Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.

Today’s podcast is with an elite performer on and off the field who has gone from protecting quarterbacks to protecting families’ wealth.

We sit down with former NFL and USC star Winston Justice, whose entrepreneurial spirit that was stoked while he was still playing in the NFL has led to a successful and impactful career in wealth management. 

He was recently named CEO at SageSpring Private Wealth, a $7B independent wealth management firm, as they look to grow organically and inorganically and expand their offerings in private markets for their clients.

A former NFL offensive lineman, Winston played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, and Denver Broncos from 2006 to 2015. He also co-founded an early stage investment vehicle, MJC Capital, and Elixr, a gourmet café and coffee roastery, while he was playing. He also won 2010 Walter Payton Philadelphia Man of the Year Award for his community service.

He transitioned into financial services and wealth management post-career, starting at Wells Fargo Securities, where he specialized in institutional and family office advisory. He then was a portfolio manager at PIA’s Alternative Investment Group, and then an investment Manager at AllianceBernstein.

Winston and I had a fascinating conversation. We discussed:

• The parallels between sports and finance.
• How Winston navigated the transition from professional athlete to a finance professional.
• What stoked his entrepreneurial spirit.
• Why wealth management is so critical to people’s lives. 
• Why culture fit is so important when integrating advisors into wealth management platforms through acquisition.
• How private markets can add to an advisor’s practice.

Thanks Winston for coming on the show to share your story, wisdom, and expertise.

A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Juniper Square

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Show Notes
00:04 Our Sponsor, Juniper Square: Revolutionizing Fund Management

00:30 Empowering GPS with Juniper Square

00:38 Juniper Square's AI Innovation

00:51 Scaling Your Business with Juniper Square

01:37 Welcome to the Alt Goes Mainstream Podcast

01:40 Introducing Winston Justice

03:35 Winston's Background and Early Life

03:49 College Years and Initial Business Ventures

03:59 Realization and Transition to Finance

04:10 Starting a VC Fund and Coffee Shops

04:31 Transitioning from NFL to Finance

05:04 Winston's Career at Wells Fargo and Beyond

05:17 Immersing in Wealth Management

07:01 The Sacredness of Financial Management

07:50 Importance of Wealth Management

08:04 Private Markets in Wealth Management

08:19 Early Lessons in Wealth Management

09:10 Transferring Values and Knowledge

09:32 Managing Assets Beyond Numbers

10:19 Combining Finance and Mission

12:11 Mentoring Advisors at SageSpring

12:43 Skill Sets for SageSpring Advisors

12:51 Client Focus and Community Leadership

14:01 Balancing Client Delivery and Business Growth

14:56 Impact of Growing AUM

16:10 Testing Advisors' Commitment

16:55 Business Constructs in Wealth Management

17:43 Division of Labor in Wealth Management

18:52 SageSpring's Unique Approach

19:53 Client Understanding of Fiduciary Role

20:41 Trust in Financial Services

21:17 Sophistication in Choosing Investment Partners

21:57 Role of Relationship in Financial Services

22:30 Evaluating Investment Opportunities

23:44 Partnership with Dynasty Financial

24:43 Customizing Investment Solutions

26:44 Educating Wealth Managers on Private Markets

27:00 Benefits of Alternatives in Portfolios

30:48 Effective Storytelling in Investments

32:13 Future of Wealth Management Industry

33:08 Client and Advisor Service in Wealth Management

34:55 Favorite Private Markets Investment

37:18 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.