Welcome to Banrion Capital Management’s What’s the Alternative Podcast! Join host Shana Orczyk Sissel, the “Queen of Alternatives” Founder & CEO of Banrion Capital Management, as she interviews leaders in the alternative investment space. Learn more about their firms, their passions and about the many different ways investors can use alternative investments to add value in their investment portfolios.

In this episode Shana sits down with legendary hedge fund manager, Cliff Asness, to discuss how advisors can best evaluate alternative investment strategies whether public or private.

Cliff is a Founder, Managing Principal and Chief Investment Officer at AQR Capital Management. He is an active researcher and has authored articles on a variety of financial topics for many publications, including The Journal of Portfolio Management, Financial Analysts Journal, The Journal of Finance and The Journal of Financial Economics. He has received five Bernstein Fabozzi/Jacobs Levy Awards from The Journal of Portfolio Management, in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2014 and 2015. Financial Analysts Journal has twice awarded him the Graham and Dodd Award for the year’s best paper, as well as a Graham and Dodd Excellence Award, the award for the best perspectives piece, and the Graham and Dodd Readers’ Choice Award. He has won the second prize of the Fama/DFA Prize for Capital Markets and Asset Pricing in the 2020 Journal of Financial Economics. In 2006, CFA Institute presented Cliff with the James R. Vertin Award, which is periodically given to individuals who have produced a body of research notable for its relevance and enduring value to investment professionals. Prior to co-founding AQR Capital Management, he was a Managing Director and Director of Quantitative Research for the Asset Management Division of Goldman, Sachs & Co. He is a trustee for the American Enterprise Institute and the Atlas Society. He is on the governing board of the Institute of Mathematical Finance at NYU, the ambassador board of the Journal of Portfolio Management and a board member for the Q-Group. He is a member of the board of trustees and the investment committee for the National World War II Museum.  He is also an advisory board member for the Adam Smith Society.

Cliff received a B.S. in economics from the Wharton School and a B.S. in engineering from the Moore School of Electrical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating summa cum laude in both. He received an M.B.A. with high honors and a Ph.D. in finance from the University of Chicago, where he was Eugene Fama’s student and teaching assistant for two years (so he still feels guilty when trying to beat the market).

Notable Contributions
 * Received the James R. Vertin Award from CFA Institute in recognition of his lifetime contribution to research.
 * Five-time winner of the Bernstein Fabozzi/ Jacobs Levy Award and two-time winner of the Graham and Dodd Award for his research.
 * Vaughan Executive in Residence at the University of Missouri's Trulaske College of Business.
 * Member of the governing board of the Courant Institute of Mathematical Finance at NYU.
 * Named one of the 50 Most-Influential People in Global Finance by Bloomberg Markets magazine.

Learn More About AQR Capital Management: AQR  [https://www.aqr.com/]

Connect with AQR on 𝕏: @aqrcapital [https://x.com/aqrcapital]

Connect with Cliff on 𝕏: @CliffordAsness [https://x.com/CliffordAsness]

Read Cliff's Research: Cliff's Perspectives [https://www.aqr.com/Insights/Perspectives]

Learn More About Banrion: Banrion Capital Management [https://www.banrioncapital.com/]

Connect with Banrion on 𝕏: 

What's the Alternative? | Episode 14 |  The Smoothing Effect featuring Cliff Asness

Welcome to Banrion Capital Management’s What’s the Alternative Podcast! Join host Shana Orczyk Sissel, the “Queen of Alternatives” Founder & CEO of Banrion Capital Management, as she interviews leaders in the alternative investment space. Learn more about their firms, their passions and about the many different ways investors can use alternative investments to add value in their investment portfolios.

In this episode Shana sits down with Mike Vranjkovic, Managing Partner & Co-Founder at WebStreet, a firm that specializes in Micro Private Equity investing with a primary focus on e-commerce businesses.

Mike Vranjkovic is the Managing Partner at WebStreet, bringing extensive experience in finance and online business. He co-founded WebStreet with Justin Cooke and Joe Magnotti, the owners of Empire Flippers, the world's leading marketplace for buying and selling profitable online businesses. With over a decade of experience in the online sector, Mike has managed multiple departments at Empire Flippers and has been involved in hundreds of online business transactions. Following his tenure at Empire Flippers, he successfully launched several online ventures, including a seven-figure eCommerce brand. Mike began his career in finance in Chicago and holds a degree from DePaul University.

Learn More About WebStreet: WebStreet (Formerly Empire Flippers Capital) [https://webstreet.co/]

Connect with WebStreet on 𝕏: @WebStreetLLC [https://x.com/WebStreetLLC]

Learn More About Banrion: Banrion Capital Management [https://www.banrioncapital.com/]

Connect with Banrion on 𝕏: @Banrion_Capital [https://twitter.com/Banrion_Capital]

Connect with Shana on LinkedIn: Shana Orczyk Sissel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shsissel/]

Connect with Shana on 𝕏: @shanas621 [https://twitter.com/shanas621]

If you are an advisor wanting to check out our platform, we want to hear your feedback! 

Sign up for a free trial! [https://alphabot.net/banrion-capital/]

Important Disclosures: 

The opinions expressed on the “What’s the Alternative Podcast” are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or on any specific security.

It is only intended to provide education about the financial industry. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. Any past performance discussed during this program is no guarantee of future results.

The guests featured on this program are participants on Banrion Capital Management’s platform. As such Banrion may receive payment for their participation as a platform partner.

Any indices referenced for comparison are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. As always please remember investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital; please seek advice from a licensed professional.

Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so they may lose value.

Investors should carefully consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other important information is contained in the fund prospectuses and summary prospectuses, which can be obtained from a financial professional and should be read carefully before investing.

Statements attributed to an individual represent the opinions of that individual as of the date published and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Banrion Capital Management or its affiliates. This information is intended to provide educational value, highlight iss

What's the Alternative? | Episode 13 |  Micro Private Equity: Investing in Small Business featuring Mike Vranjkovic

Welcome to Banrion Capital Management’s What’s the Alternative Podcast! Join host Shana Orczyk Sissel, the “Queen of Alternatives” Founder & CEO of Banrion Capital Management, as she interviews leaders in the alternative investment space. Learn more about their firms, their passions and about the many different ways investors can use alternative investments to add value in their investment portfolios.

In this episode Shana sits down with Ben Lyons, Founder & Managing Director at LYNK Capital, to dive in to his passion for Real Estate investing.

In his 37-year career, the Managing Director of LYNK Capital, Ben Lyons, has learned a lot about real estate and investing. As a financial advisor, investor, and business owner, he has experienced his share of highs and lows, starting with modest roots in a middle-class family in Baltimore, MD. It was a chance encounter at an early age with a local real estate agent that formed the foundation for a career in real estate.

By the age of 25, he owned 100 rental properties and had a million-dollar lending business.

The beginnings, as they say, were humble. Originally planning for a future in community college, he instead went to work for a real estate company at the age of 18 for free. Determined to learn all he could about the business, he convinced his boss to place an ad in the money-to-lend section of the newspaper – he would work all the leads and split the profits with his boss 50/50. In January 1985, he collected over $10,000 in mortgage broker fee revenue, receiving $5,000 after the split.

“In one month, I went from earning $600 a month to $5,000. I thought I was rich. It was extremely exciting and only increased my motivation to learn and grow.”

After that, he read everything he could get his hands on and took mentors to lunch or dinner to learn what they knew. By the age of 21, he became the youngest licensed mortgage broker in Maryland and that year purchased a four-bedroom, two-bath home with a pool. His friends moved in and paid rent – becoming his first investment property.

Since that time, he has owned or managed over 375 residential and commercial real estate projects – and his lending organizations have produced more than $6.5 billion in mortgages. (He was previously an initial investor and large shareholder of a commercial bank, a title company, and three mortgage banks.)

His interests in real estate and financial freedom have produced some interesting insights – after decades of talking to hundreds of investors (many of whom are financially wealthy), he noticed that while everyone’s path to wealth was different, they all shared four things in common:

 * They created predictable and scalable monthly investable income to reinvest for growth.
 * They acquired assets, including stocks and real estate, for long-term growth.
 * They learned how to leverage people, money, and knowledge to accelerate their success.
 * They learned how to utilize time effectively.

It is on these principles that Ben believes anyone can find their path to financial freedom. He has recently authored his second book – this one in partnership with Ortus Academy [https://www.ortusacademy.com/], a financial literacy training company – to share his personal journey and financial formula for success. The book, titled From Worry to Wealth, is available for purchase and download.

“One of my favorite things is sharing my financial journey with others. There are several factors to determine financial success: our attitude about money and our education, which is not necessarily a college degree. Wealth is available to everyone. By understanding the components of wealth creation and applying them to your unique circumstances, you can build your own future, starting today.”

Learn More About LYNK Capital: 

What's the Alternative? | Episode 12 |  Be The Bank: Real Estate Debt Investing with Ben Lyons

Welcome to Banrion Capital Management’s What’s the Alternative Podcast! Join host Shana Orczyk Sissel, the “Queen of Alternatives” Founder & CEO of Banrion Capital Management, as she interviews leaders in the alternative investment space. Learn more about their firms, their passions and about the many different ways investors can use alternative investments to add value in their investment portfolios.

In this episode Shana sits down with Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise Asset Management, a leading provider of crypto solutions for financial advisors.

Matt Hougan is one of the world’s leading experts on crypto, ETFs, and financial technology. He is the Chief Investment Officer for Bitwise Asset Management, the world’s largest provider of cryptocurrency index funds. He was previously CEO of ETF.com and Inside ETFs, where he helped build the world’s first ETF data and analytics system, the leading ETF media site, and the world’s largest ETF conference. Matt is co-author of two publications for the CFA Institute Research Foundation: “A Comprehensive Guide to Exchange-Traded Funds” and “Cryptoassets: The Guide to Bitcoin, Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies for Professional Investors.” He is a crypto columnist for Forbes, a three-time member of the Barron’s ETF Roundtable, a member of the ETFdb’s ETF Hall of Fame, and the eighth person to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from ETF.com for contributions to the ETF industry. Hougan sits on the board of directors for Equbot, creator of the first AI-driven ETFs (in partnership with IBM Watson), and is a strategic advisor to multiple crypto- and financial advisor-related startups, including Blockworks, Stratifi, and Advisor Circle.

Learn More About Bitwise Asset Management: Bitwise Asset Management [https://bitwiseinvestments.com/]

Connect with Bitwise on 𝕏: @BitwiseInvest [https://twitter.com/BitwiseInvest]

Connect with Matt on 𝕏: @Matt_Hougan [http://www.twitter.com/Matt_Hougan]

Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: Matt Hougan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-hougan/]

Matt's Presentation to the CFA Society of Minnesota: A Guide to Bitcoin, Blockchain & Crypto for the Professional Investor [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svAHze-IJTU]

Matt's CFA Whitepaper: Cryptoassets: The Guide to Bitcoin, Blockchain and Cryptocurrency for Investment Professionals [https://rpc.cfainstitute.org/research/foundation/2021/cryptoassets]

Learn More About Banrion: Banrion Capital Management [https://www.banrioncapital.com/]

Connect with Banrion on 𝕏: @Banrion_Capital [https://twitter.com/Banrion_Capital]

Connect with Shana on LinkedIn: Shana Orczyk Sissel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shsissel/]

Connect with Shana on 𝕏: @shanas621 [https://twitter.com/shanas621]

If you are an advisor wanting to check out our platform, we want to hear your feedback! 

Sign up for a free trial! [https://alphabot.net/banrion-capital/]

 

Important Disclosures: 

The opinions expressed on the “What’s the Alternative Podcast” are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or on any specific security.

It is only intended to provide education about the financial industry. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. Any past performance discussed during this program is no guarantee of future

What's the Alternative? | Episode 11 | Crypto 101 featuring Matt Hougan

Welcome to Banrion Capital Management’s What’s the Alternative Podcast! Join host Shana Orczyk Sissel, the “Queen of Alternatives” Founder & CEO of Banrion Capital Management, as she interviews leaders in the alternative investment space. Learn more about their firms, their passions and about the many different ways investors can use alternative investments to add value in their investment portfolios.

In this episode Shana sits down with Michael Green, Portfolio Manager & Chief Strategist at Simplify Asset Management, to discuss the best approach for advisors to start building portfolio allocation to the alternative space.

Michael has studied markets and market structures for nearly 30 years. He has presented his proprietary research to the Federal Reserve, the BIS, the IMF and numerous other industry groups and associations.

Michael joined Simplify in April 2021 after serving as Chief Strategist and Portfolio Manager for Logica Capital Advisers, LLC. Prior to Logica, Michael managed macro strategies at Thiel Macro, LLC. Prior to Thiel, he founded Ice Farm Capital, a discretionary global macro hedge fund. From 2006-2014, Michael founded and managed the New York office of Canyon Capital Advisors where he established their global macro strategies, managing in excess of $5B of exposure across equity, credit, FX, commodity and derivative markets.

Additionally, Michael has been noted for his work as a public speaker and financial media participant. He is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a CFA holder.

Learn More About Simplify Asset Management: Simplify Asset Management [https://www.simplify.us/]

Check out Simplify's Research: Simplify Investor Hub [https://www.simplify.us/investor-hub]

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn: Michael Green [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-green-9a15142/]

Learn More About Banrion: Banrion Capital Management [https://www.banrioncapital.com/]

Connect with Banrion on 𝕏: @Banrion_Capital [https://twitter.com/Banrion_Capital]

Connect with Shana on LinkedIn: Shana Orczyk Sissel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shsissel/]

Connect with Shana on 𝕏: @shanas621 [https://twitter.com/shanas621]

If you are an advisor wanting to check out our platform, we want to hear your feedback! 

Sign up for a free trial! [https://alphabot.net/banrion-capital/]

 

Important Disclosures: 

The opinions expressed on the “What’s the Alternative Podcast” are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or on any specific security.

It is only intended to provide education about the financial industry. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. Any past performance discussed during this program is no guarantee of future results.

The guests featured on this program are participants on Banrion Capital Management’s platform. As such Banrion may receive payment for their participation as a platform partner.

Any indices referenced for comparison are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. As always please remember investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital; please seek advice from a licensed professional.

Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so they may lose value.

Investors should carefully consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other important infor

What's the Alternative? | Episode 10 |  Alternative Building Blocks featuring Michael Green

Welcome to Banrion Capital Management’s What’s the Alternative Podcast! Join host Shana Orczyk Sissel, the “Queen of Alternatives” Founder & CEO of Banrion Capital Management, as she interviews leaders in the alternative investment space. Learn more about their firms, their passions and about the many different ways investors can use alternative investments to add value in their investment portfolios.

In this episode Shana sits down with Kimberly Flynn, President of XA Investments to discuss everything you need to know about interval funds and their close cousin; tender offer funds.

As president of XA Investments, Kimberly, is a partner in the firm and responsible for all product and business development activities. Kim is responsible for the firm's proprietary fund platform and consulting practice. 

Kim was a member of the founding leadership team for XAI, helping launch the firm in 2016 as Managing Director where she built XAI’s proprietary closed-end fund platform. In 2020, Ms. Flynn introduced the firm’s consulting practice to assist clients with developing US and UK registered closed-end funds.

Kim has more than 20 years of experience in investment product strategy, design and development. Prior to joining XAI, she led Nuveen Investment’s Global Structured Products Group which was responsible for the listed closed-end fund business. Her experience includes roles in registered fund product development for both traditional and alternative investment strategies.

Kim has developed an expertise in closed-end fund product development and is a frequent contributor to media and industry events on topics including interval funds, alternative investments and London-listed investment companies. Kim has earned the CFA designation and is a member of the CFA Institute and CFA Society Chicago. She is also Series 7, 63 and 24 licensed.

 

Learn More About XA Investments: XA Investments [https://xainvestments.com/home/]

Connect with Kim on LinkedIn: Kimberly Flynn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyannflynn/]

Learn More About Banrion: Banrion Capital Management [https://www.banrioncapital.com/]

Connect with Banrion on 𝕏: @Banrion_Capital [https://twitter.com/Banrion_Capital]

Connect with Shana on LinkedIn: Shana Orczyk Sissel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shsissel/]

Connect with Shana on 𝕏: @shanas621 [https://twitter.com/shanas621]

If you are an advisor wanting to check out our platform, we want to hear your feedback! 

Sign up for a free trial! [https://alphabot.net/banrion-capital/]

 

Important Disclosures: 

The opinions expressed on the “What’s the Alternative Podcast” are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or on any specific security.

It is only intended to provide education about the financial industry. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. Any past performance discussed during this program is no guarantee of future results.

The guests featured on this program are participants on Banrion Capital Management’s platform. As such Banrion may receive payment for their participation as a platform partner.

Any indices referenced for comparison are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. As always please remember investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital; please seek advice from a licensed professional.

Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so they may lose value.</

What's the Alternative? | Episode 9 |  Interval Funds: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly featuring Kimberly Flynn

Welcome to Banrion Capital Management’s What’s the Alternative Podcast! Join host Shana Orczyk Sissel, the “Queen of Alternatives” Founder & CEO of Banrion Capital Management, as she interviews leaders in the alternative investment space. Learn more about their firms, their passions and about the many different ways investors can use alternative investments to add value in their investment portfolios.

In this episode Shana sits down with Phil Bak, CEO of Armada ETFs,  REIT-specialty asset manager that delivers customized solutions to REIT investors through ETFs, SMAs, and access to proprietary AI and machine learning REIT valuation models.

Phil has been innovating in the ETF industry for over 15 years. He has previously served as Founder/CEO of Exponential ETFs, an ETF issuer and sub-advisor acquired by Tidal ETF Services in 2020. Phil has also served as Chief Investment Officer at Signal Advisors, a venture-backed startup in Detroit and Managing Director at the New York Stock Exchange where he worked on market structure enhancements, ETF listing rule changes, market maker incentive programs, and helping with asset managers launch ETFs. Prior to that Phil held product development roles where he developed and launched the first ever mixed-asset ETF, the first ever carbon-credit ETF, and patented the use of a controlled foreign corporation inside a ’33 act ETP.

Phil is also a Board Advisor of Civex, a startup platform bringing investor advocacy to retail investors, and Principal of Exponential Indexes. Phil is a graduate of Yeshiva University, is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA), host of two podcasts (The ETF Experience and the Phil Bak Podcast), and an author who has been published on Yahoo Finance, TheStreet, Think Advisor, Seeking Alpha and regularly on Substack. Phil has been featured in top-tier media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, CNBC and Financial Times.

Learn More About Armada ETFs: Armada ETF Advisors [https://www.armadaetfs.com/]

Connect with Armada ETFs on 𝕏: @armadaetfs [https://twitter.com/armadaetfs]

Connect with Phil on 𝕏: @philbak1 [https://twitter.com/philbak1]

Connect with Phil on LinkedIn: Phil Bak [https://www.linkedin.com/in/philbak/]

Check out The Phil Bak Podcast: The Phil Bak Podcast [https://philbak.com/]

Check out Phil's Substack: BakStack [https://philbak.substack.com/]

Learn More About Banrion: Banrion Capital Management [https://www.banrioncapital.com/]

Connect with Banrion on 𝕏: @Banrion_Capital [https://twitter.com/Banrion_Capital]

Connect with Shana on LinkedIn: Shana Orczyk Sissel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shsissel/]

Connect with Shana on 𝕏: @shanas621 [https://twitter.com/shanas621]

If you are an advisor wanting to check out our platform, we want to hear your feedback! 

Sign up for a free trial! [https://alphabot.net/banrion-capital/]

 

Important Disclosures: 

The opinions expressed on the “What’s the Alternative Podcast” are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or on any specific security.

It is only intended to provide education about the financial industry. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. Any past performance discussed during this program is no guarantee of future results.

The guests featured on

What's the Alternative? | Episode 8 |  To Be or Not to Be Liquid (in Real Estate) Featuring Phil Bak

Welcome to Banrion Capital Management’s What’s the Alternative Podcast! Join host Shana Orczyk Sissel, the “Queen of Alternatives” Founder & CEO of Banrion Capital Management, as she interviews leaders in the alternative investment space. Learn more about their firms, their passions and about the many different ways investors can use alternative investments to add value in their investment portfolios.

In this episode Shana sits down with Steve Zuschin, Chief Revenue Officer, at Mammoth Technology, to discuss how Banrion and Mammoth Technology have partnered together to develop a technology solution that is changing the way advisors allocate to alternative investments. With this new integrated platform, Banrion and Mammoth have reduced the operational friction that has historically been an obstacle for many advisors. A true game changer that offers "A Better Alternative" for advisors and clients alike.

Steve has a diverse work experience in the financial and technology sectors. Steve is currently serving as the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) at Mammoth Technology, a technology and services company that focuses on revolutionizing the way funds are established and serviced. Prior to their current role, Steve held various executive positions at LifeYield, a transformative software company that helps financial firms, advisors, and investors optimize their assets. At LifeYield, they served as the Executive Vice President of Business Development, Executive Vice President of Advisor Success, and EVP of Sales. Before LifeYield, Steve worked as the Director of Business Development at HiddenLevers, a financial technology company. Steve also has experience as a Sales Person at Hentze-Dor and as a Financial Representative at Northwestern Mutual.

Steve Zuschin attended California State University, Chico from 2003 to 2006 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Financial Management.

Learn More About Mammoth Technology: Mammoth Technology [https://mammothtechnology.com/]

Connect with Mammoth Technology on 𝕏: @mammothfintech [https://twitter.com/mammothfintech]

Connect with Steve on LinkedIn: Steve Zuschin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-zuschin/]

Learn More About Banrion: Banrion Capital Management [https://www.banrioncapital.com/]

Connect with Banrion on 𝕏: @Banrion_Capital [https://twitter.com/Banrion_Capital]

Connect with Shana on LinkedIn: Shana Orczyk Sissel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shsissel/]

Connect with Shana on 𝕏: @shanas621 [https://twitter.com/shanas621]

If you are an advisor wanting to check out our platform, we want to hear your feedback! 

Sign up for a free trial! [https://alphabot.net/banrion-capital/]

 

Important Disclosures: 

The opinions expressed on the “What’s the Alternative Podcast” are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or on any specific security.

It is only intended to provide education about the financial industry. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. Any past performance discussed during this program is no guarantee of future results.

The guests featured on this program are participants on Banrion Capital Management’s platform. As such Banrion may receive payment for their participation as a platform partner.

Any indices referenced for comparison are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. As always please remember investing involves risk and

What's the Alternative? | Episode 7 |  Achieving Alts for All By Leveraging Technology Featuring Steve Zuschin

Welcome to Banrion Capital Management’s What’s the Alternative Podcast! Join host Shana Orczyk Sissel, the “Queen of Alternatives” Founder & CEO of Banrion Capital Management, as she interviews leaders in the alternative investment space. Learn more about their firms, their passions and about the many different ways investors can use alternative investments to add value in their investment portfolios.

In this episode "Private Credit 101", Banrion Capital Management's, Victoria Bills sits in for Shana. Victoria is joined by Jamie Shulman, co-founder and fund manager at Meriwether Group Capital. Meriwether Group is a modern day merchant bank comprised of business acceleration, Hero Fund Lending and investment banking. The firm's focus is providing founders and brand leaders with the resources to help them fulfill their journeys. Their debt solutions allow lower middle market businesses and their leaders to capitalize on opportunities while maintaining equity and control. 

A banking veteran with more than 25 years of lending and management experience, Jamie brings an entrepreneur’s level of energy, engagement and creativity to Meriwether Group Capital. Jamie’s diverse experience in management, mentorship and strategic business planning for growing companies makes him an invaluable and trusted advisor, going far beyond the boundaries of traditional lending.

Over the years, Jamie has built a reputation as a highly effective change agent, able to help founders and business leaders realize their companies’ potential through sound strategy, P&L oversight, and all areas of financial analysis and guidance. This high-level overview gives Jamie unparalleled insight into the opportunities and challenges of the targeted lower middle market businesses and will be a critical factor in MWGC’s ability to select the best possible slate of borrowers for the Hero Fund.

Jamie’s experience spans commercial banking, middle-market banking, retail banking and community banking with an emphasis on commercial & industrial and commercial real estate operations. Having spent 35 years in the Seattle and Portland markets, he offers a familiarity with the region that enhances MWGC’s understanding of the circumstances and hurdles of growing a business in the Pacific Northwest.

Off the clock, Jamie’s enthusiasms include mixology and BBQ (especially when they come together), rabid fandom for the Seahawks, and taking time to recharge with the family along the Pacific Coast. He spends significant time in the non-profit world, contributing his expertise to multiple community organizations.

Learn More About Meriwether Group Capital: MGC Website [https://meriwethergroupcapital.com/]

LinkedIn: Jamie Shulman [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shulmanjamie/]

Connect with Jamie on 𝕏: @jamieshulmanpdx [https://twitter.com/jamieshulmanpdx]

Learn More About Banrion: Banrion Capital Management [https://www.banrioncapital.com/]

Connect with Shana on LinkedIn: Shana Orczyk Sissel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shsissel/]

Connect with Shana on 𝕏: @shanas621 [https://twitter.com/shanas621]

 

Important Disclosures: 

The opinions expressed on the “What’s the Alternative Podcast” are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or on any specific security.

It is only intended to provide education about the financial industry. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. Any past performance discussed during this program is no guarantee of future results.

The guests featured on this program are participants on Banrion Capital Manage

What's the Alternative? | Episode 6 |  Private Credit 101 featuring Jamie Shulman

Welcome to Banrion Capital Management’s What’s the Alternative Podcast! Join host Shana Orczyk Sissel, the “Queen of Alternatives” Founder & CEO of Banrion Capital Management, as she interviews leaders in the alternative investment space. Learn more about their firms, their passions and about the many different ways investors can use alternative investments to add value in their investment portfolios.

In this episode "Venture Capital Reimagined", Shana is joined by Dave Thornton, Co-Founder, CEO & CIO at Vested. Vested is pioneering index-like exposure to the VC asset class, across company stage, sector, and founding year. Vested acquires its exposure by providing funding to the departing employees of VC-backed companies, who find themselves in the acute distress of having 90 days to find the money to exercise their expiring stock options. This revolutionary approach allows Vested to provide liquidity for startup employees and along the way democratize access for investors to access the beta of venture capital unlike it’s ever been done before.

Dave is Vested’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer. For the last 11 years, Dave has been a serial entrepreneur. His most notable accomplishments include the founding and successful sale of PatientFinder, and his collaboration with Emilio Seijo (a Principal Quantitative Strategist at Vested) in the creation of a real-time illiquid asset pricing model which is algo-trading a $300M book at a name-brand bank. Dave also spent time building the systems at a hedge fund within Citigroup, and worked as a Program Manager at Microsoft. Dave received a BAS in Computer Science from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Applied Science and a BS in Economics with a concentration in Decision Processes from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. Dave earned a JD from Georgetown University.

Learn More About Vested: Vested Investor Site [https://vested.co/investor]

LinkedIn: Dave J Thornton [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davejthornton/]

Learn More About Banrion: Banrion Capital Management [https://www.banrioncapital.com/]

Connect with Shana on LinkedIn: Shana Orczyk Sissel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shsissel/]

Connect with Shana 𝕏: @shanas621 [https://twitter.com/shanas621]

 

Important Disclosures: 

The opinions expressed on the “What’s the Alternative Podcast” are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or on any specific security.

It is only intended to provide education about the financial industry. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. Any past performance discussed during this program is no guarantee of future results.

The guests featured on this program are participants on Banrion Capital Management’s platform. As such Banrion may receive payment for their participation as a platform partner.

Any indices referenced for comparison are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. As always please remember investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital; please seek advice from a licensed professional.

Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so they may lose value.

Investors should carefully consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other important information is contained in the fund prospectuses and summary prospectuses, which can be obtained from a financial professional and should be read carefully before investing.

Statements attributed to an individua

What's the Alternative? | Episode 5 |  Venture Capital Reimagined featuring Dave Thornton

Join host Shana Orczyk Sissel, Founder & CEO of Banrion Capital Management, as she interviews leaders in the alternative investment space. Learn more about their firms, their passions and about the many different ways investors can use alternative investments to add value in their investment portfolios.

What's the Alternative? Meet the Manager