “Good business. But it could be better.” 

At the recent WealthManagement EDGE conference in Boca Raton, Fla., David Armstrong, director of editorial strategy and operations for the Wealth Management Group at Informa Connect, spoke with Taylor Matthews, co-founder and CEO of Farther, to explore how the firm is seeking to improve the advisor experience and increase the operational efficiency of wealth management firms with home-built technology. 

Backed by a handful of well-known venture capitalists, Farther is a “tech-forward” RIA where the user experience improvements are as much for the advisor’s benefit as it is for the client: The goal was to create workflow efficiencies for advisors that translate into increased time spent with more clients than is found at a typical RIA. 

Taylor outlines how Farther also supports advisors with built-in marketing, lead generation and operational support. The conversation touches on the firm’s philosophy, use of AI, Taylor’s thoughts on the business investment environment for RIAs, and what the future may hold for his team’s firm.

David and Taylor discuss:

- How Farther’s technology was built from the ground up to solve daily inefficiencies that advisors face with disconnected tech stacks
- Why returning time to advisors is central to Farther’s strategy, enabling them to focus more on client work and growth
- The four-part growth engine at Farther, including done-for-you marketing and lead generation
- How Farther's internal teams support advisors in areas like estate planning, tax consulting and financial planning
- The firm’s long-term approach to growth without the constraints of private equity and why consolidation is reshaping the industry.

Resources:

Listen to the RIA Edge Podcast on WealthManagement.com: https://bit.ly/3YVhfof 
Listen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3RFXCPn 
Listen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Spotify: https://bit.ly/44Cbwd5 
 
Connect With David Armstrong:
 
WealthManagement.com: http://bit.ly/3RKHvyY 
LinkedIn: WealthManagment.com: https://bit.ly/3YkoRAv 
LinkedIn: David Armstrong: https://www.linkedin.com/in/djamesarmstrong/ 
Twitter: David Armstrong: https://twitter.com/djamesarmstrong 
LinkedIn: Informa: https://bit.ly/3leEF9g 

Connect With Taylor Matthews:

Website: Farther Finance: http://www.farther.com 
LinkedIn: Farther Finance: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fartherfinance 
LinkedIn: Taylor Matthews: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylormatthews 

About Our Guest:

Taylor leads Farther’s executive team and shapes the overarching strategy for the firm. Prior to founding Farther, Taylor was a member of the leadership team at ForUsAll, where he helped build the fintech retirement advisory firm from $25 million in assets under management to just under $1 billion in his two years there.

Taylor previously co-founded Essmart, a social enterprise distributing tech-for-development products in India, and was an investment banker and management consultant in his early career. He graduated from MIT Sloan with an MBA and Yale with degrees in philosophy and political science.

Taylor lives in San Francisco with his wife, three children, and a very excitable dog. As Victor Hugo wrote, “There is nothing like a dream to create the future.”

RIA Edge Podcast: How Taylor Matthews Built Farther to Boost Advisor Efficiency by Removing Platform Friction

After enjoying a week in Tenby, Richard Hattersley returns to the podcast to discuss Companies House reforms. While Companies House confirmed small companies will be required to file their profit and loss (P&L) accounts, doubts quickly followed. Hattersley unpacks where the reforms stand, the debate around P&L filing and why the situation has become so unclear.

Back from Norway, Tom Herbert takes a look at the audit market and shares his growing concerns about the role of auditors. He draws on David Graeber’s “Bullshit Jobs” concept, where people feel their work lacks real purpose, and wonders if audit is heading in that direction. Once seen as a pillar of financial integrity, audit may be losing its meaning. Herbert reflects on what this could mean for attracting new talent, the growing skills gap and the deeper identity crisis facing the profession.

Matthew Ord shares a new ICAEW report on the evolution of mid-tier accountancy firms, highlighting that many still aren’t convinced by private equity. He runs through some of the findings, as the team explores why some independent firms remain cautious, whether we’ll ever agree on whether PE is good or bad and how the ongoing skills gap continues to shape the conversation.


No Accounting for Taste ep193: What is happening with P&L filing?

In this episode of the Wealth Management Invest Podcast, host David Bodamer interviews Tom Cohn, partner and chief solutions officer at Cerity Partners. They explore the significance of private markets in client portfolios and discuss asset allocation strategies. 

Tom shares insights on the evolution of private markets, the rise of evergreen structures and the impact of macroeconomic trends on investment decisions.

They discuss:

- Key considerations for client portfolios, including illiquidity risk and asset class diversification
- The growing importance of data centers and AI-driven infrastructure investments
- How secondaries provide diversification and reduce risk exposure
- The shift of credit opportunities from banking to asset management 

Connect With David Bodamer:

david.bodamer@informa.com 
Website: https://www.wealthmanagement.com/ 
LinkedIn: David Bodamer : https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-bodamer-9a0581a/  
LinkedIn: WealthManagement.com: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wealthmanagement-com/ 

Connect With Tom Cohn:

LinkedIn: Tom Cohn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-cohn-cfa-8917b927/ 
LinkedIn: Cerity Partners: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cerity-partners/ 
Cerity Partners: https://ceritypartners.com/ 

Resources:

Listen to the Wealth Management Invest Podcast on WealthManagement.com: https://bit.ly/3EHpeRh 
Listen and Subscribe to the Wealth Management Invest Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4m1s30k 
Listen and Subscribe to the Wealth Management Invest Podcast on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4d0rD67 

Wealth Management Invest: Cerity’s Tom Cohn on Private Market Allocations

In this Practice Area Profile episode, Ropes & Gray International LLP associate Michael Asprou describes his journey into private equity law and how he sees the legal industry developing in the future.

Listen to gain an insight into what it’s really like to work in this area, and find out the things you should know before you launch your legal career.

You can read the full written Practice Area Profile here: https://www.lawcareers.net/Solicitors/SolicitorPracticeAreas/Private-equity

Find out about training at Ropes & Gray International LLP with the firm’s LawCareers.Net profile: www.lawcareers.net/Solicitors/Rope…ternational-LLP

Music: Tape Star by Shane Ivers - www.silvermansound.com

Practice Area Profile: private equity – with Ropes & Gray International LLP

Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue—it’s a boardroom priority. In this episode, we explore practical steps boards and CFOs can take to strengthen their company’s defenses. Drawing on insights from Kevin P. Mulleady, we discuss integrating cybersecurity into governance, conducting risk assessments, promoting a security-focused culture, and preparing with an effective incident response plan. Discover how leadership-driven security can protect finances, data, and stakeholder trust in today’s fast-changing digital landscape.
https://www.equitynet.com/c/kevin-mulleady

Cybersecurity at the Top Practical Steps for Boards and CFOs

Takes its title from actual 2024-2025 housing justice slogans. Opens with the April 2025 Housing NOW! protests where activists wrapped city halls in red tape. National Coalition for the Homeless Verses expose private equity landlords: Greystar buying 8,500 apartments and jacking up rent 36% while cutting security and maintenance; ProPublica Blackstone raising rents 31.5% in Phoenix; Private Equity Stakeholder Project Cleveland where private equity purchases jumped from 7.2% to 21.1%. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Contrasts Spain's hundreds of thousands marching for housing rights Al Jazeera with America's reality where the top 10% own 67% of wealth while the bottom 50% own 2.5%.
Chorus: "Housing over handcuffs, homes over greed / It's a human right, not a luxury / From DC to Nashville, San Francisco Bay / They're pricing us out, but we're here to stay." References the Poor People's Campaign organizing 140 million poor and low-income people. Poor People's Campaign Bridge is spoken-word from a tenant forced out: "I felt like I was forced out the door." ProPublica Ends with chant: "Whose city? OUR city!"

Housing Over Handcuffs

In deze aflevering van “Today’s CFO: Changing the Game!” vertelt Vilmar Blikkendaal, CFO van My Jewellery, hoe het is om CFO te zijn in een snelgroeiende, ondernemende organisatie. 

Van een team van 35 naar ruim 900 medewerkers, van e-commerce start-up tot internationale retailspeler – Vilmar deelt zijn ervaring met de uitdagingen én kansen die groei met zich meebrengt. Hij praat open over de rol van finance in een scale-upomgeving: hoe je structuur aanbrengt zonder de energie van ondernemerschap te verliezen, en hoe je mensen meeneemt in verandering. 

Ook bespreekt hij de impact van private equity, de balans tussen data en intuïtie, en waarom “mensen meekrijgen” voor hem de belangrijkste vaardigheid van een moderne CFO is. 

Een inspirerende aflevering voor CFO’s en financials die willen weten hoe je professionaliseert zonder je ondernemersgeest kwijt te raken. 

#68 Hoe is het om CFO te zijn bij een snel groeiende organisatie?

Alternative investments have grown in popularity among investors seeking diversification beyond traditional stocks and bonds. Kevin Mulleady, a well-known investment strategist, emphasizes that exploring alternative assets can offer unique opportunities, but it is crucial to understand both their benefits and potential drawbacks before committing capital. These investments often include real estate, private equity, hedge funds, commodities, and collectibles. While they can enhance portfolio performance, they also require careful research and consideration.
https://www.instagram.com/kevinmulleady/?hl=en

Kevin Mulleady Shares Insights on Benefits and Drawbacks of Alternatives!

In this episode, Matt breaks down how to build a home service business that private equity wants to buy. He covers the key factors that make your company valuable — from brand and marketing systems to financials, leadership, and technology. Even if you never plan to sell, these are the same things that make your business more profitable and easier to run today.

👉 Want Matt’s help with marketing or coaching?
https://www.serviceindustrycoach.com

💬 Join the FREE Facebook group for service business owners:
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17ZQTJwVyE/

EP. 264 How to Build a Home Service Business Private Equity Fights to Buy

Balefire Wealth’s transformation from two thriving RIAs into a unified enterprise business with national ambitions showcases the strength of shared vision and cultural alignment.

In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong chats with Jason Hester and John Hoffman, co-CEOs of Balefire Wealth—a new RIA formed from the merger of their two firms. They discuss combining their complementary businesses—one serving ultra-high-net-worth clients, the other focused on mass affluent and corporate retirement plans—to build an integrated wealth management platform. The conversation covers their collaborative leadership approach, focus on client and advisor growth, and plans to accelerate expansion in 2026.

They discuss:

- Why it took two years to merge their firms, yet only “32 seconds” to decide on co-CEO roles—and how they make the partnership work.
- How they built a team-based model serving clients from mass affluent to UHNW, with a unique planning process, client segmentation, and evolving family wealth services.
- How they launched with 16 advisor-owners, offering a path to ownership and no outside capital.
- Why they believe hybrid advisors focused beyond AUM will define the future and strengthen client relationships.
- Their 2026 plan to shift from recruiting to M&A growth, and how they view partnering with “smart money” investors.
- How their retirement plan business positions the firm as an HR partner helping companies tackle talent and retention challenges.

Resources:

Listen to the RIA Edge Podcast on WealthManagement.com: https://bit.ly/3YVhfof 
Listen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3RFXCPn 
Listen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Spotify: https://bit.ly/44Cbwd5 
 
Connect With David Armstrong:

WealthManagement.com: http://bit.ly/3RKHvyY 
LinkedIn: WealthManagement.com: https://bit.ly/3YkoRAv 
LinkedIn: David Armstrong: https://www.linkedin.com/in/djamesarmstrong/ 
Twitter: David Armstrong: https://twitter.com/djamesarmstrong 
LinkedIn: Informa: https://bit.ly/3leEF9g 

Connect With Balefire Wealth:

Website: Balefire Wealth - https://balefirewealth.com/ 
LinkedIn: Balefire Wealth - https://www.linkedin.com/company/balefire-wealth/ 
LinkedIn: Jason Hester - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhesterbalefire/ 

About Jason Hester:

As Managing Partner and Co-CEO of Balefire Wealth, Jason Hester leads the firm’s strategic vision and oversees its multi-division growth across a national footprint. With 25 years of experience in organic growth, strategic leadership, and private wealth frameworks, he guides the development of holistic planning solutions for affluent families and corporate clients. Jason is deeply involved in capital strategy, advisor acquisition, post-merger integration, and platform optimization, while mentoring leadership and cultivating a culture of clarity, accountability, and innovation. He works closely with the Executive and Organic Growth Teams to ensure Balefire continues to set a new standard for enterprise advisory firms.

About John Hoffman:

For 20 years at Principal Financial, he excelled as an Advisor, Managing Director, and ultimately Regional Managing Director—roles where he shaped strategy, developed high-performing teams, and attracted top talent. Now, as Managing Partner of Balefire, John is responsible for the firm’s inorganic growth and has built a “one-team” culture in an industry that often operates in silos. He has created team-based values aligned with a bold new vision, ensuring talent thrives in an authentic and collaborative environment. His leadership centers on finding the right team players, creating alignment, and scaling the organization as a unified company.

RIA Edge Podcast: The Balefire Wealth Journey with Jason Hester and John Hoffman

Tonight, Thursday, November 6th, at 6 pm on The Brian Crombie Hour I interview ✅ Mark Borkowski. 👉 ALL my 🎤 podcasts and 🎦 video casts can be accessed any time on my web site https://briancrombie.com which holds repository of all my shows. 📌 Mark Borkowski, President of Mercantile Mergers & Acquisitions Corp. and veteran sell-side advisor with over 400 transactions since 1987, cuts through the noise in the mid-market M&A scene. In 2026, record dry powder meets too few quality targets as private equity and strategics remain cash-rich but selective. Borkowski explores active roll-up sectors such as dental, veterinary, HVAC, and plumbing, and how private credit reshapes bids. He reveals value drivers like clean financials and normalized EBITDA, common deal killers, succession pitfalls, valuation bridges, and hidden opportunities in receivership and power-of-sale real estate.

📻 The Brian Crombie Hour airs nightly at 6 PM on Sauga960AM
🎧 Podcasts: https://briancrombie.com/podcasts-the-brian-crombie-hour
📺 Videos: https://briancrombie.com/video-gallery
📌 Subscribe to Brian’s YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/2Oioec8

#BrianCrombie #MergersAndAcquisitions #PrivateEquity #BusinessGrowth #DealMaking #MidMarket #SuccessionPlanning #InvestmentTrends #MarkBorkowski

Mark Borkowski | Lots of Money Too Few Great Targets

In this episode, Kevin Mulleady dives into the hidden reasons why many growth strategies collapse and how simple, clear goals can transform business outcomes. Learn how direction, research, resource planning, and adaptation shape long-term success.

Kevin Mulleady on Why Clear Goals Prevent Business Growth Failure

Een serie interviews met diverse top CFO's over verscheidene thema's. Wil je meer weten en de uitzendingen live kunnen horen en je vragen stellen? Zie hier de totale agenda https://community.agium.nl/talkshow-agium

Stikeman Elliott provides creative Canadian legal services to clients around the world.

In this series of podcasts, a wide range of business professionals, including Stikeman Elliott specialists, discuss Canadian legal issues that are relevant to business.

Stay in touch with the latest legal updates: https://bit.ly/3RXyoLr

Kevin Mulleady is a strategic finance executive and skilled dealmaker known for sourcing, structuring, and executing high-impact, growth-driven transactions.

Music Studio, covering any genre, any kind of artist.

The Service Industry Podcast is built for business owners and entrepreneurs who are looking to go deep into learning how to grow their business. In this podcast we talk systems, marketing, growth, business development, opportunity, employees, and more. Bringing on some of the best talent in the world to share their experiences with you to help you avoid costly mistakes and to live a better life.

The LawCareers.Net Podcast brings you everything you need to know about becoming a lawyer. From acing applications to wowing recruiters, let us give you the latest advice about getting into law.

Brian Crombie has 20 years of corporate experience, a depth of knowledge in all facets of finance, strategic planning and corporate / business development for a wide breadth of companies in several industries. Brian has deep political, community and charitable involvement as well.

New tracks tagged #PrivateEquity