The Alternatives Mason: Building Alts Knowledge Brick by Brick

In this episode of The Alternative Mason, host Brittany Mason sits down with Austin Root to unpack the opportunities and misconceptions around alternative investments. Austin shares lessons from his career—from early entrepreneurship and roles at major firms to running North Oak Capital and explains how liquidity, diversification, and goal-oriented strategies shape better portfolios today. Whether...

Join host Brittany Mason as she sits down with Matt Ober of Social Leverage to unpack his path from Bloomberg to hedge funds to VC and explore how AI and fintech are reshaping wealth management. They discuss why wealth tech is still ripe for innovation, the impact of Gen Z/millennial investors, prediction markets, Social Leverage’s investment approach, and the founder traits that drive success. Ma...

Join host Brittany Mason as she sits down with renowned wealth advisor and financial therapist, Dr. Preston D. Cherry, author of "Wealth in the Key of Life." Join us as we delve into the concept of financial harmony and discover how Generation X can navigate challenges while aligning their wealth with their life's purpose. In this episode, Dr. Cherry, a proud member of Generation X, discusses the...

Join Brittany Mason in this enlightening episode of The Alternative Mason as she interviews Emily Binder, founder of Beetle Moment Marketing and Wealth Voice. They discuss the importance of having an informed point of view for building a strong brand, the evolving role of authenticity in content marketing, and strategies for overcoming a traumatic relationship with money. Emily also shares her jou...

In this episode of The Alternative Mason, Brittany Mason chats with John Davi — founder of Astoria Portfolio Advisors and one of the sharpest minds in the ETF world. John shares how growing up in Queens shaped his hustle, how early stints at Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley fueled his love for markets, and what drove him to launch Astoria back in 2017. They dive into how Astoria blends macro insig...

Join Brittany Mason in this engaging episode of 'The Alternative Mason' as she sits down with Dennis Morton, co-founder of Morton Brown Family Wealth and an army veteran with a background in history. Dennis shares his unconventional path into the finance industry, discussing the importance of humanities education, his transition from the military to finance, and the founding and growth of Morton B...

What happens when a banker’s son builds a venture firm in a place most investors overlook? Brad Zapp, Cp-Founder, President and Head of Strategy & Marketing at Connetic Ventures, shares how rejection fueled his pivot into early-stage investing, eventually leading to Wendal, an AI-powered associate that reviews founders 24/7. With this remarkably innovative tool, Brad is reimagining who gets fu...

Greg Friedman has a financial journey that starts in his early childhood, investing his birthday money, and has brought him to launching Peachtree Group in 2007. In this episode, he explains what he calls the Mispriced Risk Business and how he’s overseen $11 billion in real estate investments. Key takeaways: Greg’s first memories and how they shaped his entrepreneurial mindset. The difference betw...

What do elite school districts have to do with resilient real estate investing? In this episode, Sean O’Dowd, Managing Partner of Scholastic Capital, shares how his “Scholastic Thesis” turns high-demand education zones into a powerful, defensive investment strategy. With multi-year leases, strict buy-box criteria, and a data-driven mindset, his approach offers stability in uncertain markets. He al...

Connor Lapean, Investment Research Associate at Banríon Capital Management, opens up about breaking into alternative investments while still in college. From battling imposter syndrome to embracing AI and spotting opportunities in private credit, Connor shares what it really takes to earn trust and grow fast in a high-stakes industry. With a grounded mindset and a no-excuses attitude, he shows how...

This episode features Neil Azous, Founder and CIO at Rareview Capital, and his insights from working at Goldman Sachs and the evolution of investment management towards a more personalized, goals-driven approach. Neil breaks down: • His career journey from inspiration to industry expert • The importance of goals-based investment management • Emotional decision-making in finance • Global macro trad...

In this episode Brittany talks with Dr. Renée Baker, who shares her journey from corporate stability to entrepreneurial freedom, emphasizing the importance of courage, vulnerability, and financial education. She discusses strategies for preparing for financial emergencies, breaking the stigma around money conversations, and finding fulfillment in aligning one's passion with purpose. They break dow...

What do a fog machine, digital assets, and mentorship have in common? They’re all part of Jamie Hopkins’ journey in finance. From his childhood experiences with money to his career as foremost retirement expert, Jamie shares insights on building a secure financial future and shaping the next generation of advisors. Connect with us below! Jamie Hopkins on LinkedIn Bryn Mawr Trust Brittany Mason on...

In this episode, David Meyncke, Managing Director of Clough Capital Partners, shares his journey in finance. From his start at Dean Witter to leading growth and tech innovation in advisory services, he talks about the industry’s shift from commission-based to fee-based models, making investment more client-friendly. David also explains the rise of ETFs, why they’re popular, and how advisors can pi...

How can a young professional build a network? Should they invest in the markets, or crypto? Luke Lloyd shares his journey from a blue-collar upbringing to building financial strategies for today’s economy. He talks about early lessons with his dad, the power of stepping out of comfort zones, and the importance of real connections and mentorship. We also explore new investment trends like AI, crypt...

Welcome to The Alternatives Mason: Building Alts Knowledge Brick by Brick. Banrion Capital Management uses technology to help independent advisors scale and educate themselves on alternative investments. Since education is such a big piece of the Banrion mission and business, we are excited to kick off this series to dive into the nits and grits of the alternatives space. Episode 19 "Understanding...

Welcome to The Alternatives Mason: Building Alts Knowledge Brick by Brick. Banrion Capital Management uses technology to help independent advisors scale and educate themselves on alternative investments. Since education is such a big piece of the Banrion mission and business, we are excited to kick off this series to dive into the nits and grits of the alternatives space. Episode 18 "Supporting Sm...

Welcome to The Alternatives Mason: Building Alts Knowledge Brick by Brick. Banrion Capital Management uses technology to help independent advisors scale and educate themselves on alternative investments. Since education is such a big piece of the Banrion mission and business, we are excited to kick off this series to dive into the nits and grits of the alternatives space. Episode 17 "The Psycholog...

Welcome to The Alternatives Mason: Building Alts Knowledge Brick by Brick. Banrion Capital Management uses technology to help independent advisors scale and educate themselves on alternative investments. Since education is such a big piece of the Banrion mission and business, we are excited to kick off this series to dive into the nits and grits of the alternatives space. Episode 16 "New Opportuni...

Welcome to The Alternatives Mason: Building Alts Knowledge Brick by Brick. Banrion Capital Management uses technology to help independent advisors scale and educate themselves on alternative investments. Since education is such a big piece of the Banrion mission and business, we are excited to kick off this series to dive into the nits and grits of the alternatives space. Episode 15 "Alternatives...

Welcome to The Alternatives Mason: Building Alts Knowledge Brick by Brick. Banrion Capital Management uses technology to help independent advisors scale and educate themselves on alternative investments. Since education is such a big piece of the Banrion mission and business, we are excited to kick off this series to dive into the nits and grits of the alternatives space. Episode 14 "Financial Edu...

Welcome to The Alternatives Mason: Building Alts Knowledge Brick by Brick. Banrion Capital Management uses technology to help independent advisors scale and educate themselves on alternative investments. Since education is such a big piece of the Banrion mission and business, we are excited to kick off this series to dive into the nits and grits of the alternatives space. Episode 13 "Growing Up Ba...

Welcome to The Alternatives Mason: Building Alts Knowledge Brick by Brick. Banrion Capital Management uses technology to help independent advisors scale and educate themselves on alternative investments. Since education is such a big piece of the Banrion mission and business, we are excited to kick off this series to dive into the nits and grits of the alternatives space. Episode 12 "No BS Weath"...

Welcome to The Alternatives Mason: Building Alts Knowledge Brick by Brick. Banrion Capital Management uses technology to help independent advisors scale and educate themselves on alternative investments. Since education is such a big piece of the Banrion mission and business, we are excited to kick off this series to dive into the nits and grits of the alternatives space. Episode 11 "Matters of Di...

Welcome to The Alternatives Mason: Building Alts Knowledge Brick by Brick. Banrion Capital Management uses technology to help independent advisors scale and educate themselves on alternative investments. Since education is such a big piece of the Banrion mission and business, we are excited to kick off this series to dive into the nits and grits of the alternatives space. Episode 10 "The Behaviora...