uncorrelated ALtsops

8:30 am - Registration & Refreshments

9:00 am - Investor Insight Tables

Alternative allocators continue to reshape capital flows in the private markets, yet many managers still misunderstand how these LPs evaluate strategies or build relationships. Investor Insight Tables create candid, small-group settings where allocators—ranging from family offices to independent RIAs—share how they allocate, what they prioritize, and how managers can stand out. Each session includes a brief overview followed by informal discussion, offering practical intelligence on engagement strategies in today’s evolving investment landscape.

9:30 am - Opening & Welcome Remarks

9:45 am - Session 1: Attracting Anchor and Early-Stage Investors

Securing early-stage investments for an alternative fund is more challenging and complex than ever. Accessing the family office sector, the wealth management channel, and traditional fund seeders can be particularly difficult. This panel will explore the most effective strategies for attracting anchor, seed, and early-stage investors, and how these partnerships can pave the way toward institutional readiness.

• Speaker: Scott Sherman, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, MESA Lane Capital Partners LLC

• Speaker: Patrick Campo, Principal, Titan Advisors

• Speaker: Jared Fogel, Investor, Metalmark Capital

• Moderator: Adam Ross, Co-Founder, AGR CPAs

   

10:30 Am - Session 2: Asset Manager Panel: Differentiating your Practice with Insurance Dedicated Funds (“IDFs”)

For many private credit and hedge fund managers, creating an IDF can enable them to improve net-of-tax investment outcomes, as well as deliver additional optionality for tax-sensitive clients. This panel will discuss what IDFs are, what clients they are appropriate for, best practices in creating a new IDF, as well as explore how these structures can be used as an “offensive tool” by asset managers looking to raise capital from tax-sensitive clients.

• Speaker: Fred Buffone, Partner, Freedom 3 Capital

• Speaker: Joshua Chmara, Principal | SVP Private Debt, Neuberger Berman

• Moderator: David C. Reynolds, Chief Marketing Officer, Spearhead Administrative Services

11:15 Am - Networking Break

11:30 Am - Session 3: RIA Panel: Allocating to Alternatives using PPLI & PPVA

An increasing number of sophisticated ultra-high net worth and family office investors are utilizing Private Placement Life Insurance (“PPLI”) and Private Placement Variable Annuity (“PPVA”) as a tax-efficient asset location on their balance sheet. These solutions can be especially impactful for clients that desire access to alternative strategies. Learn how leading RIAs are leveraging bespoke Separate Managed Account (“SMA”) programs for PPLI/PPVA, to improve the net-of-tax returns and long term planning outcomes for their clients.

• Speaker: Chad Jaffee, Associate Partner, Regional Director of Wealth Planning, Corient

• Speaker: Christopher Fineburg, Senior Wealth Advisor, Next Capital Management, LLC

• Speaker: Adam Miller, President & COO, Luxor Capital Group

• Moderator: Addison West, Senior Managing Director, Axcelus Financial

12:15 pm - Session 4: The Banking Relationship: Critical to Fund Success

Strong banking relationships are essential for alternative fund managers, impacting everything from account setup and cash management to credit facilities and counterparty risk. This panel will explore the evolving banking landscape, highlight common challenges, and provide insights on navigating requirements to ensure stability, resilience, and long-term success.

• Speaker: Glen Carballo, Director - Business Development, Dime Private and Commercial Banking

• Speaker: Michael Watts, Head of Fund Finance, Dime Private and Commercial Banking

• Speaker: Mario Caracappa, Executive Vice President, Chief Treasury Management Officer, Dime Community Bank

• Moderator: Peter Murrugarra, Co-Founder & President, Inti Advisors Inc.
  

1:00 pm - Fireside Chat with Stephanie SMith

This special lunchtime conversation features Harriet Coleman of With Intelligence and Stephanie Smith, Chief Operating Officer – Equity Private Markets & BlackRock Capital Markets at BlackRock. With extensive experience guiding large-scale investment operations and driving strategic growth, Stephanie will explore how operational excellence is shaping the future of alternatives. The discussion will focus on leadership, scaling strategies, and aligning execution with evolving market dynamics—offering practical insights for allocators, fund managers, and service providers alike.

• Interviewer: Harriet Coleman, Senior Reporter, With Intelligence

• Special Guest: Stephanie Smith, Chief Operating Officer - Equity Private Markets & BlackRock Capital Markets, BlackRock

2:00 Pm - Investor Insight Tables

2:30 PM - Session 5: The Family Office Perspective on Alts

Different types of alternative investment fund investors have varying interpretations of best practices in the manager selection and vetting process. While family offices are often the most flexible in their sourcing and due diligence architecture, this panel will explore the key areas where family offices are more stringent, as well as where they allow greater flexibility, providing insights into their approach.

• Speaker: Scott V. Beechert, Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel, Granby Capital Management, LLC

• Speaker: Steve Kahn, Head of Operations, Talpion Fund Management

• Speaker: David Wertentheil, Partner, Worth Venture Partners

• Speaker: James Nazarov, Nazarov Family Office

• Moderator: Angelo Robles, Founder & CEO, SFO Continuity
  

3:15 pm - Session 6: ODD Essentials: What Allocators Look For Before They Invest

Capital raising depends as much on operational integrity as investment skill. Operational Due Diligence (ODD) exposes flaws that can undermine allocator confidence, regardless of performance. This panel explores the essential criteria investors weigh during ODD, the subtle risks often missed, and the steps managers can take to present a resilient, investable fund.

• Speaker: David Warsoff, Executive Director, Head of Operational Risk, J.P. Morgan Alternative Asset Management

• Speaker: Cordell Thomas II, Director of Operations, New York State Nurses Association Pension Plan and Benefits Fund

• Speaker: Eric Lazear, Deputy Chief Operating Officer - Head of Operational Due Diligence, Titan Advisors

• Moderator: Andrew Fisch, Managing Partner, Aurum Investment Mgmt. / Blue Dot Project
  

4:00 pm - Networking Break

4:15 PM - Session 7: The “Holy Grail”? Wealth Managers and Independent RIAs are Allocating to Alts

As traditional areas of investment management become increasingly commoditized, private funds offer a unique chance for differentiation, particularly within the wealth management and the independent RIA channels. With these investors increasingly exploring alternative investments, the accessibility of these opportunities has never been greater, but also more fragmented. This panel will explore how this sector could be the “holy grail” for new alternative investment fund managers seeking to raise capital, and a critical step towards capitalizing on this potential.

• Speaker: Ram Ahluwalia, CEO & Founder, Lumida Wealth

• Speaker: Paul Padovani, Chief Investment Officer , Innovative Capital Solutions

• Speaker: Christian Katzman, Head of Portfolio Advisory – Institutional & Private Client Services, Northwestern Mutual

• Speaker: Joshua A. Bronstein, CFA, Senior Vice President, Wealth Advisor, Stiefel Bronstein Team, Neuberger Berman

• Moderator: Greg Poapst, Managing Partner, Fundviews Capital

5:00 pm - Session 8: Partnering with Your Service Providers to Grow Your Fund

This panel examines how fund managers can shift their view of service providers from transactional relationships to strategic partnerships. By fostering deeper alignment and collaboration, managers can unlock new avenues for capital growth and operational efficiency. Panelists will explore how legal, audit, tax, and fund administration professionals contribute to shared objectives and long-term success, emphasizing the importance of partnership in navigating the complexities of fund management. This session offers a fresh perspective on how service providers can be integral to a fund’s growth journey.

• Speaker: Frank Caccio, Managing Partner, OpsCheck

• Speaker: David Goldstein, Director, Product - Fund Services , STP Investment Services

• Speaker: Jared Mahar, Tax Partner, Prager Metis CPAs

• Speaker: Brad Janitz, Senior Director, Equity Trust

• Moderator: Geoff Marcus, Co-Founder & CSO, Inti Advisors Inc.
  

5:45 pm - Closing Remarks

6:00 pm-8:00: Offsite Closing Networking Reception

Join fellow attendees for informal cocktails and conversation at a nearby location. This offsite reception offers a relaxed setting to reconnect with peers, close out the day, and continue discussions from earlier sessions. Select participants from outside the conference will also be in attendance. Location details will be provided via email to all registered participants.