Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Private Capital Call

This week we're joined by Sonali Basak, Chief Investment Strategist at iCapital, a global fintech leader transforming access to alternative investments. Sonali leads strategic thought leadership across public and private markets, delivering actionable insights to financial advisors, investors, and asset managers worldwide. Before joining iCapital, she spent 12 years at Bloomberg, most recently as the network's lead global finance correspondent and anchor, hosting the flagship show Open Interest and spearheading Bloomberg Invest. One of the most trusted voices in financial journalism, she now brings that same data-driven rigor to alternative investments.

We sit down with Sonali to unpack one of the most turbulent stretches private credit has faced in recent memory, from AI disruption to elevated redemption activity across major vehicles. We dig into the biggest misunderstandings fueling investor anxiety, particularly around liquidity, and the key signals advisors should watch to separate real risk from headline noise. We also trace the evolution of alternatives in high-net-worth portfolios, the education gap facing advisors and clients alike, and the criteria Sonali uses to evaluate private credit managers in today's increasingly complex environment.

This week we have a special edition of Private Capital Call. We're turning the tables on our own Randy Schwimmer, as Bloomberg Radio's Paul Sweeney takes the host chair to mark a milestone worth celebrating the relaunch of The Lead Left as The Lead. What started as a humble internal monthly newsletter at Chase Manhattan Bank in 1993 has grown into one of private capital's most widely read and respected publications, reaching over 46,000 subscribers and now entering an exciting new chapter.

In this candid and wide-ranging conversation, Randy reflects on three decades of educating investors about private credit - from explaining LIBOR to rookie bankers, to navigating the Great Recession, to making the case today for what he calls the Platinum Era of private credit. Randy and Paul dig into why the core middle market has quietly outperformed its larger counterparts, how retail investors are just beginning to discover this asset class, and why ground-level, defensive businesses remain the backbone of private credit's enduring appeal.

This month, we're delighted to welcome Aaron Sack, Head of Morgan Stanley Capital Partners (MSCP), a leading middle market private equity platform specializing in privately negotiated equity investments throughout North America. With 29 years of industry experience, Aaron leads investment strategy, portfolio management, board service, fundraising, and chairs the MSCP investment committee.

In this episode, Aaron provides insight into the dynamic middle market private equity landscape, highlighting the importance of operational value creation and collaborative partnerships with founders and business owners. He shares how MSCP focuses on essential service sectors, fosters business growth, and navigates today’s market challenges, while emphasizing private equity’s essential role in empowering small and midsize companies. Aaron also offers guidance for young professionals considering a career in private equity.

This month, we’re pleased to welcome Richard Miller, Group Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of TCW Private Credit Group, which specializes in providing senior secured loans to U.S. middle market borrowers. With more than 30 years of capital markets experience, Rick leads TCW’s private credit investment strategy and portfolio construction, and has been recognized on the Institutional Investor “All American High Yield Research Team” for six consecutive years.

In this episode, Rick addresses some of the most pressing questions facing U.S. middle market direct lending amid ongoing macro uncertainty: Is the opportunity still as attractive as in years past? Is too much money chasing too few deals? Are spreads compressing as interest rates fall, and how real are risks like defaults and losses in private credit? Rick also shares the year's biggest surprises, his outlook for the future, and practical advice for those considering a career in this dynamic sector.

This month, we're pleased to welcome Francis Griffin, Senior Vice President in Callan's Alternatives Consulting Group. Callan is one of the largest independently owned investment consulting firms in the U.S., advising institutional investors with over $3 trillion in total assets. Francis leads Callan's private credit research efforts and brings more than 25 years of experience in private markets, spanning investment research, business development, and portfolio management.

In this episode, Francis shares his insights on how the current macroeconomic environment is impacting both private credit and private equity markets. We explore why he believes there's a compelling private credit opportunity emerging in Europe, discuss the key risks investors should be aware of in private credit investing, and dive into his framework for selecting quality private credit managers. Francis also offers practical guidance on what wealth investors should prioritize when evaluating private credit opportunities, and shares his outlook for this asset class over the next 12 months.

This month, we’re pleased to welcome Cameron Dawson, Chief Investment Officer at NewEdge Wealth, a division of NewEdge Capital Group. NewEdge Wealth provides tailored solutions for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutional clients. As CIO, Cameron leads the development of the firm’s investment themes, strategies, and market outlooks.

In this episode, Cameron discusses the differences between retail and institutional clients, the key educational priorities for private wealth investors, and how the risk/reward dynamics of public credit (bonds and loans) compare with private credit. She also explores the challenges and opportunities private credit managers face in accessing the retail market, and shares valuable lessons and advice for those aspiring to build a career in this industry.

This month, we’re pleased to welcome Mark Zandi, Chief Economist at Moody's Analytics, a leading provider of economic research and analytical tools. Dr. Zandi oversees Moody’s Analytics' economic research and is a trusted advisor to policymakers, businesses, and the media. He is the author of Paying the Price and Financial Shock, - described by The New York Times as the “clearest guide” to the financial crisis - and also hosts the Inside Economics podcast.

In this episode, Mark shares his latest outlook on the U.S. economy, covering key themes such as tariffs, consumer spending trends, Fed rate cut expectations, and inflation pressures. He also discusses the rising recession risk and how evolving trade policies may impact the broader landscape. We then turn to private credit’s growing role in the financial system, Moody’s recent research on private credit systemic risk and the shift from a hub-and-spoke banking model to a more interconnected network post-GFC. To wrap up, Mark reflects on the biggest economic surprise of the year so far—and what unexpected developments might lie ahead.

This month, we welcome Marcel Schindler, Partner and Head of Private Debt at StepStone Group, a global private markets investment firm offering customized investment solutions, advisory, and data services. Marcel leads StepStone’s global private debt platform and is actively involved in both investment and management initiatives.

In our conversation, Marcel shares his outlook on the macro environment and why he believes the market reaction to tariffs has been more muted than expected. He walks us through StepStone’s analysis of 1,500 private credit deals across various scenarios and discusses key takeaways. We also explore the Fed’s rate path, how LPs are adjusting allocations in a low-growth world, and the growing sophistication of private credit strategies—from CLOs and secondaries to NAV-based lending.

This week, we’re pleased to welcome Jess Larsen, Founder & CEO of Briarcliffe Credit Partners - a premier placement agency exclusively focused on private credit. Briarcliffe specializes in fundraising services for established private credit strategies, helping firms navigate the evolving investment landscape. In our conversation, Jess shares his insights on what it takes to achieve a successful fundraise, highlighting the key criteria that distinguish top-performing GPs.

We also explore how investors are adapting to today’s economic uncertainty, including how LPs are adjusting their capital allocation strategies amid recession concerns. Finally, Jess introduces his concept of the “Six Wonders of Private Credit,” offering a unique perspective on the fundamental elements that drive success in this dynamic asset class.

This month, we’re pleased to welcome Bilal Hafeez, Founder and CEO of Macro Hive—a leading platform for global macro research and strategy serving both institutional and retail investors. Before launching Macro Hive, Bilal held senior roles at major financial institutions and has consistently been recognized as one of the top market strategists in the industry.

With rising geopolitical tensions and growing uncertainty around tariff policies, we’re eager to get Bilal’s take on policy volatility in a Trump 2.0 era. What is he seeing across the global landscape? How does he view the outlook for inflation and recession risks through 2025? What might we expect from the Fed’s interest rate policy, and how could these factors shape the broader capital markets? Most importantly, what should investors consider when positioning their portfolios—and are there sectors or strategies that could help mitigate these risks?

This month, we’re excited to welcome Tim Bray, Managing Director of Alternative Investments and Senior Portfolio Manager at GuideStone Financial Resources. With more than $23 billion in assets under management, GuideStone is one of the nation’s largest faith-based mutual fund companies. Over his 19-year tenure, Tim has played a pivotal role in expanding the firm’s alternative investments platform—overseeing approximately $3.5 billion in assets for both internal capital and external clients.

In this episode, we discuss the key macro surprises of 2024, expectations for 2025, and how factors like interest rates, inflation, and headline risks (such as tariffs) shape investment strategies. Tim also offers insights on GuideStone’s approach to asset allocation, highlighting the growing importance of private credit and how the firm balances liquidity needs with inherently illiquid investments. We’ll explore emerging segments in private credit, including Asset-Backed Financing, and close with Tim’s biggest concerns and surprises for the coming year.

This month, we are joined by Anastasia Amoroso, Managing Director and Chief Investment Strategist at iCapital. Anastasia provides expert insights into private and public market investment opportunities, helping advisors and high-net-worth clients navigate an ever-changing financial landscape. With a keen understanding of macroeconomic trends, she brings a strategic perspective on how investors can position themselves in today’s dynamic market.

In this episode, Anastasia discusses the strong economic foundations of 2025 while highlighting the uncertainties posed by inflation, policy shifts, and big tech regulation. She explores how last year’s headwinds—high rates and a slowing economy—have now turned into potential tailwinds and what new challenges are emerging. We also dive into asset allocation strategies for the year ahead, the increasing role of alternatives, and why private credit continues to see strong investor demand. Anastasia shares her thoughts on asset-backed finance as the next big opportunity in private markets and reflects on the biggest surprises of 2024—while making bold predictions about what might take investors by surprise in 2025.

This week, we're joined by William (Bill) Cox and Eric Rosenthal from KBRA. Bill serves as Chief Rating Officer, leading KBRA's global ratings platform and is widely recognized as the driving force behind the firm's private credit and private markets initiatives. Eric is Head of Default Research at KBRA DLD, where he focuses on default analysis across private credit, leveraged loan, and high yield markets, and publishes the monthly Direct Lending Default Report, the most comprehensive defaultpublication in the private credit space. We're pleased to have them both here today.

In this episode, Bill and Eric cut through the noise surrounding private credit to share what the data is actually telling us. They break down KBRA's 2026 default rate forecast and explain why it stands in sharp contrast to the double-digit predictions making headlines. They also discuss how methodology differences are driving wildly different default numbers across the market, which sectors deserve the closest attention right now - including a deep dive into AI risk within the software space - and why declining recovery rates may be a biggerconcern for investors than the default rate itself. They close with guidance for both institutional and retail investors on how to evaluate private credit managers and cut through misleading market commentary.

This month, we have Jack Ablin, Chief Investment Officer and founding partner at Cresset Capital, a top fractional family office serving high net worth individuals and families. Jack discusses his extensive investment background dating back to the 1980s, highlighting how his strategy has evolved towards asset allocation.

Jack shares insights into the current macroeconomic landscape, particularly the shift in the bond market's competitiveness with equities and its implications for investors. He explores the attractiveness of private credit as an asset class, noting its potential as a hedge in a higher-for-longer interest rate environment. He shares his perspective on navigating private markets, advocating for a focus on middle-market opportunities and economically insensitive sectors.

This month our guest is Ron Kahn, Managing Director at Lincoln International and head of their valuations practice.

Ron sheds light on the current market dynamics, highlighting the robust performance of private companies despite lackluster M&A activity. The podcast explores the current economic climate, noting positive indicators like EBITDA growth and expectations of Fed rate cuts.

Throughout the conversation, Ron and Randy emphasize the resilience of private capital and predicting continued strength despite geopolitical uncertainties and upcoming elections. We also cover topics such as Lincoln private market index, financing costs, and the outlook for private capital and deal-making in the coming years.

This month our guest is Ed Goldstein, Partner, CIO of Coller Credit Secondaries, a leading investor in the secondary market for private assets. 

In the wake of the global financial crisis, the private credit landscape experienced a seismic shift. As the secondary market gained traction, it began to offer liquidity solutions for investors in the private credit space. Investors, motivated by reasons such as underperformance, regulatory concerns, liquidity needs, stress, and opportunistic selling, started to explore this emerging avenue for portfolio management.

The discussion shifts to credit secondaries being more of an LP market, investing for upside potential, and the necessity of diversified portfolios to mitigate risk. In essence, the private credit market, though relatively young, is showing signs of maturation and paving the way for a future characterized by specialization, strategic partnerships, and a more developed secondary market.

In this week's episode, we are honored to welcome the renowned economist, Dr. Mickey Levy. As a visiting scholar at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and a respected member of the Shadow Open Market Committee, Dr. Levy brings a wealth of knowledge and insight.

Join us as we delve into a range of critical economic topics with Dr. Levy. Our discussion encompasses the resilience and recent slowdown of the U.S. economy, the ongoing concerns surrounding inflation, and the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy. We also examine the current state of interest rates, including both short-term rates and bond yields, and discuss the implications of persistent budget deficits and escalating national debt. Concluding our conversation, Dr. Levy shares his expert assessment of the long-term outlook for the U.S. economy.

This week our guest is Van Hesser, chief strategist at KBRA, a credit rating analysis agency. Van is also the host of his own insightful podcast, "Three Things in Credit," which I highly recommend.

In this episode, we dive into the current economic landscape, explore the concepts of economic soft landings, no landings, and where we currently stand. We also discuss the aftermath of the banking crisis earlier this year, the question of systemic risk and private capital, and how to think about the default cycle – all essential considerations for private capital investors in the coming months.

We are thrilled to have Steve Segal as our first guest on the podcast. Steve Segal, a former Executive-in-Residence and Lecturer at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. He developed and taught a graduate level course in private equity and leverage buyouts.

Steve was a co-founding partner of J.W. Childs, investing in middle-market growth companies, primarily in the consumer products, health care services and specialty retail sectors. During his tenure the firm completed more than 40 transactions with a total transaction value in excess of $11 billion.

Today, Steve is primarily a private investor, frequently collaborating with others on early stage ventures.

This week, we're joined by David Robinson, the James and Gail Vander Weide Professor at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and Research Director of Duke Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative. An internationally recognized expert in private equity, venture capital, and entrepreneurial finance, his research has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, and The Economist. He also advises the Swedish House of Finance, the Private Equity Research Council, and a range of private equityfirms and technology startups.

In this episode, David shares key takeaways from his widely read paper "Why is Private Lending So Popular" (co-author with Melanie Wallskog) and challenges some of the most common misconceptions about how private credit really works. He breaks down how business development companies (BDCs) work, the regulatory constraints that shape their risk and return profile, and why retail investors are increasingly bumping up against liquidity limits in non-traded vehicles. David also addresses the redemption fears sweeping the market and why he believes the underlying fundamentals of private credit remain strong despite near-term turbulence. He closes with a forward-looking take on the potential inclusion of private credit in 401(k) plans and why, despite today's uncertain market environment, he sees careers in private markets as full of opportunity for the next generation.

This week, we’re pleased to welcome Ryan Eisenman, co-founder and CEO of Arch, the leading operating system for private markets. Arch helps investors and advisors manage private credit, private equity, hedge funds, and real estate in one place, modernizing a historically manual, portal-by-portal experience. With more than seven years leading the firm, Ryan brings a practical perspective on where private markets are headed and how technology can help.

In the conversation, Ryan breaks down how the private investment workflow has evolved since Arch launched, why the “buying and owning” experience is still far more complex than in public markets, and where the industry needs more standardization and transparency. We also discuss how AI is starting to improve diligence and reporting-especially by summarizing investor letters and pulling key terms from dense documents-so investors can spend less time on rote tasks and more time on analysis. Ryan closes with lessons from building Arch, early challenges winning institutional trust, and advice for young entrepreneurs.

To celebrate Churchill's 20th anniversary, I am honored to finally welcome my longtime business partner and closest friend, Ken Kencel, to the podcast for the very first time. Ken is President and CEO of Churchill Asset Management, a $64 billion private capital manager providing customized financing solutions to U.S. middle market private equity firms and their portfolio companies. With over 35 years in the industry, he is one of the most respected voices in private capital, a frequent commentator on Bloomberg, CNBC, and The Wall Street Journal, named one of Private Debt Investor's 30 ChangeMakers, and most recently the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from The M&A Advisor.

In this episode, we cover the full arc, from launching Churchill in 2006 right into the Global Financial Crisis, to building one of the most differentiated private capital platforms in the market today. Ken shares why the core middle market remains the best kept secret in private credit, how private equity sponsor relationships have transformed the way capital is deployed, and what it took to build Churchill through key partnerships, from TIAA and Nuveen, to Arcmont, to Temasek and Hunter Point. We also look ahead at where the next wave of capital is coming from, including retail investors and insurance, what will separate the managers from the pack, and why culture may be the most underrated competitive advantage in asset management.

Today, we are pleased to welcome Ellen Zentner, Chief Economic Strategist and Global Head of Thematic and Macro Investing at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. In her role, Ellen combines her passion for economics with a talent for guiding investors through turbulent times. She is also a member of the Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee, where she advises the U.S. Treasury Department on the economy and debt management, and was recently recognized as one of Barron's 100 Most Influential Women in Finance.

In this episode, Ellen walks us through the biggest lessons from 2025, the Year of the Tariff, and what has shifted as we head into 2026. We dig into the economic indicators she watches most closely, from the labor market to whether people are dining out. We explore what the AI boom really means for asset allocators, which adjacent sectors may offer smarter entry points than chasing AI directly, and how to think about where we are in the cycle when markets move on a dime. We close with Ellen's outlook on rates, housing, and what she sees as the biggest potential upside surprise of the year.

Note: This podcast was recorded on January 20, 2026. Views expressed reflect opinions at the time of recording and may not represent current perspectives.

This month, we're pleased to welcome Jake Miller, Co-Founder and Chief Solutions Officer of Opto Investments, a private markets investment platform that helps wealth managers build, fundraise for, and manage private markets programs. A former Bridgewater investor, Jake co-founded Opto with the mission of making private investing more accessible. He's passionate about sensible long-term investing, creating systematic investment processes, and transforming complex market dynamics into clear insights that help investors better understand their portfolios.

In this episode, Jake shares his perspective on the evolution of fintech in asset management, exploring how AI and generative technologies are breaking through operational bottlenecks that have long plagued the industry. He discusses why the traditional 60/40 portfolio strategy may no longer serve investors in today's evolving interest-rate environment and why financial advisors and wealth clients are increasingly turning to private markets for alpha and portfolio diversification. Jake also reflects on the biggest surprises of 2025, what he's watching for in 2026 amid inflationary pressures and potential recession risks, and offers guidance for young professionals navigating today's rapidly changing technology landscape - emphasizing the growing importance of critical thinking and historical context over pure technical skills as AI continues to advance.

This month, we’re excited to welcome Michael Ashley Schulman, Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Running Point, a multifamily office offering personalized financial services including investment management, estates and trusts, tax, and insurance. Michael leads Running Point’s global investment strategies and impact assessments across public and private markets and brings 20+ years of experience managing institutional and high-net-worth portfolios across fixed income, equities, hedge funds, real estate, and private investments.

In this episode, Michael shares his perspective on today’s market environment and where he sees AI-driven investment opportunities emerging. He also discusses how he helps high-net-worth and private wealth clients navigate market uncertainty, his approach to selecting investment managers, his biggest surprise so far in 2025, and where he sees the most compelling opportunities across the wealth channel next.

This month, we’re delighted to welcome Don Calcagni, Chief Investment Officer of Mercer Advisors, a full-service wealth management firm overseeing $90 billion in assets. Don leads the strategic direction of Mercer Advisors' investment platform, chairs the firm’s investment committee, and manages all investment-related communications. His expertise encompasses fiduciary oversight, economics, financial mathematics, portfolio management, and corporate finance.

In this episode, Don shares his five key strategies for building a fortress balance sheet for investors. He discusses what private wealth investors should look for when selecting a private capital manager, explores the three dimensions of diversification, and offers his perspective on headlines surrounding potential overvaluation in private credit. Don also provides insight into investor psychology amid changing interest rates—and reveals his biggest surprise for 2025.