Billion Dollar Backstory

What if I told you the Chief Strategy Officer of the largest bank in the Eurozone could teach you some ultra-valuable lessons about storytelling, thought leadership, and innovation? You’d probably be surprised, right? I don’t blame you. Even Stacy had her own mental picture of what a “banker” might be like before sitting down with Philippe Gijsels—and let’s just say this conversation shattered eve...

In this edition of Story Snacks , Stacy breaks down: Why thought leadership is the ultimate equalizer for smaller funds Her Four A’s Framework for using thought leadership to increase AUM without a big team or budget How to pick the marketing platform that matches your unique skills (and feels doable for you) The biggest mindset trap that keeps fund managers stuck—and how to avoid it This is Story...

At 17, Jonathan Treussard hopped on a one-way flight from Paris to LA with dreams of being a musician.   He didn’t wind up playing jazz professionally, but he did end up managing billions for some of the world’s wealthiest families.  Listen in as Jonathan and Stacy discuss his big pivot from music to finance, plus:  The lessons he learned navigating the Great Financial Crisis at Ziff Brothers Inve...

If you’re like most fund managers, you’re busy serving your current clients—so much so that bringing in new ones feels overwhelming.  After all, you’re not a salesperson, and it may even make you a little uncomfortable to hit the pavement and sell your services.  Hiring marketing support can help you sidestep that discomfort and bring in more business. On the other hand, hiring before you’re ready...

Show Notes:   When considering investing in the energy sector, most investors assume there are two paths to pursue: either the traditional fossil fuels route or one aligned with a greener future.  Lisa Audet Founder & CIO of Tall Trees Capital believes in a third, better, way: The holistic approach represented by the energy transition, a structural megatrend affecting every sector of the econo...

Nobody knows what it takes to scale to the top like GEOWealth’s strategic advisor Scott MacKillop —he’s climbed literal mountains AND built some of the most successful TAMPS in the game. In this Episode, Scott and Stacy discuss:  His backstory: From dreaming of following his father's footsteps as a lawyer and practicing corporate and securities law to leaping into asset management His journey to f...

Not sure how to find investors that are willing to bet on your brand new fund? Stacy’s got you covered. Listen in as she breaks down:  How the Rogers Adoption Curve applies to finding the right investors  The difference between early adopters (like RIAs & family offices) and late-stage allocators  Why targeting late-stage firms leads to dead ends  Why smaller investment committees with fewer d...

Dr. Martin Tarlie spent years at GMO, the iconic Boston asset manager, and now leads an award-winning investing platform, Nebo Wealth.  In this Episode, Martin and Stacy discuss:  His backstory: from physicist/golf-performance product developer to SaaS founder  How the physics mindset that followed him into the investment world turned into a novel investing approach  The massive communication gap...

Alfonso Peccatiello built a following of 500,000 on social media by doing something radical – by being a real, authentic human in the fund world.  And that authentic social presence helped him close investment deals for his new hedge fund, Palinuro Capital.  Alfonso’s story is proof that it pays to challenge the status quo and to put people (and connections) first – even in a numbers-obsessed indu...

Struggling to win investors over? Stop wasting time perfecting your pitch and start laying the groundwork that’ll actually help you seal the deal.  In this episode, Stacy shares the steps you can take to prime your prospects to invest so they’re ready to say hell yes before you even think about pitching.  This is Story Snacks! A bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to mast...

Today’s guest, Ritik Malhotra, is the co-founder and CEO of Savvy Wealth, a Tech-Enabled Wealth Management Firm that surpassed $700 million in assets in just three years. In this episode, Ritik and Stacy discuss: Ritik’s backstory: How his obsession with coding (that started in elementary school) turned into a thriving business that funded his college education  How he became an exiting founder at...

After working for the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater, for over five years, today’s guest, Jacob Miller, found his passion — making investing accessible.  This passion led him to co-found Opto Investments, a tech-driven private markets platform.  In this episode, Jacob and Stacy dive into:  Jacob’s backstory: how he went from aspiring doctor to advisor at the world’s leading hedge fund, Br...

As co-founder and CEO of Arch, Ryan Eisenman is on a mission to take the hassle out of investment operations. Arch is a $100B tech platform that replaces the spreadsheets, manual labor, and outdated systems of old.  In this episode, Ryan and Stacy discuss: Ryan’s backstory: How the strategy behind his grandfather’s variety store inspired his entrepreneurial modus operandi — give the people what th...

Imagine, you’re a woman – one of very few women even in hedge funds. And you’ve got your dream job, a high-powered hedge fund manager for a double-digit billion specialist hedge fund. Now, imagine what it would take to give that up.  Guts. That’s what. Today’s guest, Shannon Spotswood had the guts to make a major career change when she was at the top of her game. She did something unheard of and i...

99% of fund managers are doing social media wrong. Stale and stagnate. Nobody wants that. How do you get to the 1% that stops the scroll? Put some fun back in your fund game.    Today, Samantha Russell is coming on the show to teach you how to do just that.    Not only has Samantha been named an investment news 40 under 40, a Think Advisor Luminary, and one of the top 10 individuals to watch in we...

Break the ice in style. Ever walk into a meeting with analysts who seem more like untouchable statuses than people? This episode of Story Snacks makes it easier to break the ice, ease the tension, and get even the most reserved analysts to open up. You can be the “hype man” (or woman) of your meetings and set the tone for success. Here’s how:  Embrace your inner hype man or woman to warm up the ro...

How did Gary Tenkman go from a first-generation college graduate who felt like a fish out of water in finance to CEO of Ultimus Fund Solutions, a $475+ AUI award-winning fund?  It sure wasn’t easy. It took grit. It took being willing to get uncomfortable, fail, and learn (rinse, repeat).  Grab your headphones and get ready for a backstory chock-full of lessons from places you’d least expect.  List...

Great with numbers but suck at storytelling? No worries. On this episode of Story Snacks, we’re helping sales and marketing teams step up, take the reins, and make sure everyone in the room looks like a rockstar–especially when the fund manager isn’t a natural storyteller.  Listen in as Stacey covers:  How acknowledging that not everyone is a natural born storyteller is perfectly fine  How sales a...

1:1 meeting turned into a 10-person panel? Don’t freak out. This episode of Story Snacks is your go-to guide for managing meetings when the room (or Zoom) is packed. Stacy covers how to maintain control, keep the conversation flowing naturally, and avoid dreaded awkward silences. Listen in to learn more about:  Preparing like a pro Identifying your meeting’s “Champion” Managing complex dynamics to...

UK’s award-winning fund manager Simon Evan-Cook was a senior member of the Premier Miton Multi Asset team, which managed over $5B. He’s now establishing the Downing Fox Fund Range at Downing LLP in London.  In this episode, Simon and Stacy discuss: His backstory: from taking a load of jobs he disliked to discovering a love for writing, which brought him to the investment industry Why the world wou...

Can you have different stories for different strategies? What about brand stories for each niche?  This episode of Story Snacks dives into the nuances of crafting job stories that fit distinct strategies and market segments. Stacy breaks down why one size doesn’t fit all, and how you can tailor your narrative for maximum impact. This is Story Snacks! A bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund manage...

The perfect voicemail is calling…it’ll make you wish you picked up!  Voicemail is one of the most powerful tools to keep in your prospecting arsenal, and if you aren’t convinced, this episode of Story Snacks might change your mind. Stacy is cracking open the secrets to leaving a voicemail that grabs attention and actually gets you a call back. You’ll learn:  The job and goal of a voicemail–how sho...

Dan Mikulskis helps wealth managers and pension funds make better decisions. He meets with hundreds of asset managers every year. Get perspectives from the other side of the table and the other side of the pond.    In this episode, Dan and Stacy discuss: His backstory: From growing up in a family of mathematicians, to investment consulting, to writing and podcasting The communication gap between f...

Want to tell your story in a way that connects to your future vision?  Stop worrying that niching down might box you in. In this episode, Stacy helps you weave your past into your present and future to make sure your story resonates.  Plus, let’s debunk myths around niching down–hint: it doesn’t mean saying no to great opportunities.  Tune in to hear Stacy talk about:  Why it’s essential to connec...

You can ditch PowerPoint and still own the room.   In fact, running a killer meeting is usually easier than the gurus and motivational speakers might tell you.   Whether you’re facing an allocator who insists on seeing the presentation beforehand or navigating an awkward silence before kick-off, Stacey’s got you covered. In this episode, Stacy covers:  The right time to send your meeting notes or...