The Wall Street Skinny

Credit Strategy: how does it work, who are the players, and what are the career opportunities?  Today we are discussing the structure of the Credit Strategy desk at an Investment Bank with Dominique Toublan, head of US Credit Strategy at Barclays Capital.  We discuss how you approach the vast world of corporate bonds and distill trends as a strategist, how you reconcile investor sentiment with supply/demand dynamics, and what role are you serving within the ecosystem of Wall Street.  The US Credit market --- meaning, where corporate bonds trade after they've been issued --- is orders of magnitude larger than the US Equities market.  Credit spreads, which are a measure of the riskiness associated with the debt of an individual corporate borrower, are a critical barometer of economic strength/weakness and investor risk appetite.  Understanding these dynamics is essential not only to those who wish to pursue a career in credit strategy, trading, or sales, but also for those who wish to understand the Private Credit markets and the funding dynamics that influence deal making and investment on the Private Equity and Hedge Fund side of the industry.  The  Funds4Teachers event is happening the dates below:Locations/DatesAtlanta - Apr 25Boston - June 6Chicago - June 18New York - Sep 26To learn more about how to support this initiative and register click here: https://iconnections.io/funds4teachers/Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok at @thewallstreetskinnyhttps://www.instagram.com/thewallstreetskinny/

In today's episode we give you the Skinny on PCE (Personal consumption expenditures), we define "Risk Off", we chat about the news that Kim Kardashian has only raised $120mm of her $1-$2Bn target for her Skky Partners PE fund, talk Netflix and Meta earnings and finally share our take on the TikTok ban.The  Funds4Teachers event is happening the dates below:Locations/DatesAtlanta - Apr 25Boston - June 6Chicago - June 18New York - Sep 26To learn more about how to support this initiative and register click here: https://iconnections.io/funds4teachers/Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok at @thewallstreetskinnyhttps://www.instagram.com/thewallstreetskinny/

So many finance hopefuls dream of a career in Private Equity.  But what do you actually DO during your internship, starting out as a full-time Analyst, or as an Associate?  How do those roles differ at a mega fund vs. a smaller firm?  Are there advantages to starting out in Private Equity vs. doing a tour of duty at an Investment Bank or MBB consulting firm?  We sat down with Karina Petrunova, a current Private Equity Associate at Charles Thayne Capital, a lower middle market fund with a software & technology focus, to learn about her path to Private Equity.   She shares the specific steps she took to secure her first Wall Street internship during her sophomore year, her junior year internship, and ultimately her role at Vista Equity (a $100bn+ mega fund) out of undergrad.  Karina shares insight into the practices that made her a successful intern, analyst, and associate, as well as into her decision making process behind why she chose the firms she did.  If you are considering a career in Private Equity, or want to understand the journey that your friends and loved ones in the industry may be on, this episode is a MUST listen.  The  Funds4Teachers event is happening the dates below:Locations/DatesAtlanta - Apr 25Boston - June 6Chicago - June 18New York - Sep 26To learn more about how to support this initiative and register click here: https://iconnections.io/funds4teachers/Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok at @thewallstreetskinnyhttps://www.instagram.com/thewallstreetskinny/

In this week's episode we talk about the market's response to geopolitical risks, Jane Street's atypical transparency around Q1 earnings ahead of their bond issuance, and what to do if you get laid off from your Wall Street job.  The  Funds4Teachers event is happening the dates below:Locations/DatesAtlanta - Apr 25Boston - June 6Chicago - June 18New York - Sep 26To learn more about how to support this initiative and register click here: https://iconnections.io/funds4teachers/Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok at @thewallstreetskinnyhttps://www.instagram.com/thewallstreetskinny/

Want to understand commercial real estate investing?  Real estate banking?  What about starting your own investment bank?  Or succeeding in the upper echelons of finance while raising young children? How about ALL OF THE ABOVE?We are joined today by Deborah Smith, CEO and co-founder of a boutique investment bank specializing in real estate advisory, to explore the 101s of CRE investing and deal making, as well as the monumental challenge of starting your own investment bank.  We also continue our conversation up and down the corporate ladder on the question of female mentorship.  Deb is a force of nature.  She shares her story of how she went from a dairy farmer in Australia to the most elite banking group at Morgan Stanley to Wall Street CEO (all while raising three young children, no less), living life according to her personal philosophy of "the universe doesn't owe you anything".  Her brilliance, moxie, and humor make this a MUST LISTEN for anyone interested in real estate, investment banking, or trying to balance work and family life in the world's most competitive environments.The  Funds4Teachers event is happening the dates below:Locations/DatesAtlanta - Apr 25Boston - June 6Chicago - June 18New York - Sep 26To learn more about how to support this initiative and register click here: https://iconnections.io/funds4teachers/Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok at @thewallstreetskinnyhttps://www.instagram.com/thewallstreetskinny/

In our latest edition of our new weekly markets breakdown, we cover yesterday’s CPI release and its impact on the interest rates, credit, and equity markets.  With earning’s season kicking off, we explain how to frame your thinking about earnings releases as you start to think about how these moves in the market translate into corporate valuations and projections going forward.  We also share some feedback we’ve received on our “unwritten rules” for success on Wall Street and wax philosophical on the importance of cultivating resilience.The  Funds4Teachers event is happening the dates below:Locations/DatesAtlanta - Apr 25Boston - June 6Chicago - June 18New York - Sep 26To learn more about how to support this initiative and register click here: https://iconnections.io/funds4teachers/Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok at @thewallstreetskinnyhttps://www.instagram.com/thewallstreetskinny/

Guy Adami is an original member of CNBC's Fast Money. Guy began his career at Drexel Burnham Lambert as a commodity trader on their precious metals desk. In 1996 he joined J. Aron, the famed commodity and currency group at Goldman Sachs where he was their head gold trader. In 2021, Guy, along with Dan Nathan, started RiskReversal Media. In addition to Fast Money, Guy and Dan have a daily show called MRKT Call and a weekly podcast called On The Tape that they do with Danny Moses of The Big Short Fame. Guy trys to stay active in his community. He was on the board of the NJ Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for ten years where he served as co-chair. In August of 2012, Adami completed the first NYC Ironman on behalf of LLS in 16 hours and 19 minutes. He was the LLS NJ Man of the Year in 2015. Guy was also on the national board of Invest in Others as well as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. In November 2022, he was inducted into the Tri County Scholarship Fund Hall of Fame. Guy is a 1986 graduate of Georgetown University. He and his wife Linda reside in Morristown, NJ where they raised their three children.The  Funds4Teachers event is happening the dates below:Locations/DatesAtlanta - Apr 25Boston - June 6Chicago - June 18New York - Sep 26To learn more about how to support this initiative and register click here: https://iconnections.io/funds4teachers/Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok at @thewallstreetskinnyhttps://www.instagram.com/thewallstreetskinny/

We're mixing it up with new weekly episodes where we give you the skinny on what's happening in the markets and big deals in the news, and explain why that matters TO YOU.  Topics today include the Non-Farm Payrolls Report and the unwritten rules of how to behave in order to succeed in finance.  Let us know if you want more episodes like this by emailing your thoughts to questions@wallstreetskinny.com!The  Funds4Teachers event is happening the dates below:Locations/DatesAtlanta - Apr 25Boston - June 6Chicago - June 18New York - Sep 26To learn more about how to support this initiative and register click here: https://iconnections.io/funds4teachers/Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok at @thewallstreetskinnyhttps://www.instagram.com/thewallstreetskinny/

The Wall Street Journal recently published an article titled "Women Aren't Getting the Big Jobs at Goldman Sachs, and They're Heading for the Exits" (linked below).  That same day, we were asked by our social media community whether our best managers were male or female when we were working at investment banks.  Our answer?  Male.  We received HUNDREDS of messages from our community --- from mostly women --- saying their experience with female managers on Wall Street was overwhelmingly negative.  So we wanted to have a frank, open discussion of these two distinct but very related topics in a public forum to discern what the nature of the problem is and to try and suggest possible solutions.  We are joined by two amazing women for this conversation: Carissa Jordan and Nikki Boulukos, currently the co-founders of Benjamin Talks, a company on a mission to facilitate financial literacy for people of all ages starting with children.  Carissa and Nikki started their careers in Fixed Income and Equities Sales & Trading at Goldman Sachs, and rose through the ranks before exiting for individual reasons we will discuss.  This will be the first of many conversations with women ranging from the junior most levels all the way to the C-suite.  Anyone working on Wall Street or planning on a career in the industry needs to listen to this episode.https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/goldman-sachs-women-big-jobs-leaving-09112f6a Nikki Boulukos is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Benjamin Talks BA in Psychology & Economics from Harvard. Additionally, cross-registered and completed coursework in Accounting & Finance at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and London School of Economics. Captained the Varsity Women's Soccer team for three years at Harvard, first three-year captain in school history. All Ivy selection and Academic All American nominee. Financial analyst at Goldman Sachs on Equity Research Sales desk. Member of Women's Steering Committee. Later served as COO & Vice President of San Francisco-based beverage start-up, Wanu Water (fka FLUROwater) and later founded Seirén, an on-demand app company in the beauty space. Nikki now lives in Cold Spring Harbor, NY with her husband and their three small, financially-savvy kids.Carissa Jordan is Co-Founder and Co-CEO  of Benjamin Talks BBA in Finance from Hofstra University. Member of Honors College. Carissa also held internships at Ivy Asset Management, MF Global and Goldman Sachs throughout college. Associate at Goldman Sachs in FICC on the credit trading desk. Carissa later joined J.P. Morgan Private Bank where she worked as an investor associate. Carissa currently resides in Lloyd Harbor, NY with her husband and the three young children whose innate curiosity about money sparked her passion for financial literacy.The  Funds4Teachers event is happening the dates below:Locations/DatesAtlanta - Apr 25Boston - June 6Chicago - June 18New York - Sep 26To learn more about how to support this initiative and register click here: https://iconnections.io/funds4teachers/Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok at @thewallstreetskinnyhttps://www.instagram.com/thewallstreetskinny/

Ever wondered what global macro trading looks like at the world's most elite hedge funds like Citadel, Balyasny, and Bluecrest?  You might imagine you'd need a tremendous grasp of the markets, an ability to analyze and interpret massive amounts of data & research, and a talent for identifying the optimal vehicles for expressing your views.  Now imagine doing all of this...without being able to SEE.We are joined an incredibly special guest for our one-year podcast anniversary: global macro investor Ashish Goyal.  Over the past 15 years, Ashish has managed portfolios for marquee hedge funds and institutions such as Citadel, BlueCrest, Balyasny, and J.P. Morgan CIO.Ashish has the dual distinctions of not only being the world’s first visually impaired graduate of The Wharton School, but also the world’s first visually impaired investor-trader on Wall Street.  More importantly, Ashish has been honored with India’s highest civilian award for a disabled individual – the National Award for the empowerment of persons with disability by the President of India and has also been recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.Ashish also serves on the Board of The Inclusion Initiative at the London School of Economics (LSE) in the UK and the Rising Flame in India. In the past, he has served on the Board of the Peek Vision Foundation in the UK, has passionately supported Theatre and Arts, and has represented the winning team in the UK domestic blind cricket tournament at the London Metro Club.Ashish embodies an overflowing spirit of a holistic and balanced life. A practitioner of meditation and a believer in human ingenuity, Ashish continues to support passionate and dedicated charities addressing education, disabilities, human rights, sports, environment, and the Vedic Sciences. He has served as a motivational speaker at various venues – at the London Stock Exchange, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, and at the Sohn Charity Conference to name a few.The  Funds4Teachers event is happening the dates below:Locations/DatesAtlanta - Apr 25Boston - June 6Chicago - June 18New York - Sep 26To learn more about how to support this initiative and register click here: https://iconnections.io/funds4teachers/Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok at @thewallstreetskinnyhttps://www.instagram.com/thewallstreetskinny/

Today is part II of our "intro to crypto" series.  We're back with Chris Newhouse to discuss breaking into careers in the digital currency space, the evolution of both layer I and layer II technologies within the defi ecosystem, derivatives trading and the evolution of new platforms to support broader institutionalized moneymaking opportunities.  A great conversation for anyone who is interested in understanding crypto trading mechanics, curious in how to start a career in the industry, or wondering whether the crypto culture in real life bears any resemblance to the wild stuff you might see on social media!The  Funds4Teachers event is happening the dates below:Locations/DatesAtlanta - Apr 25Boston - June 6Chicago - June 18New York - Sep 26To learn more about how to support this initiative and register click here: https://iconnections.io/funds4teachers/Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok at @thewallstreetskinnyhttps://www.instagram.com/thewallstreetskinny/

Bitcoin is at an all-time high. New digital currency ETFs are coming to the market, broadening access to and increasing the legitimacy of an asset class that very few people truly understand. So we quickly caught up with our cryptocurrency expert Christopher Newhouse, DeFi Analyst at Cumberland Labs, to ask: what the heck is going on in crypto??In this episode, we discuss not only the current state of the market, but also give listeners a bit of a crash course in how these cryptocurrencies are used, the scope of the ecosystem, and a quick explainer on the differences between some of the big names you may have heard of.This is part one of a two part series. Next week we will bring Chris back on for a deeper dive into the evolution of careers in the crypto space, layer two economies, and the institutional framework supporting the future of crypto trading.The  Funds4Teachers event is happening the dates below:Locations/DatesAtlanta - Apr 25Boston - June 6Chicago - June 18New York - Sep 26To learn more about how to support this initiative and register click here: https://iconnections.io/funds4teachers/Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok at @thewallstreetskinnyhttps://www.instagram.com/thewallstreetskinny/

Managing the wealth of the world's richest clientele is an exciting, prestigious, high stakes business.  We sat down with Tony Abbiati, CEO of SCS Financial, an ultra high net worth private wealth management firm to understand the business model of RIAs (Registered Investment Advisors) vs. banks and broker dealers, the demands and challenges of these clients, the path to breaking into the business and achieving success, and the crazy things you may have to do in the name of client service!  Tony co-founded SCS Financial Services in 2002.  He has over 22 years of experience in the investment business.  Prior to SCS, he was a Vice President in the Private Wealth Management Group of Goldman Sachs. Tony began his career at Biogen, Inc. as a process engineer. Tony is actively involved in Year Up, a Boston based non-profit focused on empowering urban young adults. Tony earned a BA in Biochemistry from Bowdoin College and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.The  Funds4Teachers event is happening the dates below:Locations/DatesAtlanta - Apr 25Boston - June 6Chicago - June 18New York - Sep 26To learn more about how to support this initiative and register click here: https://iconnections.io/funds4teachers/Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok at @thewallstreetskinnyhttps://www.instagram.com/thewallstreetskinny/

Back by popular demand!!  We continue a listener favorite: the finance of "Succession", the hit HBO series. We explore the hot topics of private equity, venture capital, mergers & acquisitions, hostile LBOs, and MORE through the lens of one of our all-time favorite shows.   Even if you watched the show and loved it, you might not have understood all of the finer points!  We are here to break down the key corporate finance plot points driving the drama. Catch up on the finance of Succession Season 1:on Apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-deep-dive-into-the-finance-of-hbos-succession-season-1/id1680425507?i=1000617362848on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/0WZmy82wGfoYigQOOHtDx0?si=BF2K9NGoRNO4H1rLAbhk8gThe  Funds4Teachers event is happening the dates below:Locations/DatesAtlanta - Apr 25Boston - June 6Chicago - June 18New York - Sep 26To learn more about how to support this initiative and register click here: https://iconnections.io/funds4teachers/Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok at @thewallstreetskinnyhttps://www.instagram.com/thewallstreetskinny/

What is Project Finance?  In this episode, we are joined again by Rahul Culas, Julie Kim, and David Albert to get into the basics of this sector of Investment Banking.  We explain what project finance is and why it's used, how it differs from the types of financing that traditional companies do, who uses project financing, who invests in project financing and more. We explore what the career path can look like from sell side Project Finance within the Investment Banking or Capital Markets division of a bank to energy and infrastructure investing at a buy side Private Equity firm.  This episode is also an incredible deep dive into the role of relationships and mentors within the industry.  You'll hear the crazy story of how Rahul and David moved heaven and earth to bring Julie with them when they moved from Morgan Stanley to Carlyle Group, one of the world's most prestigious Private Equity megafunds. Rahul Culas is Partner at 1585 Healthcare, an investment firm focused on healthcare services investments. Formerly, Rahul was a Partner and Managing Director at The Carlyle Group, where he co-headed funds dedicated to energy investments. Prior to Carlyle, Rahul was Head of Structured Power Finance at Morgan Stanley. Earlier in his career, he worked at Goldman Sachs in the Fixed Income Currency and Commodities Division. Rahul graduated with a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (“IIT”), Bombay, and a Masters in Human Computer Interaction from the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon UniversityJulie Kim is Partner at 1585 Healthcare. Formerly, Julie was a  Principal at The Carlyle Group, where she played the dual role of being on the investment side as well as the Chief Operating Officer of funds dedicated to energy investments. Prior to Carlyle, Julie was an associate in Project Finance at Morgan Stanley. Earlier in her career, she worked in the Equity Derivatives group in Equity Capital Markets at Morgan Stanley. Julie graduated with a BS in Math and Finance from MIT. David Albert is Partner at 1585 Healthcare. Formerly, David was a Partner and Managing Director at The Carlyle Group, where he co-headed funds dedicated to energy investments. Prior to Carlyle, David was the Head of Tax Equity and Project & Structured Finance at Morgan Stanley.  Earlier in his career, he worked at Morgan Stanley in the M&A group and Princes Gate Investors, a private equity fund within Morgan Stanley.  He started his career at Salomon Brothers. David graduated with a BS in Economics from Wharton and an MBA, also from Wharton.The  Funds4Teachers event is happening the dates below:Locations/DatesAtlanta - Apr 25Boston - June 6Chicago - June 18New York - Sep 26To learn more about how to support this initiative and register click here: https://iconnections.io/funds4teachers/Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok at @thewallstreetskinnyhttps://www.instagram.com/thewallstreetskinny/

Today as a followup to last week's episode where we sat down with two doctors, we are chatting with two investors in the Healthcare Private Equity space, not only talking about that segment of the investment community but also answering the mountain of questions we’ve gotten from listeners who ARE doctors and want to pivot into the world of finance but don’t know how.  Rahul Culas is Partner at 1585 Healthcare, an investment firm focused on healthcare services investments.Formerly, Rahul was a Partner and Managing Director at The Carlyle Group, where he co-headed funds dedicated to energy investments. Prior to Carlyle, Rahul was Head of Structured Power Finance at Morgan Stanley. Earlier in his career, he worked at Goldman Sachs in the Fixed Income Currency and Commodities Division.Rahul graduated with a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (“IIT”), Bombay, and a Masters in Human Computer Interaction from the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon UniversityJulie Kim is Partner at 1585 Healthcare.Formerly, Julie was a  Principal at The Carlyle Group, where she played the dual role of being on the investment side as well as the Chief Operating Officer of funds dedicated to energy investments. Prior to Carlyle, Julie was an associate in Project Finance at Morgan Stanley. Earlier in her career, she worked in the Equity Derivatives group in Equity Capital Markets at Morgan Stanley.Julie graduated from MIT. The  Funds4Teachers event is happening the dates below:Locations/DatesAtlanta - Apr 25Boston - June 6Chicago - June 18New York - Sep 26To learn more about how to support this initiative and register click here: https://iconnections.io/funds4teachers/Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok at @thewallstreetskinnyhttps://www.instagram.com/thewallstreetskinny/

Many ambitious young people (Kristen included) consider pursuing a number of prestigious careers outside the financial services industry, and medicine often tops the list.  Today we are joined by two incredibly accomplished doctors --- Dr. Bella Avanessian,  a board certified plastic surgeon with a focus on gender affirmation, and Dr. Nisha Narayanan, a pediatric ER doctor, double board certified in pediatrics and pediatrics ER. --- to get an in depth understanding of the educational path, the costs, the compensation, the sacrifices, and the payoffs of becoming a doctor in America.  We talk about the tough choices facing young people considering a career in medicine and the resulting brain drain out of the field.  Part 1 of a two-part series where we will subsequently explore the field of Healthcare PE, this is a must-listen episode for anyone curious to understand the role of doctors in the American healthcare system.   Dr Bella Avanessian is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon who specializes in gender-affirming surgery. She is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Mount Sinai in New York. She received a BS in biomedical engineering and her medical degree from Brown University. She completed her residency training in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital. She then trained as the inaugural fellow in the nation’s first Transgender Surgery Fellowship at Mount Sinai. She is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Medical Honor Society, American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).Dr. Nisha Narayanan specializes in pediatric emergency medicine. She is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine and Clinical Pediatrics at New York Presbyterian- Weill Cornell Medicine. After receiving her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, she obtained her medical degree at the George Washington University School of Medicine with a concentration in Health Policy. She completed her pediatrics residency at the University of California, Irvine- Children’s Hospital of Orange County and subsequently completed a fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine at the New York University School of Medicine- Bellevue Hospital Center. Dr. Narayanan is the co-founder of Team Kid Power, an international non-profit that promotes pediatric cardiometabolic health in underserved communities. She is the primary investigator of a multi-site, school-based academic-community intervention to help implement diet and exercise policy in underfunded schools. She has received numerous awards for her work. Dr. Narayanan has co-authored more than 15 publications and book chapters. Her interests include community engagement, health policy, child abuse, and quality improvement.The  Funds4Teachers event is happening the dates below:Locations/DatesAtlanta - Apr 25Boston - June 6Chicago - June 18New York - Sep 26To learn more about how to support this initiative and register click here: https://iconnections.io/funds4teachers/Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok at @thewallstreetskinnyhttps://www.instagram.com/thewallstreetskinny/

Let's talk about MONEY.  Maybe you're hoping to land a high paying job on Wall Street . Maybe you're hoping to maximize your earnings potential in your current job.  Or maybe you know people who work on Wall Street and are curious to understand why their pay structure is so different from most other jobs.  Whatever your perspective may be, THIS episode is the first open, honest, tell-all guide explaining exactly how compensation works on Wall Street.  We spill the secrets on how to negotiate your pay, how pay cycles work, what a "bonus" actually is, how to navigate difficult conversations, and how to position yourself for the optimal career path.  You will have specific action items after listening to this podcast that will empower you to take control of your pay, no matter what the specifics of your current circumstance.The  Funds4Teachers event is happening the dates below:Locations/DatesAtlanta - Apr 25Boston - June 6Chicago - June 18New York - Sep 26To learn more about how to support this initiative and register click here: https://iconnections.io/funds4teachers/Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok at @thewallstreetskinnyhttps://www.instagram.com/thewallstreetskinny/

Today we take a deep dive into Private Equity  --- specifically, Lower Middle Market PE.  We sit down with experienced investor A.J. Tracey and discuss topics ranging from "what is the traditional path to PE?" to "what is a day in the life like?", and  "how important is the name of the college or firm you're coming from?".  We explore the differences between megafunds and MM/LMM PE as it pertains to investment strategy, nitty gritty of the job, and recruiting methods.  We also discuss the economics of pay, GP catchup, blind pools, when and how PE firms start collecting fees, and more. If you have ever considered working in PE or wanted to understand the world of Private Equity, THIS is the episode for you!A.J. is currently in investor with Cartess Investment Partners, a lower middle-market private equity firm focused on investing with exceptional operators in the paper, packaging and food industries. Prior to joining Cartess, A.J. was a Principal with AGR Partners and a Vice President with Kainos Capital where he focused on investments in the agriculture and food industries. A.J. began his principal investing career as an Associate with CIC Partners. A.J. has an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a BA from Brown University. A.J. resides in Southlake, TX with his wife and two children.The  Funds4Teachers event is happening the dates below:Locations/DatesAtlanta - Apr 25Boston - June 6Chicago - June 18New York - Sep 26To learn more about how to support this initiative and register click here: https://iconnections.io/funds4teachers/Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok at @thewallstreetskinnyhttps://www.instagram.com/thewallstreetskinny/

Ever heard of a Private Equity "search fund" aka entrepreneurship through acquisition?  Well, we hadn't either... until this episode!  Search funds are a relatively little-known but incredibly exciting and highly profitable niche within the private equity  investment space. Our guest, Nate Wasson, co-founder of growth equity firm Hal-Bar Partners, joins us to explain how Search Funds work and explore themes of entrepreneurship through acquisition.  We discuss everything ranging the path to a career within one of these funds which is very different from the traditional Private Equity model,  the role and mechanics of family offices in the financial ecosystem,  values-based investing and so much more. This episode is a MUST LISTEN for anyone curious about impact investing or anyone who is an experienced operators considering making a career switch.    One of our most fascinating and important episodes ever!!If you are interested in learning more about HalBar partners, please click here:  https://halbar.io/Nate Wasson is the co-founder of HalBar Partners, a growth-equity firm and is the co-founder and principal member of Alvearia, a family office co-investing community.Nate has over 20 years of expertise advising investors and family offices, as well as their portfolio companies and mid-market businesses. His experience lies at the intersection of institutional family enterprise, investment management, and impact strategy for both national and international investors.  Nate spent his early career in investment management, business banking, and as a JPMorgan consultant; he led teams ranging in size from two to 200. Nate later served as a Principal and Managing Director for Bank of Montreal’s US Private Bank, where he was involved in security selection, portfolio construction, marketing, operations, management, and investment product evaluation.  After leaving Bank of Montreal, Nate developed the Midwest family office practice for Capital Group; there, he developed investment strategy for pre-institutional family offices focused on both public and private opportunities.  He later joined Silicon Valley Bank to develop their institutional investment platforms, modern family office practice, and ESG investing strategy.He serves as a subject matter expert in private equity, secondaries, ESG, and portfolio construction.  Nate holds an undergraduate degree from Valparaiso University and an MBA from the Yale School of Management, with a concentration in asset management.The  Funds4Teachers event is happening the dates below:Locations/DatesAtlanta - Apr 25Boston - June 6Chicago - June 18New York - Sep 26To learn more about how to support this initiative and register click here: https://iconnections.io/funds4teachers/Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok at @thewallstreetskinnyhttps://www.instagram.com/thewallstreetskinny/