CAIS Live Conversations, Building With Alts

The “OG” of Private Credit: Randy Schwimmer on the Middle Market’s Movement (EP. 39)

Recorded at CAIS Live | Leaders in Wealth, CAIS Co-President Brad Walker sits down with Randy Schwimmer, Vice Chairman and Chief Investment Strategist at Churchill Asset Management, a Nuveen affiliate. Randy shares his view on why he believes the core middle market may be one of the most overlooked corners of the private market and why the current wave of headline risk, from tariffs to rate uncertainty, could reinforce that case. They also discuss Churchill’s origination model, the education gap between institutional and private wealth investors, what Randy believes is driving redemption pressure across the industry, and why he sees illiquidity as a feature, not a flaw. Chapters  1. A Career Built in the Middle Market (00:02:54) 2. Churchill's Role Inside Nuveen (00:06:33)  3. Bridging the Gap to Private Wealth (00:12:26)  4. Headline Risk and the "Gift of the Month Club" (00:15:02)  5. Seeing Through the Macro Noise (00:18:30)  6. What Private Markets May Solve for in Portfolios (00:27:58)  7. Redemption Pressure and the Liquidity Question (00:31:57)  8. Hardest Lesson in 30 Years of Credit (00:40:21)  9. NAV Marks and Transparency (00:48:07)  10. The OG of Private Credit (00:50:20)

From Intel to Independence: Jerry Verseput on Correlation, Customization, & Structured Notes (38)

Structured notes, portfolio customization, and rethinking what diversification really means—Jerry Verseput, founder of Veripax (now part of HUB International), brings an engineer’s perspective to wealth management. On this episode of CAIS Live Conversations: Building With Alts, Jerry sits down with CAIS CMO Alex Cavalieri to share how the Great Financial Crisis reshaped his approach to portfolio construction, his views on traditional asset class diversification as “different colors of M&Ms,” and how structured notes may help advisors target outcomes rather than chase benchmarks. They also discuss the realities of building and eventually selling an independent RIA, navigating liquidity conversations, and what Jerry sees ahead for the wealth management industry.

From Products to Portfolio: Jon Diorio on BlackRock’s Private Markets Focus (EP. 37)

Jon Diorio, Head of Alternatives for US Wealth, BlackRock, joins CAIS Co-President Brad Walker on CAIS Live Conversations: Building With Alts to discuss how he sees alternative investments reshaping wealth management for financial advisors. Jon shares how BlackRock is building its private markets platform across private equity, private credit, and infrastructure. He gets into why he thinks model portfolios may help advisors. They also explore the macro landscape, liquidity , and Jon’s views on why education remains key. Chapters  1. The Shift from Brokerage to Advisory (01:38) 2. Leading Product and Alternatives at BlackRock (06:11)  3. BlackRock’s Private Market Platform: GIPS, GPS, and Preqin (08:26)  4. Closing the Adoption Gap in Alternative Investments (11:48)  5. Model Portfolios and the Convergence of Public & Private Markets (14:39)  6. The Client Conversation: Access, Opportunity, and Private Credit (19:00)  7. Navigating the 2026 Macro Landscape (23:30)  8. Hedge Funds, AI-Driven Investing, and M&A Opportunities (27:13)  9. Sequencing Private Markets for High-Net-Worth Portfolios (29:37)  10. Liquidity as a Feature in Private Markets (32:34)  11. Words of Wisdom: Show Up, Say Yes, and Be a Life Coach (36:39)

REX Shares & CAIS Capital Markets on the Future of Structured ETFs (EP. 36)

Structured ETFs are shaping how financial advisors access yield-oriented strategies. In this episode of CAIS Live Conversations, Brad Walker sits down with Scott Acheychek, COO of REX Shares, and Marc Premselaar, Head of CAIS Capital Markets, on site at CAIS Live | Capital Markets.   They get into how structured ETFs are evolving, what makes them different from traditional vehicles, and how product design, distribution, and education may shape adoption for wealth investors. Scott shares the origin story behind REX’s innovation mindset, while Marc discusses how capital markets execution may impact advisor outcomes.  For financial advisors navigating product innovation and market structure, this conversation may offer practical insight into how structured ETFs could fit within modern portfolio construction. Chapters  1. What Is REX Shares? Innovation in ETFs (00:02:52)  2. ETF Market Growth & Advisor Flows (00:05:00)  3. The Evolution of Structured Investments (00:06:02)  4. The CAIS & REX Collaboration: ACTL Autocallable Income ETF (00:11:59)  5. Portfolio Construction: Where ACTL May Fit (00:15:37)  6. Covered Call ETFs, Alternative Income & Defined Outcome Strategies (00:17:18) 7. Market Outlook: Volatility, Geopolitics & Positioning (00:21:35)  8. The Future of Structured ETFs & Defined Income (00:26:35)  9. Advisor Education & Structured Notes (00:29:52)  10.  10. Career Advice: Relationships & Mean Reversion (00:34:10)

Arctos and CAIS Advisors on Investing Across Sports Ecosystems (EP. 35)

In this episode of CAIS Live Conversations: Building With Alts, CAIS Co-President Brad Walker sits down with Chad Hutchinson, Partner at Arctos Partners, and CAIS Advisors CIO Neil Blundell to explore sports, media, and entertainment as an emerging asset class. The group discusses how changes in league rules have broadened access to franchise ownership and why teams are increasingly viewed as intellectual property platforms. They also touch on the role of media rights, scarcity, and global fan engagement, along with insights into college sports, the evolving media landscape, and how fandom can influence long-term economic value.