The Mack Podcast

When should families begin talking about wealth? And what should those conversations actually look like? In this episode, Brian Adams sits down with Ken Ude to discuss why preparing the next generation requires far more than sharing financial information. They explore how families can use storytelling, education, and intentional communication to build responsible owners who understand both the opp...

Robotics has become one of the most talked-about investment themes, but where does the real opportunity lie? In this episode, Brian Adams is joined by Jeff Burnstein, President of the Association for Advancing Automation; Collin Groves, Partner at BD Ventures; and Collin Sebastian, CEO of En Verite AI and former CTO of SoftBank Robotics, for a discussion on the current state of robotics investing....

In this episode of The Mack Podcast, Brian Adams sits down with Alex Branton, Managing Partner of Nodem Capital, to explore the growing role of net asset value (NAV) financing in family office portfolio management. As private market holding periods continue to lengthen and liquidity remains constrained, Alex explains how sophisticated family offices are using NAV financing as a strategic tool to a...

Traditional asset allocation has long been the standard for portfolio construction, but many family offices are beginning to question whether it's the right framework for today's investment landscape. In this panel discussion, Brian Adams is joined by Musan Duric, Alex Herman, and Vadym Doroshenko to explore the Total Portfolio Approach (TPA)—an investment philosophy that evaluates every o...

In this episode of The Mack Podcast, Brian Adams is joined by Emily Margolis, Head of Lifestyle Services within the Family Office Practice at JPMorgan Private Bank, and Karen McGee, President of Valerie Wilson Travel. They explore how travel and lifestyle services are becoming increasingly important tools for family offices seeking to strengthen family bonds, support governance objectives, and cre...

How do family office investment committees evaluate, select, and monitor investment managers? In this panel discussion, Brian Adams is joined by investment leaders Alexander Schmidt, Yehuda Spindler, and Vadym Doroshenko to explore what happens behind the scenes when family offices assess external managers and make allocation decisions. The conversation examines the manager selection process from...

For many families, healthcare planning is often treated as a reactive exercise—something addressed only when a problem arises. But as families become more mobile, global, and complex, medical preparedness requires a more proactive approach. In this episode, Dr. Christopher Sidford shares lessons from decades in emergency medicine, military operations, and advising ultra-high-net-worth families. Th...

What happens after the liquidity event? For many founders, the answer is no longer traditional wealth preservation — it’s building a new platform for investing, operating, and creating long-term impact. In this episode of the Mack Podcast, Brian Adams is joined by Josh Roach, Zach Lane, Doug Johnson, and Josh Rosenthal for a wide-ranging conversation on the emergence of founder-led family offices...

What happens after the liquidity event? In this episode, Brian Adams sits down with entrepreneur and investor Monte Lee-Wen to discuss the often-overlooked transition from wealth creation to wealth stewardship. Monte shares his perspective as a first-generation wealth creator, reflecting on the mindset shift from operator to allocator, the realities of building a family office, and why governance,...

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way family offices think about operations, data, reporting, and decision-making — but where does adoption really stand today? In this episode, a panel of family office technology and operations leaders explores the current state of AI adoption, practical use cases, governance considerations, and the opportunities and risks family offices should be th...

In this episode of The Mack Podcast, Brian Adams sits down with Frazer Rice, Director of Family Office Services at Next Capital Management, to discuss what happens after trusts and estate plans are established. Their conversation explores how families can prepare beneficiaries to understand wealth, responsibility, and stewardship long before they inherit assets. They examine the importance of fina...

Captive insurance companies have become an increasingly valuable tool for family offices seeking greater control over risk, insurance costs, and long-term planning. In this panel episode, Brian Adams is joined by Paul Vogelgesang and Yvette Connor to explore how captive insurance structures work, when they make sense, and the key considerations families should evaluate before moving forward. The c...

In this episode of The Mack Podcast, Brian C. Adams sits down with luxury travel advisor Amira Bixby to explore how the travel landscape has evolved for high-net-worth individuals and families. Drawing on her background on Wall Street and her experience designing bespoke travel experiences around the world, Amira shares insights on emerging destinations, the realities of luxury travel pricing, and...

In this Mack Podcast panel discussion, Brian Adams is joined by Eric Wind of Wind Vintage, Rich Vinhais of Wax Collect, private jeweler Asher Hoffman, and Molly Gron of Freeman’s Auction House to explore the role of watches and collectibles within family office portfolios. Together, they unpack the shift from hobbyist collecting to institutional-level acquisition strategies, touching on provenance...

In this episode of The Mack Podcast, Stephan Roche joins Brian C. Adams for a conversation on what it really takes to build a family office designed to last beyond the founder. They discuss the difference between founder-dependent and founder-designed family offices, why purpose and governance matter early on, and how families can create structures that support long-term continuity rather than sho...

In this panel episode of The Mack Podcast, the conversation explores the growing role of watches and collectibles within the family office and ultra-high-net-worth landscape. Guests Jordan Freeman, Aaron Levine, and Vasu Kulkarni discuss how collecting has evolved from a personal passion into a legitimate alternative asset class shaped by scarcity, craftsmanship, community, and cultural relevance....

In this episode of The Mack Podcast, we explore the intersection of high jewelry, emotional legacy, and alternative investing. Brian Adams is joined by Melissa Dusenberry, founder of All The Brilliants, and Paris-based high jewelry designer Édéenne for a conversation on how family offices and collectors are increasingly viewing exceptional jewelry and rare gemstones through both a personal and inv...

As energy demand accelerates and AI-driven infrastructure reshapes the power landscape, nuclear energy is once again moving to the center of the conversation. In this panel episode of The Mack Podcast, Brian Adams is joined by Ross Matzkin-Bridger, Pete Mathias, and Brian Danielewicz to explore the nuclear investment landscape and what it means for family offices and long-term investors. To learn...

In this episode of The Mack Podcast, Brian Adams sits down with Karen Costa and Brett Scola to discuss the evolving demands facing family office leaders and the growing importance of leadership development within the space. The conversation explores the legacy of Tony Wood and the vision behind RSM’s partnership with Cornell University to develop a dedicated family office leadership program focuse...

Multifamily has been one of the most closely watched sectors in real estate over the past several years. In this panel episode of The Mack Podcast, Brian C. Adams brings together experienced investors and operators to unpack how family offices are thinking about multifamily today—from deployment strategy and market selection to partnerships, leverage, and long-term portfolio construction. To learn...

In this episode of The Mack Podcast, Brian C. Adams sits down with Kristen Oliveri to explore how the definition of wealth is evolving across generations, and what that means for family offices today. Drawing on nearly two decades of experience covering the industry, Kristen shares an outsider-turned-insider perspective on the realities behind wealth: family dynamics, communication challenges, and...

In this episode, Brian Adams sits down with John Onderdonk, National Practice Leader of Agricultural Properties at Northern Trust and a fourth-generation rancher, to explore the complexities of land ownership within family offices. Drawing from personal experience and client work, John shares how families can balance financial objectives with the emotional and legacy-driven aspects of owning land....

In this panel episode of The Mack Podcast, we explore how family offices are approaching venture capital today. The conversation covers how to evaluate venture as an asset class, including realistic return expectations, portfolio construction, and the importance of pacing investments across vintages. The group also discusses the tradeoffs between fund investing and direct deals, the rise of emergi...

Lower middle market private equity remains a key area of focus for family offices, but navigating it requires discipline and clarity of strategy. In this episode, Brian Adams is joined by Dan Tirpack, Sutton Fannon, and Roger Vincent to discuss how they define the space, source opportunities, and approach investing across funds, co-investments, and direct deals. They share perspectives on independ...

Despite the growth of family offices and increased access to alternative investments, many families still struggle to approach portfolio construction with an institutional mindset. In this episode, Martin Gross shares insights from decades in the alternatives space, highlighting where family offices often fall short—and what separates disciplined investors from the rest. The conversation explores...