Wealth Management Invest: How MAI Capital Approaches Private Markets with Ben Sayer

Wealth Management Invest

In this episode of the Wealth Management Invest Podcast, host David Bodamer interviews Ben Sayer, managing director and head of the alternative investments group at MAI Capital Management.

Ben shares insights on MAI’s longstanding approach to private markets, the rise of evergreen structures, and the operational challenges of managing illiquid assets. He also discusses how client education and strategic technology partnerships can unlock meaningful access to alternatives.

Key highlights include:

• MAI Capital’s evolution from a sports agency affiliate to a $30 billion RIA serving entertainers, high-net-worth individuals and multi-family offices
• How MAI has long embraced alternatives, including co-investments and custom feeder funds
• The complexities of evergreen structures, including liquidity mismatches, pricing concerns and client expectations
• Diligence strategies RIAs should apply before recommending alternatives, including document review and external legal support
• Educating clients on illiquidity, reporting delays and drawdown scenarios to avoid panic during market stress

Resources:

• Listen to the Wealth Management Invest Podcast on WealthManagement.com
• Listen and Subscribe to the Wealth Management Invest on Apple Podcasts
• Listen and Subscribe to the Wealth Management Invest on Spotify

Connect With David Bodamer:

• [email protected]
• WealthManagement.com
• LinkedIn: David Bodamer
• LinkedIn: WealthManagement

Connect With Ben Sayer:

• Website: MAI Capital Management
• LinkedIn: Ben Sayer
• Email: [email protected]

Guest Bio:

Ben Sayer, CFA, has been with MAI Capital since 2017 and currently leads the alternative investments group, having worked on the team throughout his tenure. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, he focuses on due diligence and investment modeling across asset classes, including real estate, private equity and venture capital. Before joining MAI Capital, he was a product manager at PNC Capital Advisors and previously worked at JPMorgan Chase. Outside of work, Ben served as president of CFA Society Cleveland, an organization dedicated to promoting professional development, ethics, and industry engagement within the financial community in Northeast Ohio.