Building the Wealth Management Firm of the Future

Welcome to The Private Markets Playbook, a podcast for wealth advisors and CIOs navigating portfolios beyond the traditional 60/40. Hosted by Allocate, the show features candid conversations with allocators, asset managers, and industry leaders on building modern, programmatic portfolios—spanning private markets, portfolio construction, and the systems required to manage complexity at scale.In this episode, Samir Kaji sits down with Christine Leong Connors, Co‑Founder and CEO of Verita and former J.P. Morgan and EPIQ Capital Group executive, to discuss how she’s building an AI‑enabled, client‑first wealth management firm from scratch. Christine shares lessons from scaling large institutions, why she and her partner leaned into “last‑mover advantage” to avoid legacy tech debt, and how modern clients are demanding clarity, strategy, and simplicity across their entire balance sheet, not just better investment performance. They also touch on the realities of antiquated custodial infrastructure, the pros and cons of private equity capital, and how to use private markets thoughtfully by sizing and integrating illiquids so they truly fit each client’s overall plan.Topics in this conversation include:* Christine’s Background and Building J.P. Morgan NorCal (2:18)* Leaving J.P. Morgan, Joining EPIQ, and Experiencing True Independence (4:27)* Founding Verita, Last Mover Advantage, and Clean Tech Stack Vision (9:01)* Evolving Client Demands: Clarity, Hassle Factor, and Whole Balance Sheet View (13:21)* Using Technology so a Small Team Can Be More Human and Proactive (18:00)* AI Orchestration Layer, Agents, and Security/Compliance Considerations (22:14)* Culture, Private Equity Capital, and Avoiding a Pure Aggregator Model (30:28)* Alternatives Adoption, Overcomplication, and Portfolio Fit of Privates (34:02)* Intelligence Layer Across Systems and Proactive Advice Using Data and AI (38:21)* Access, Diligence, and Balancing Brand Name (42:38)* Lessons From 20+ Years Advising Clients and Final Thoughts (49:28) Thank you for listening to the Private Markets Playbook. To learn more about our work and how we’re supporting access to alternative investments, visit us at allocate.co. We look forward to connecting with you.DisclosureThe information on this page constitutes market commentary and is provided by Allocate Management Company, LLC, any of its affiliates or any of its or their affiliates, directors, officers, employees or advisers (collectively referred to herein as “Allocate”) for informational purposes only.Any opinions, assumptions, assessments, statements or the like (collectively, “Statements”) regarding market condition, future events or which are forward-looking, including Statements about investment processes, investment objectives, goals, risk management techniques, views of possible future outcomes in any investment asset class or market, or of possible future economic developments, constitute only market commentary based on the subjective views, beliefs, outlooks, forecasts, projections, estimations or intentions of Allocate, should not be relied on, are subject to change. Although Allocate believes that the expectations reflected in the Statements are reasonable, no representation is made or assurance given that such Statements are correct or that the objectives of an investment product or service will be achieved or that investors will receive a return of their capital or will not sustain losses. All investments involve risks and uncertainties, as disclosed in the applicable offering documents. Allocate undertakes no responsibility or obligation to revise or update any Statements. Statements expressed herein may not be shared by all personnel of Allocate. This page and the Statements are not intended as investment advice or recommendations by Allocate. It is Allocate’s policy that investment recommendations to its clients must be based on the investment objectives and risk tolerances of each individual client.This page and Statements may contain or are based on third-party sources that, although believed to be reliable, have not been independently verified. Market and investment views of third parties presented herein do not necessarily reflect the views of Allocate. All such information is as of the date indicated, if indicated, may not be complete, is subject to change. All rights to the trademarks, copyrights, logos and other intellectual property listed herein belong to their respective owners and the use of such logos hereof does not imply an affiliation with, or endorsement by, the owners of such trademarks, copyrights, logos and other intellectual property.Past performance is n