All Things Fundraising

In today's episode of the Dakota Fundraising News Podcast, we cover RIA activity like acquisitions by Sequoia Financial Group and Allworth Financial as well as newly launched RIAs like Ticino Wealth. Hear updates on investments coming from Fubon Life Insurance, Arkansas Teacher Retirement System, and City of Tampa General Employees Retirement. Hear updates on searches coming from the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension & Retirement System, Ircantec, and The Boston Retirement System. Plus a reminder to register for our next Dakota Cocktails event.

Tired of chasing outdated leads? Book a demo to see how Dakota Marketplace simplifies your fundraising process with accurate, up-to-date investor data.

In today's episode of the Dakota Fundraising News Podcast, we cover RIA activity like acquisitions by Cambridge Investment Research. Hear updates on investments coming from the Boston Retirement System, Los Angeles Fire & Police Pension System, and The General Retirement System of the City of Detroit. Hear updates on searches coming from the Norfolk County Retirement System. We also share the latest fundraising efforts from Hillhouse Investment, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Arrow Global Group — plus a reminder to register for our next Dakota Cocktails event.

Tired of chasing outdated leads? Book a demo to see how Dakota Marketplace simplifies your fundraising process with accurate, up-to-date investor data.

In this episode of the Rainmaker Podcast, host Gui Costin welcomes Karl Engelmann, co-founder and COO of Sarmaya Partners, to share the story behind the firm’s rapid emergence and his philosophy on sales, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With over three decades of experience in financial services, Karl offers listeners a rare, behind-the-scenes look into launching an asset management firm and the strategic thinking driving its success.

Karl begins by tracing his unconventional career path, from aspiring journalist to accomplished sales leader. His communication skills and passion for storytelling laid the foundation for a career that spanned roles at Angel Oak Capital, Cambiar Investors, and AIM/INVESCO. These experiences culminated in the co-founding of Sarmaya Partners, where Karl saw the opportunity to build a firm aligned with his vision and values.

The conversation dives deep into Sarmaya’s unique investment strategy, which centers around a thematic belief in a new commodity super cycle. Rather than chase overcrowded markets, Karl and his partner Wasif identified a return to tangible assets like gold, silver, and copper as the next long-term trend. After initially structuring the firm as an LP, they pivoted to launching an actively managed ETF in January 2024 to better serve a broader investor base.

Karl shares Sarmaya’s go-to-market strategy and how they’ve grown from two founders to a six-person team, carefully hiring seasoned professionals with deep industry relationships. He emphasizes the power of focus, targeting RIAs, family offices, and mid-sized broker-dealers—segments often overlooked by larger firms but open to differentiated strategies. A major theme throughout is the importance of relationships over transactions, and Karl’s approach is deeply rooted in decades of trust and credibility built across the industry.

Sales process and infrastructure also play a key role in the discussion. Karl highlights the importance of having a clean, well-maintained CRM as the central nervous system of the firm’s sales efforts. Partnering with Dakota has helped Sarmaya stay agile and organized in an environment where client rosters and firm dynamics are constantly shifting.

The episode also explores Karl’s leadership style, which blends high accountability with trust and autonomy. He believes in empowering experienced salespeople to execute without micromanagement, while maintaining clarity through communication and shared goals. His mantra—"take the bit out of the mouth and let them run"—underscores his belief in hiring the right people and giving them room to perform.

As the episode closes, Karl speaks candidly about the biggest challenge facing Sarmaya: growing assets under management. Yet his energy is unwavering. With a strong product, clear strategy, and relentless optimism, Karl’s approach to sales and leadership provides an inspiring blueprint for anyone building a firm from the ground up. This episode is a masterclass in execution, resilience, and the long game of relationship-driven sales.

Tired of chasing outdated leads? Book a demo to see how Dakota Marketplace simplifies your fundraising process with accurate, up-to-date investor data. 

In today's episode of the Dakota Fundraising News Podcast, we cover RIA activity including potential acquisitions by RIA Captrust. Hear updates on investments coming from CalPERS and the IFC. Hear updates on searches coming from San Antonio Fire & Police Pension Fund. We also share the latest fundraising efforts from American South Capital Partners and Vistara Growth — plus a reminder to register for our next Dakota Cocktails event. 

Tired of chasing outdated leads? Book a demo to see how Dakota Marketplace simplifies your fundraising process with accurate, up-to-date investor data.

Master sales with four game-changing principles: Focus on what matters, target the right people, craft the perfect pitch, and follow up like a pro. Packed with actionable tips, this guide helps you turn meetings into deals—fast! 💼🔥

In today's episode of the Dakota Fundraising News Podcast we cover newly formed RIAs like 71 West Capital Partners and RIA fund launches like Strongheart Energy Fund II. Hear updates on investments coming from The World Bank and Los Angeles Water & Power Employees' Retirement Plan. Hear updates on searches coming from Colorado Public Employees Retirement Association. We also share the latest fundraising efforts from Rockland Capital, Ardabelle Capital, and Sofinnova Partners — plus a reminder to register for our next Dakota Cocktails event.

Tired of chasing outdated leads? Book a demo to see how Dakota Marketplace simplifies your fundraising process with accurate, up-to-date investor data.

In this episode of the Rainmaker Podcast, Gui Costin sits down with Ryan Williams, Director of National Accounts at Swan Global Investments, to explore what makes a lean, non-channelized sales team thrive in a competitive asset management environment. Ryan shares his journey from internal wholesaling to leading Swan’s distribution relationships, offering a rare look at the mindset and discipline required to succeed in investment sales today.

One of the central themes Ryan discusses is Swan’s strategic decision to operate without channel segmentation. With just four wholesalers covering the entire country and all advisor channels, this approach enables the team to pursue every opportunity without the friction of internal handoffs. It also empowers salespeople to build relationships fluidly, regardless of territory or advisor type.

Another highlight of the conversation is the team’s relentless focus on email strategy and personalization. Ryan explains how seemingly simple changes, like testing subject lines or inserting personal references, have driven a dramatic increase in meeting conversions. He emphasizes that, in an industry where performance can fluctuate, consistent access to meetings and thoughtful storytelling is what truly moves the needle.

Ryan also offers insight into Swan’s open, feedback-driven communication culture. Weekly calls with firm leadership, including the Swan brothers, ensure alignment between what clients are saying and how the firm positions its strategy. This connection helps inform both marketing and product direction.

The discussion dives into Swan’s use of HubSpot CRM, where Ryan stresses the importance of clean data and tracking pipeline with intention. From updates on advisor movements to segmented drip campaigns, the CRM is central to their disciplined sales process.

Leadership-wise, Ryan balances autonomy with accessibility, encouraging his team to own their territories while remaining unafraid to ask for help. He stresses the importance of transparency, especially when setting expectations with advisors around Swan’s options strategy, a product that demands both clarity and consistency to be fully understood.

For those new to the field, Ryan advises shadowing experienced professionals, actively networking, and approaching every interaction with authenticity. He closes by reflecting on the importance of standing out in a crowded investment space through honesty, conviction, and a commitment to delivering long-term value.

This episode is packed with practical sales wisdom and strategic insight for professionals looking to elevate their fundraising and relationship management skills.

Tired of chasing outdated leads? Book a demo to see how Dakota Marketplace simplifies your fundraising process with accurate, up-to-date investor data. 

In today's episode of the Dakota Fundraising News Podcast, we cover RIA activity including acquisitions by OneDigital Investment Advisors, Lido Advisors, and Abacus Wealth Partners. Hear updates on investments coming from The World Bank, The Teacher Retirement System of Louisiana, and Arlington County Employee Retirement System. Hear updates on investments coming from The Teacher Retirement System of Louisiana and Fondo Telemarco. We also share the latest fundraising efforts from Root Ventures, KKR, and Glasswing Ventures— plus a reminder to register for our next Dakota Cocktails event.

Tired of chasing outdated leads? Book a demo to see how Dakota Marketplace simplifies your fundraising process with accurate, up-to-date investor data.

In this episode, Chris LeRoy and Alex deMarco sit down with Ian Glaser, Partner and Investment Committee Member at BridgeInvest, to explore how the Miami-based real estate credit manager is navigating one of the most attractive lending environments in over a decade. Founded in the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis, BridgeInvest has grown into a vertically integrated, senior-secured lending platform with more than $2.5 billion invested across 160 loans. Ian discusses the firm’s disciplined focus on capital preservation, consistent yield generation, and hands-on management throughout the lending lifecycle. He also shares insights on how BridgeInvest’s direct sourcing, vertical integration, and LP-aligned culture have driven a near-zero loss ratio and long-term outperformance. The conversation covers today’s opportunities in recapitalizations, development financing, and transitional assets, as well as BridgeInvest’s expansion through its new open-ended Credit Fund V designed for flexibility and enduring performance

#PrivateCredit #RealEstateCredit #PrivateMarkets #AlternativeInvestments #CommercialRealEstate #CRELending #RealEstateDebt #CreditFunds #InstitutionalInvesting #InvestmentManagement #DakotaResearch

Tired of chasing outdated leads? Book a demo to see how Dakota Marketplace simplifies your fundraising process with accurate, up-to-date investor data. 

In today's episode of the Dakota Fundraising News Podcast, we cover RIA activity including Cambium Wealth Partners joining RFG Advisory’s $7B platform, World Investment Advisors’ acquisition of TCG Wealth Management, and CAPNOR’s full acquisition of Calista Direct Investors. Hear updates on investments coming from The Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) of Idaho, The Seattle City Employees’ Retirement System (SCERS), and The Fresno County Employees Retirement Association. We also share the latest fundraising efforts from Lowercarbon Capital, Section Partners, and Cardone Ventures — plus a reminder to register for our next Dakota Cocktails event.

Tired of chasing outdated leads? Book a demo to see how Dakota Marketplace simplifies your fundraising process with accurate, up-to-date investor data.