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PODCAST

Billion Dollar Backstory

Host Stacy Havener brings you the storytelling tips, sales strategies, behavioral secrets, and inspirational stories that help YOU turn your words into dollars. Learn from sales and marketing experts. Meet finance and investment leaders, founders and fund managers who have made it, and the ones on the rise. Because there are people behind the portfolios. Their stories matter. So does yours. Presented by: Ultimus Fund Solutions // www.ultimusfundsolutions.com GemCap //

business investing

All Episodes

7:15

92: Crowd Control—How to Nail Investor Meetings (Even...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/04/09

There’s nothing worse than walking into a conference room full of investors. Suddenly, everything you thought you knew about running a great meeting goes out the window.You’re wondering who to make eye contact with, whether anyone is actually interested, and why no one is saying anything. Crowded meetings are awkward. They’re intimidating. But they aren’t impossible to rock. You just need a good strategy, and that’s exactly what Stacy’s giving you today. In this Episode, she breaks

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8:45

91: The 4 Traits Every Great Fundraiser Has (and...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/04/02

Whether you’re raising capital on your own or thinking about hiring someone to help, chances are… you’re focused on all the wrong things.The biggest lesson Stacy learned while raising $8B for boutique asset managers (which ultimately helped drive over $30B in follow-on AUM)? Flashy resumes, market hot takes, and smooth talkers don’t close deals.The fundraisers who consistently crush it in meetings share four specific traits, and in this Episode, Stacy’s breaking them down, plus:Why a CFA

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9:22

90: Are Allocators Even on LinkedIn? How to Build...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/03/26

Raising capital starts with real relationships. And in 2025, social media is the easiest way to make those connections…right?Well… not always.What if the allocators you’re trying to reach aren’t posting? You can’t comment. You can’t DM them. Heck, maybe they don’t even accept your connection requests on LinkedIn. Then what? How do you reach someone who seems impossible to reach? How do you start a conversation without sending an email pitch that gets buried?If these questions sound

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9:07

89: The 5 Biggest Storytelling Mistakes Fund Managers...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/03/19

You know storytelling is powerful. You’ve heard that facts don’t close deals—feelings do.But when it comes time to talk about yourself, it suddenly feels...awkward.When is the right time to tell a story? And how do you know if you’re sharing too much or sounding too braggy? Listen in as Stacy tackles these questions and breaks down: The #1 storytelling mistake fund managers make Why telling your backstory can feel awkward (and how to share yours without sounding braggy)How to ditch the

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10:21

88: How to Stand Out (and Win Over Investors) in a...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/03/12

As a boutique, blending in isn’t just a mistake; it’s a death sentence.You don’t need to be BlackRock. You need to own what makes your fund different. But let’s be real: finding your edge—and actually leading with it—can feel like showing up to a black-tie event in your pajamas. Awkward. Exposed. Uncomfortable.That’s why in this Episode, Stacy breaks down:Why trying to prove you’re “better” is a losing game for boutiquesThe 3D Model for uncovering what actually makes your fund stand outHow

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61:20

B$B 87: People Invest in People | $6B CEO Conor Hoey...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/03/05

Raising capital isn’t about having the perfect pitch deck. And there’s no magic button that makes assets pour in.At the end of the day, it all comes down to one thing: trust.If you want to grow your boutique, you have to build real relationships with investors. Take it from $6B CEO Conor Hoey. He’s spent over a decade raising capital, leading investments, and even securing the right backers for his football club. And along the way, he’s learned one simple truth: People do business with

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8:11

86: Objection! Why Investors Say No (and How to Get...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/02/26

Most fund managers panic when investors push back.They freeze. They fumble. And they walk away from capital they almost had.Not because their pitch was bad but because they didn’t know how to handle objections with confidence.In this Episode, Stacy is sharing her best tips for handling push back like a pro. She’s breaking down: Why objections can actually be your best friend - and bring you closer to a yes - IF you shift your mindset The most common investor pushbacks you need to be ready

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71:32

85: Meet Kristof Gleich – President & CIO of $50B...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/02/19

Struggling to stand out to allocators? Wondering why your pitch isn’t landing?Kristof Gleich has sat on both sides of the table. Today, he’s the President & CIO of $50B Harbor Capital, but before that? He spent 8+ years leading manager selection at JP Morgan, fielding pitches from managers just like you.In this episode, he and Stacy dive into:Kristof’s path from physics to finance—how he went from studying physics to landing his first finance job at Goldman Sachs right after 9/11What

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79:35

84 Meet Amy Volas – Founder of Avenue Talent Partners...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/02/12

If you’re always chasing investors, hires, or deals… you’re doing it wrong.The most successful boutique founders don’t try to close everyone. They focus on alignment—and that’s exactly what Amy Volas is here to help you master.As a top sales leader turned founder of Avenue Talent Partners, she helps startups hire the right sales leaders. Along the way, she’s seen the costly mistakes founders make—whether they’re hiring, fundraising, or scaling—and she’s here to help you avoid themIn this

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54:07

83: Meet Judith MacKenzie - Founder of Downing Fund...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/02/05

Judith MacKenzie’s path is as unconventional as it is inspiring. She didn’t learn to invest on Wall Street. The lessons that led her to the founder’s seat, running the boutique investment arm of $2.5B Downing LLP, started in her dad’s small news and ice cream shop in the Highlands long before finance was on her radar.In this Episode, she sits down with Stacy to discuss: Her backstory– the surprising business lessons she learned as a kid and how they still influence her investing todayWhy

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61:14

82: The Intersection of Economics and Storytelling...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2024/12/18

What if I told you the Chief Strategy Officer of the largest bank in the Eurozone could teach you some ultra-valuable lessons about storytelling, thought leadership, and innovation?You’d probably be surprised, right? I don’t blame you.Even Stacy had her own mental picture of what a “banker” might be like before sitting down with Philippe Gijsels—and let’s just say this conversation shattered every stereotype.Listen in today to hear Philippe and Stacy discuss: What Darwin can teach us about

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6:44

81: How to Grow Your AUM Without a Big Team or Budget...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2024/12/11

In this edition of Story Snacks, Stacy breaks down:Why thought leadership is the ultimate equalizer for smaller fundsHer Four A’s Framework for using thought leadership to increase AUM without a big team or budgetHow to pick the marketing platform that matches your unique skills (and feels doable for you)The biggest mindset trap that keeps fund managers stuck—and how to avoid itThis is Story Snacks! A bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic

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59:07

80: From Multi-Billion Ziff Brothers to $150B...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2024/12/04

At 17, Jonathan Treussard hopped on a one-way flight from Paris to LA with dreams of being a musician. He didn’t wind up playing jazz professionally, but he did end up managing billions for some of the world’s wealthiest families. Listen in as Jonathan and Stacy discuss his big pivot from music to finance, plus: The lessons he learned navigating the Great Financial Crisis at Ziff Brothers InvestmentsHis perspective on balancing risk, regret, and resilience in wealth managementThe gap he

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7:39

79: What Most Fund Managers Overlook When Hiring...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2024/11/27

If you’re like most fund managers, you’re busy serving your current clients—so much so that bringing in new ones feels overwhelming. After all, you’re not a salesperson, and it may even make you a little uncomfortable to hit the pavement and sell your services. Hiring marketing support can help you sidestep that discomfort and bring in more business. On the other hand, hiring before you’re ready could end up costing you time and money in the long run. That’s why, in this Episode, Stacy

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51:02

78: An Innovative Approach to Investing in the Energy...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2024/11/20

Show Notes: When considering investing in the energy sector, most investors assume there are two paths to pursue: either the traditional fossil fuels route or one aligned with a greener future. Lisa Audet Founder & CIO of Tall Trees Capital believes in a third, better, way: The holistic approach represented by the energy transition, a structural megatrend affecting every sector of the economy. In this Episode, Lisa and Stacy discuss: How Lisa’s time at Tiger Cub firm sharpened her

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56:52

77: Founder/CEO of $1.5B First Ascent (Acquired by...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2024/11/13

Nobody knows what it takes to scale to the top like GEOWealth’s strategic advisor Scott MacKillop —he’s climbed literal mountains AND built some of the most successful TAMPS in the game.In this Episode, Scott and Stacy discuss: His backstory: From dreaming of following his father's footsteps as a lawyer and practicing corporate and securities law to leaping into asset managementHis journey to founding and scaling First Ascent to over $1.5B in assets and his recent sale to GeoWealth.What

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7:34

76. How to Find the Right Investors When You Have a...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2024/11/06

Not sure how to find investors that are willing to bet on your brand new fund?Stacy’s got you covered. Listen in as she breaks down: How the Rogers Adoption Curve applies to finding the right investors The difference between early adopters (like RIAs & family offices) and late-stage allocators Why targeting late-stage firms leads to dead ends Why smaller investment committees with fewer decision-makers = less red tapeA smarter way to screen prospects, so you only spend time pitching

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58:08

75: How $75B Asset Manager GMO Sparked an...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2024/10/30

Dr. Martin Tarlie spent years at GMO, the iconic Boston asset manager, and now leads an award-winning investing platform, Nebo Wealth. In this Episode, Martin and Stacy discuss: His backstory: from physicist/golf-performance product developer to SaaS founder How the physics mindset that followed him into the investment world turned into a novel investing approach The massive communication gap between asset managers and investorsWhy the fascination with the 60/40 allocation is misguidedHow

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52:31

74: Ex-ING $20B Bond Mgr to 500k Macro Research...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2024/10/23

Alfonso Peccatiello built a following of 500,000 on LinkedIn by doing something radical – by being a real, authentic human in the fund world. And that authentic social presence helped him close investment deals for his new hedge fund, Palinuro Capital. Alfonso’s story is proof that it pays to challenge the status quo and to put people (and connections) first – even in a numbers-obsessed industry. Want the full story? Join Alfonso and Stacy as they discuss:Alfonso’s backstory: How a car

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7:32

73: How Do I Move Deals Through the Funnel | Story...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2024/10/16

Struggling to win investors over? Stop wasting time perfecting your pitch and start laying the groundwork that’ll actually help you seal the deal. In this episode, Stacy shares the steps you can take to prime your prospects to invest so they’re ready to say hell yes before you even think about pitching. This is Story Snacks! A bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in less than 20 minutes per week!Want More Help With Storytelling? +

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133 results

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