The Investment Office

The Ivy Invest Podcast

Wendy Li, Matt Pauker, and guests break down the latest in private markets, retail investing, and alternative assets —
with the institutional perspective you won't hear anywhere else.

Latest Episode

E13

You Think You Own SpaceX, But ...

SpaceX just filed for the largest IPO in history — but thousands of investors may not own what they think they own. We break down the hidden layers, fees, and fraud risks in the private shares market. Plus Matt shares his own SpaceX investment from 2018.

All Episodes

E12

Surviving as a Short Seller, w/ Carson Block, CEO of Muddy Waters Capital

Wendy is joined by Carson Block, founder of Muddy Waters Capital, an activist, research-oriented hedge fund best known for its short positions. Carson shares his journey from operating a self-storage business in China to running an investment firm whose research has contributed to at least 11 public company delistings.

E11

Buyer Beware

Investing in individual private companies might make for good cocktail party talk, but will it drive good returns? Wendy and Matt discuss why even sophisticated institutional investors typically invest in funds rather than participate in standalone individual private company financings.

E10

Investing in Venture is Hard!

What can Capital One's $5.15B acquisition of Brex teach us about the complexities of investing in venture funds? Matt and Wendy discuss the nuances of venture fund stages and strategies, the value of vintage year diversification, and the importance of approaching venture investing in a programmatic way.

E09

Institutional vs. Retail Investor Showdown

Many private markets fund managers are rapidly innovating to bring products to the retail wealth channels, and some institutional investors aren't so happy about it. Wendy and Matt deep dive into what's making big institutions so nervous about having to potentially share the limelight.

E08

Private Shares, Public Access

Are private company secondaries about to go mainstream with Morgan Stanley's acquisition of pre-IPO marketplace EquityZen? Matt and Wendy discuss the history of secondaries, how they typically work, and what this might all mean for individual investors.

E07

AI — Bubble, Boom, or Both?

Is AI going to change everything, or are we just caught in a hype cycle? Wendy and Matt discuss how the current AI market compares with past periods of market mania, what the current boom might mean for energy usage, and how AI might change the investing landscape across public and private markets.

E06

Crypto Conversations

Bitcoin may have generated remarkable returns over the last decade, but has it actually fulfilled its original promise? Matt shares his perspectives as a very early builder in Bitcoin, while Wendy discusses how many institutional investors view the space.

E05

Incentive (Mis)alignment

What happens when investor incentives aren't quite aligned? Wendy and Matt discuss the ways in which SaaS business models might have benefited investors over founders, how LPs view venture fund sizes and fees, and why different co-invest models might create different incentive structures.

E04

Private Equity Eating the (Small-Cap) World?

Wendy and Matt consider the impacts of private equity on small-cap stocks: is PE a factor in the shrinking of public markets? They also discuss the ways AI may create new opportunities for private equity strategies to create value for investors.

E03

A Private Markets Rush Into Retail

Wendy and Matt discuss the rapid rise of new private markets products for retail investors. They explore why funds that typically worked only with large endowments and foundations are now designing new offerings targeted at individual investors.

E02

Long-Term Investing, From 0 to Retirement

Ivy Invest CIO Wendy Li and CEO Matt Pauker explore the potential impacts of two new proposals from the Trump administration: the opening of 401(k) plans to private markets, and a new tax-deferred investment account for children.

E01

Private Markets They Are a-Changin'

Ivy Invest CIO Wendy Li and CEO Matt Pauker cover the latest dynamics in private markets investing. They cover the rise of multi-layer SPVs, the announcement of Robinhood's private company tokenization offering, and ponder the question: will some of these large tech companies ever IPO?

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Full Disclosures

The Institutional Investment Strategy Fund ("IISF" or "Fund") is an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. IISF is a closed-end fund operating as an interval fund that makes quarterly repurchase offers and as such provides limited liquidity. The fund commenced operations on March 5, 2024. An investor should consider the investment objective, risks, charges and expenses of an investment. The Prospectus contains this and other information. Read it carefully before investing.