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As I have incessantly ranted about in past writings, an investment analyst’s inbox has the characteristics of a dark and eerie swamp. Wading through the chest-high sludge of unread messages, reference requests, quarterly GP correspondences, annual meeting invites, current manager meeting/coffee requests, etc., can be more deflating than a backhanded compliment about the majesty of […]

The “GP and prospective LP” dynamic is a complex one. The moving pieces are dizzying at best and indecipherable at worst. The asymmetricity at play resembles a game with everchanging rules – an appropriate reaction to this is “nonplussed” – so confusing that parties are unsure how to portray their bewilderment. From an allocator’s perspective,

I vividly recall sitting in multiple finalist presentations where the prospective clients’ gotcha question was “Can you please tell us how you source investment ideas?”. I could always tell this was a loaded question because everyone has an opinion on the best ways to source investment managers. Also, everyone tends to have an opinion of

The frenetic pace of information synthesizing and the sheer number of arbitrary tasks that make up a research analyst’s work life sometimes cause things to slip through the cracks. I have placed considerable emphasis in past articles on the importance of GPs being well-prepared for intro meetings to increase the likelihood of further LP engagement,

From an allocator’s perspective, regardless of how inclusive (for legitimate or CYA reasons) due diligence appears on the surface, it remains a very lonely endeavor. A research analyst’s solitude is further intensified when assessing a private assets investment opportunity. In the private investment research profession, it would seem that the initial investment period that lasts

I have always pondered the difficulties placement agents must face while pursuing excellence in their jobs. There are, however, so many placement agents in existence, enough evidence of capital raised via placement agents, and tangible evidence of financial reward as a result, that it jolts me selfishly back to thinking about the difficulty of my

Dear Venture Capital, It has been a while now since we first met, and I must say it’s been a whirlwind of a ride. Even though you admirably suppress your true volatile nature with time lags and optimistic sentiment, you still vehemently reserve the right to dish out whiplash at will. Many warned me about

It is universally known that email inboxes are very scary places. As you enter your inbox, the specter of unread, follow-up, and still-to-be-responded-to messages create an ever-present menacing feeling that we all battle daily. The inbox of a capital allocator’s research analyst is a particularly ominous place. Other than direct cold calls (which have been

In private assets investing, although capital tends to be locked up for a relatively long time, and LPs have little ability to alter investment outcomes, “information” remains king, queen, and executioner. I always encourage GPs to embrace their leadership role fully – don’t be overly distracted by LP noise – you were picked for a

In investing, taking the path least traveled is almost always ideal. However, for exceptional returns (top quartile) relative to peers,  not only do you have to be alone (or among very few others), but you also have to be right – therein lies the wrinkle. Many a job and good reputations have been lost by