Show notes
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 SquareWhen was the last time things were easy for GPs?Fundraising remains challenging, providing liquidity to investors is even harder—and broadly speaking, most GPs are underwater operationally.It’s not about to get easier, either. Especially for managers vying for capital from the wealth channel. Sure, there’s increased demand from HNW and UNHW investors to gain private markets exposure…but managing their expectations for the investing experience is a whole different ballgame.Reams of paper and a new KYC process every single time they subscribe to a fund? Brutal.But what if committing capital to private equity, venture, and real estate funds was digital and seamless for investors — and scalable to manage for GPs?Meet Juniper Square, the fund operations partner to over 2,000 private markets GPs worldwide.Juniper Square gives GPs the connected software, data, and fund administration services needed for modern private markets. No matter how ambitious your next raise is, how many investors you manage, and how complex your investment vehicles are, Juniper Square empowers GPs to raise capital faster, reduce operational risk, and deliver a world-class investor experience.And with JunieAI, Juniper Square's enterprise-grade AI built for private markets, GPs can truly and finally unlock the power of AI to work smarter, move faster, and focus on relationships and returns.Scale your business, not your operational burdens and costs. Visit junipersquare.com/agm today to learn more.Show Notes00:04 Our Sponsor, Juniper Square: Revolutionizing Fund Management00:30 Empowering GPS with Juniper Square00:38 Juniper Square's AI Innovation00:51 Scaling Your Business with Juniper Square01:37 Welcome to the Alt Goes Mainstream Podcast01:40 Introducing Winston Justice03:35 Winston's Background and Early Life03:49 College Years and Initial Business Ventures03:59 Realization and Transition to Finance04:10 Starting a VC Fund and Coffee Shops04:31 Transitioning from NFL to Finance05:04 Winston's Career at Wells Fargo and Beyond05:17 Immersing in Wealth Management07:01 The Sacredness of Financial Management07:50 Importance of Wealth Management08:04 Private Markets in Wealth Management08:19 Early Lessons in Wealth Management09:10 Transferring Values and Knowledge09:32 Managing Assets Beyond Numbers10:19 Combining Finance and Mission12:11 Mentoring Advisors at SageSpring12:43 Skill Sets for SageSpring Advisors12:51 Client Focus and Community Leadership14:01 Balancing Client Delivery and Business Growth14:56 Impact of Growing AUM16:10 Testing Advisors' Commitment16:55 Business Constructs in Wealth Management17:43 Division of Labor in Wealth Management18:52 SageSpring's Unique Approach19:53 Client Understanding of Fiduciary Role20:41 Trust in Financial Services21:17 Sophistication in Choosing Investment Partners21:57 Role of Relationship in Financial Services22:30 Evaluating Investment Opportunities23:44 Partnership with Dynasty Financial24:43 Customizing Investment Solutions26:44 Educating Wealth Managers on Private Markets27:00 Benefits of Alternatives in Portfolios30:48 Effective Storytelling in Investments32:13 Future of Wealth Management Industry33:08 Client and Advisor Service in Wealth Management34:55 Favorite Private Markets Investment37:18 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.