🎥 Featuring Tom Cohn and Amita Schultes from Cerity Partners

Hello again, and welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast. In today’s episode, we’re diving into a hot topic within the wealth management world: how platforms are increasingly embracing private markets.

This time, we have the pleasure of speaking with Tom Cohn and Amita Schultes from Cerity Partners. Joining us, they share insights about their recent business integration. Cerity Partners, a well-known national wealth management firm with assets exceeding $100 billion, has joined forces with Agility, a notable name in the OCIO business.

If you’re interested, you can catch the full conversation on Apple Podcasts or Transistor.

During our chat, Tom and Amita discuss the merger and explain why there was a need for custom solutions for wealth investors in private markets. The integration with Agility has truly elevated Cerity Partners’s capabilities as a solution provider in this space.

Tom serves as the Chief Solutions Officer and Partner at Cerity Partners’ New York office. He’s a key player in their leadership team, bringing over a decade of experience in investment management. Previously, he worked as an Investment Analyst at Spero-Smith Investment Advisors, focusing on due diligence and global market research. On the other hand, Amita is a Partner at the New York office as well, managing OCIO client portfolios. With over 20 years of experience as an investment consultant, her background includes leading roles at Agility and Colonial Consulting, where she focused on investment consultation for endowments and pension plans.

Our discussion with Tom and Amita touched on several points, including:

• The reasoning and process behind the Cerity Partners and Agility merger.
• How wealth management platforms can find a balance between offering tailored services and maintaining scalability.
• The significance of scale within the wealth management sector.
• How managers of alternative assets stand out when interacting with the wealth channel.

I want to thank Tom and Amita for joining us and sharing their expertise on wealth management and private markets. Several key clips from our conversation are particularly insightful:

• Why did Cerity Partners seek external help to build OCIO capabilities?
• The synergy between OCIO and wealth management practices.
• Is having an OCIO offering a unique selling point for wealth clients?
• What criteria should be considered when evaluating a fund manager?

This episode is proudly sponsored by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a top-tier fund administrator offering comprehensive services for asset managers in both private and public markets. As private markets gain traction, the industry increasingly needs infrastructure solutions to keep up. Ultimus steps in to offer custom fund administration and middle office solutions, making them a go-to for countless fund sponsors and asset managers needing a mix of cutting-edge technology and personalized service.

With more than $500 billion in assets under administration through 1,800 funds, Ultimus delivers operational excellence and adapts to evolving regulatory landscapes, meeting the diverse needs of institutional and retail investors alike.

For more about Ultimus’ advanced technology and service solutions, visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com. For inquiries, contact Gary Harris, EVP of Business Development, at [email protected]. We appreciate their support in bringing alternative investments into the mainstream.

The episode includes a detailed breakdown of topics like:

• The merging dynamics between Cerity Partners and Agility.
• Client services strategies and OCIO synergies.
• The cultural alignment that underpins successful partnerships.
• Insights into operational excellence and manager selection in private markets.

For anyone in wealth management or interested in private markets, this talk with Tom and Amita is packed with valuable insights. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Finally, editing and production support for this episode are courtesy of The Podcast Consultant. Thank you for being a part of this insightful journey into wealth management innovation.