Dakota Research Podcast

In this episode of the Dakota Insights Interview Series, hosts Chris Leroy and Alex DeMarco sit down with Marius Vigantis and Richard Banks, founding partners of Soling Partners, a boutique advisory firm focused exclusively on the Middle East. Together, Marius and Richard bring over 50 years of combined experience in the region, and they walk through everything a fund manager needs to know before...

In this episode of Dakota Insights, Chris and Alex deliver a comprehensive breakdown of the US public pension universe — 800-plus plans, $9 trillion in AUM — a…In this episode of Dakota Insights, Chris and Alex deliver a comprehensive breakdown of the US public pension universe — 800-plus plans, $9 trillion in AUM — and what the data really says about how capital moves through this channel. They c...

In Episode 29 of the Dakota Insights Podcast, we explore the evergreen market — the open-ended fund structure that has grown from a niche corner of private markets into a mainstream wealth channel reshaping how individuals access alternatives. We break down how evergreens differ from traditional closed-end drawdown funds, why 100% capital deployment on day one, 1099 reporting, and quarterly liquid...

In this Dakota Insights interview, Chris LeRoy and Alex deMarco sit down with Robert Thummel, Senior Portfolio Manager and Investment Committee member at Tortoise Capital, to explore the firm's active ETF platform and the growing investment opportunity in AI infrastructure. Tortoise Capital has built its identity around a simple mission: be the energy experts. Rob brings 30 years of energy in...

In Episode 28 of the Dakota Insights Podcast, we explore the consultant channel — the gatekeepers that advise on approximately 87% of institutional private market allocations and shape how capital flows to fund managers across pensions, endowments, and foundations. We break down how just 10 consultants advised on roughly 61% of U.S. pension fund commitments in 2025, and why the OCIO model — now a...

We cover new RIA launches like Soulence Wealth Management, as well as RIA acquisitions by firms such as Maridea Wealth Management and Creative Planning. We also share updates on commitments from The New Mexico State Investment Council (SIC), Seattle City Employees Retirement System, and Boston Retirement System. On the search front, we highlight activity from The Tulare County Employees’ Retiremen...

We cover new RIA launches like Maridea Wealth Management and Soulence Wealth Management as well as RIA acquisitions by Creative Planning. We also share updates on commitments from North Dakota State Investment Board (SIB) and City of Phoenix Employees' Retirement System. On the search front, we highlight selections from The Firefighters’ Retirement System of Louisiana, The Chicago Teachers’ P...

In Episode 27 of the Dakota Insights Podcast, we explore how Turnkey Asset Management Platforms — TAMPs — have evolved from back-office utilities into core infrastructure powering modern wealth management. We break down how the U.S. TAMP ecosystem has grown to approximately $3 trillion in platform assets, and why advisor adoption has surged from roughly 10% to 45% over the past decade. TAMPs are n...

In this Dakota Research Interview, Chris Leroy and Alex deMarco sit down with Phil Durr, Co-founder and Managing Partner of PeakSpan Capital, a growth equity firm with $2.6 billion in AUM focused exclusively on bootstrapped business software companies. Phil shares his journey from ROTC and Morgan Stanley to founding PeakSpan in 2015, and explains how the firm's pragmatic, founder-first approa...

We cover RIA acquisitions by the likes of Choreo, Cerity Partners, and First Manhattan. We also share updates on commitments from and. On the search front, we highlight activity from Plymouth County Retirement Association, Dahab Associates, and Public Employees' Retirement System of Mississippi. We’ll also cover fundraising from Canyon Partners, Inhouse, and Phoenix Group — plus a reminder to...

We cover newly launched RIAs like Ocean Path Advisors, Madson Wealth Advisors, and Stephen Smith Financial. We also share updates on commitments from Maine Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS), and University of Alabama System Endowment. On the search front, we highlight activity from Lexington Policemen's and Firefighters' Pen...

In Episode 26 of the Dakota Insights Podcast, we explore how family offices are evolving into fully institutional capital platforms—and why this shift is reshaping private markets. Drawing from Dakota’s 2025 Global Family Office Report, we examine how improved liquidity in 2025 accelerated professionalization, earlier diversification, and formalized governance. Family offices are no longer passive...

In this Dakota Research Interview, Dr. Andrew Hohns, Founder and CEO of Newmarket Capital and Battery Finance, explains how the firm is redefining private credit by integrating Bitcoin into real estate and asset-backed lending. He discusses how Bitcoin-backed loan structures can help investors protect purchasing power, reduce credit risk, and generate inflation-resilient returns without taking on...

In this episode of Dakota's Fundraising News Podcast, we cover newly launched RIAs like Bright Advisors, BayTrust Wealth Management, and Farmers Asset Management. We also share updates on commitments from The State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB), The Wayne County Employees Retirement System, and Delaware Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS). On the search front, we highlight activ...

In this Dakota Research Interview, Chris LeRoy and Alex DeMarco sit down with Kelsea Alexander, Director, and Michael Balcom, Managing Director in the Industrial Group at Crow Holdings Capital, to discuss the firm’s long-standing approach to industrial real estate investing and development. Drawing on Crow Holdings’ 75-year history and deeply tenured leadership team, the conversation highlights ho...

In Episode 25 of the Dakota Research Podcast, we examine how the RIA market is entering a new phase of institutionalization—and why this shift is fundamentally changing capital allocation, distribution, and platform economics across wealth management. We break down how RIAs are evolving from advisor-led practices into coordinated allocation platforms, with investment authority increasingly concent...

In this episode of Dakota's Fundraising News Podcast, We cover acquisitions by Azimut Group and newly launched and registered RIAs including Cohen Capital Advisors and MFT Wealth Management. We also share updates on commitments from the Fairfax County Educational Employees’ Supplementary Retirement Plan, the Delaware Public Employees’ Retirement System, and the State of Wisconsin Investment B...

In this episode of Dakota's Fundraising News Podcast, we cover newly launched RIAs like Valorem and acquisitions by Wealth Enhancement. Hear updates on commitments coming from The Sacramento County Employees Retirement System (SCERS), The Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, and The School Employees Retirement System (SERS). Hear updates on searches coming from The North Attleboro Contributory...

In Episode 24 of the Dakota Research Podcast, we examine how private markets have evolved from a “satellite” allocation to a core component of institutional and family office portfolios—and why performance dispersion now matters more than ever. We break down how allocators should evaluate private fund performance across private equity, venture capital, private credit, real estate, and real assets....

In today's episode of the Dakota Fundraising News Podcast, we cover RIA activity including acquisitions by Constellation Wealth Capital and Wealthcarte Capital Management as well as newly launched RIAs like Willow Creek Capital Management. Hear updates on commitments coming from LSERS, Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund and Montana Board of Investments. Hear updates on searches coming from Fir...

In today's episode of the Dakota Fundraising News Podcast, we cover RIA activity like acquisitions by Sequoia Financial Group and Allworth Financial as well as newly launched RIAs like Ticino Wealth. Hear updates on investments coming from Fubon Life Insurance, Arkansas Teacher Retirement System, and City of Tampa General Employees Retirement. Hear updates on searches coming from the Oklahoma...

In today's episode of the Dakota Fundraising News Podcast, we cover RIA activity like acquisitions by Cambridge Investment Research. Hear updates on investments coming from the Boston Retirement System, Los Angeles Fire & Police Pension System, and The General Retirement System of the City of Detroit. Hear updates on searches coming from the Norfolk County Retirement System. We also share...

In today's episode of the Dakota Fundraising News Podcast, we cover RIA activity including potential acquisitions by RIA Captrust. Hear updates on investments coming from CalPERS and the IFC. Hear updates on searches coming from San Antonio Fire & Police Pension Fund. We also share the latest fundraising efforts from American South Capital Partners and Vistara Growth — plus a reminder to...

In Episode 23 of the Dakota Research Podcast, we explore why India is emerging as one of the most attractive global investment destinations. With sustained GDP growth of 6–7% annually, a young population, and increasingly favorable policy frameworks, the country is rapidly transforming from a high-risk emerging market to a high-conviction growth story. We dive into the macro and policy backdrop fu...

In today's episode of the Dakota Fundraising News Podcast we cover newly formed RIAs like 71 West Capital Partners and RIA fund launches like Strongheart Energy Fund II. Hear updates on investments coming from The World Bank and Los Angeles Water & Power Employees' Retirement Plan. Hear updates on searches coming from Colorado Public Employees Retirement Association. We also share th...