We invested into managers we wouldn’t have discovered without Marcus Evans

“We made two investments into managers Marcus Evans put us in contact with. I would not have discovered them on my own,” said Ariel Sandes, Partner, W Advisors, a delegate at the Marcus Evans Private Wealth Management Summit.

What new opportunities did Marcus Evans introduce you to?

Marcus Evans put us in contact with interesting managers. We have made two investments so far, over USD 1 million each. I had heard of one of those funds, but never met. It was not in my plans. The other one I had never heard of. 

We are also still considering and building our relationships with a few other managers.

If they had approached you directly, would you have still ended up making those allocations?

No, probably not. We receive many cold calls and emails, but we only dig deeper into the managers who come through referrals or introductions like Marcus Evans. Having a face-to-face meeting makes a big difference, especially in areas like alternative assets, as you get a better understanding of the ethos and approach of the managers you are considering. 

At the end of the day, it is not finding managers that is hard but building trust with them. Having face-to-face interactions helps with that.

Is the 30-minute one-on-one meeting format an efficient way to meet managers you don’t know?

Yes. The meetings are long enough to develop a relationship and set up a follow-up if there’s any mutual interest. I am much more likely to remember a firm I spoke to at the Summit than if I just talked to them on the phone.

How would you compare Marcus Evans Summits with other industry events?

The Marcus Evans format is better, as the meetings are more concentrated and it’s easier to plan your day. You’re also in the right mindset to talk to different managers and explore opportunities. If you have meetings on the side while an event is unfolding they tend to be longer and less productive. Marcus Evans exposes us to more people than we would get at other events.

Did you find the speaker presentations valuable?

Yes, they were valuable. Marcus Evans gives family offices a platform to speak while at other events it’s mostly banks and funds that present. Content coming from our peers tends to be more engaging.

Any feedback on the Marcus Evans team?

Everyone has been very helpful, polite and professional.

Find out more about the upcoming Private Wealth Management Summit.