Capital Allocators – Inside the Institutional Investment Industry

Dan Ariely, a leading behavioral economist and author, dives into the fascinating intersection of human behavior and investing. He discusses how insights into corporate culture and employee motivation play a crucial role in long-term financial success. Ariely shares transformative journeys from adversity, touching on pain management misconceptions and the mind-body connection. He emphasizes the importance of treating human capital as a key asset, advocating innovative compensation structures that prioritize genuine care for employees and exploring how this impacts investment strategies.

Jordi Visser, President & CIO of Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers, shares insights from his journey from a blue-collar upbringing to leading a $1.7 billion asset management firm. He discusses innovative strategies in equity market-neutral investments, highlighting the role of data visualization and behavioral alpha. Jordi also dives into the challenges of data analytics outside equities, the impact of high corporate leverage, and exciting opportunities in biotech. His forward-thinking approach offers a roadmap for allocators navigating the evolving hedge fund landscape.

Manny Friedman, the founder of EJF Capital, shares his expertise on Economic Opportunity Zones, which aim to revitalize underinvested areas in the U.S. He discusses the substantial tax incentives that could unlock trillions in unrealized gains, highlighting both the potential for investment and the critical need for job creation over mere real estate profits. Manny also addresses the complexities and bipartisan support behind these zones, offering insights into emerging opportunities, particularly in rural South Carolina, and reflecting on the role of leadership in community growth.

Manny Friedman, CEO of EJF Capital, shares insights from his diverse career that began as a history teacher and evolved into the financial realm. He discusses the globalization of markets and lessons from the financial crisis. The conversation highlights emerging opportunities in economic zones and the long-term effects of government stimulus. Manny reflects on the impact of technological changes and the importance of integrating philanthropy into investment strategies, emphasizing integrity and resilience throughout his journey.

Tom Russo, Managing Member of Gardner Russo & Gardner, shares his insights on investments, particularly focusing on his new position in Google. He discusses why now is a prime time to buy, comparing Google to Facebook and analyzing the competitive landscape with Amazon. Tom explores Google's growth potential, innovations through Google X, and how companies like Nestle and Philip Morris fit into his strategy. The conversation blends investment philosophy with personal anecdotes, showcasing Tom's emphasis on long-term value and thoughtful decision-making.

Tom Russo is the Managing Member of Gardner Russo & Gardner. Tom and I sat down in Episode 16 to discuss his background and investment strategy in what was one of the most popular episodes on the show. He oversees $13B in a global value strategy focused on family-operated public companies. Our second conversation is a two-part episode for this week and next. First, we talk solely about his holding in Berkshire Hathaway, a stock he first bought 38 years ago. The conversation covers Tom's initial purchase of Berkshire, company meetings, reaffirming his thesis and search for disconfirming information, the genius of Warren Buffett, research on Mitek, cross-fertilization of Berkshire's CEOs, the subdivisions of insurance, public market investments and regulated businesses, valuation, compensation, Berkshire after Warren, and Tom's sell discipline. We close with a teaser for next week's episode, as Tom reveals the name of the first significant stock he's bought for his clients in eight years. Learn More Discuss show and Read the Transcript Join Ted's mailing list at CapitalAllocatorsPodcast.com Join the Capital Allocators Forum Write a review on iTunes Follow Ted on twitter at @tseides For more episodes go to CapitalAllocatorsPodcast.com/Podcast

Thomas Russo, Managing Member of Gardner Russo & Gardner, shares his investment strategy, focusing on long-term thinking and the capacity to reinvest. He discusses successful investments in consumer brands, the value of low turnover, and the impact of reputational damage on investment decisions. Also, the importance of listening in the research process and favorite books and career reflections are discussed. The podcast ends with reflections on the present and advice for the future.

Matt Botein is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Gallatin Point Capital, a $1.5 billion private investment company he founded after departing from BlackRock, where he had served as the Chief Investment Officer and Co-Head of the firm's $160 billion Alternatives business. Before sitting atop that lofty perch, Matt formed a bank after the financial crisis, was a Managing Director at hedge fund Highfields Capital and a private equity Principal at Blackstone. Our conversation starts with Matt's early career experience, touching on differences in public and private investing and forming new financial companies after periods of crisis. We then turn to his reconnection with Larry Fink, who in short order tapped Matt to run BlackRock's giant Alternatives business. We discuss his unusually graceful exit from BlackRock, flexible investment approach at Gallatin Point, and perspective from meeting a wide array of large pools of institutional capital globally. We finish with his take on the opportunities and challenges for private equity, headwinds for hedge funds, and real assets for his personal portfolio. Back when Matt and I were in school together, he was renowned for taking an occasional snooze in class, getting cold called by the professor, and waking up only to offer the most plugged in and articulate answer anyone could have imagined. I suspected tapping into his brilliant mind would provide lots of food for thought, and he certainly didn't disappoint. Learn More Discuss show and Read the Transcript Join Ted's mailing list at CapitalAllocatorsPodcast.com Join the Capital Allocators Forum Write a review on iTunes Follow Ted on twitter at @tseides For more episodes go to CapitalAllocatorsPodcast.com/Podcast

Rahul Moodgal has spent 20 years as a fund raiser across long only strategies, hedge funds, fund of funds, customized solutions, start-ups, and non-profits. Collectively, Rahul has raised and helped raise $60 billion for firms since 2005. He started his career in the industry at powerhouse TT International, and later joined The Children's Investment Fund (TCI) where he led the marketing effort that raised $20 billion in just 3½ years. Within TCI's affiliate model, Rahul also was responsible for the largest India fund raise in history ($1 billion for TCI New Horizon Fund), and the largest sector fund launch in history ($1.1 billion for Algebris Investments). Our conversation covers capital raising lessons learned from teaching, the value of transparency, the gold rush before 2008, the lean times afterwards, modern fee structures, the three key points to effective marketing, the three traits that will kill you, the two biggest issues start-up funds face, the best questions asked by leading allocators, and some of the worst horror stories in attempted capital raising. We close comparing by fund raising for charities and investment firms. Learn More Discuss show and Read the Transcript Join Ted's mailing list at CapitalAllocatorsPodcast.com Join the Capital Allocators Forum Write a review on iTunes Follow Ted on twitter at @tseides For more episodes go to CapitalAllocatorsPodcast.com/Podcast

Chris Ailman is the chief investment officer of the $220 billion pool for California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS). He joined CalSTRS back in 2000 after 4 years as CIO of the Washington State Investment Board and 11 years as CIO of the Sacramento Country Employees Retirement System. Chris is a legend in the business and the list of accolades for his work is longer that the list of my podcast episodes. Our conversation dives in with the flawed business model of government running a money management firm, looming retirement crisis, and challenges of governance and communication with a rotating Board. We then turn to the inner workings CalSTRS, including the use of internal and external managers, managing a long-term asset allocation cruise ship, inflation sensitive investments, risk mitigating strategies, private equity for a huge pool of capital, the innovation lab, ES and G, and building influence among large asset owners. Learn More Discuss show and Read the Transcript Join Ted's mailing list at CapitalAllocatorsPodcast.com Join the Capital Allocators Forum Write a review on iTunes Follow Ted on twitter at @tseides For more episodes go to CapitalAllocatorsPodcast.com/Podcast