Month: July 2025

Generational Investments featuring CIO Steve Kolano (Ep. 2)

Generational Investments featuring CIO Steve Kolano (Ep. 2)

There’s a quiet revolution reshaping how investors build wealth—and it’s not about chasing headlines or hype.

Why are fewer companies going public, and what does that mean for you? What’s really happening under the surface in private credit and equity markets?

In this episode, Rex Berger, Private Wealth Advisor of Generation Capital Advisors, sits down with Steve Kolano, Chief Investment Officer at Integrated Partners, to break down the realities of public versus private investing, why simplification beats complexity, and how private markets are evolving. Together, they unpack what it takes to construct portfolios designed to last for generations.

Key Takeaways:

  • Why most alpha should come from tax and estate planning rather than trying to beat the market [00:10:14]
  • How their “core and explore” philosophy balances efficient index investing with selectively vetted alternatives [00:13:20]
  • The dramatic drop in publicly listed companies since 2000 and the resulting rise of private market opportunities [00:14:40]
  • How market conditions and rising interest rates are forcing private equity firms to focus on long-term operational value over quick exits [00:19:38]
  • The importance of manager selection and due diligence in navigating the private credit and equity space [00:22:00]
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Rex Berger: 

Connect with Steve Kolano: 

About Our Guest: 

Steve Kolano brings a deep passion for both financial markets and people to his role, ensuring that every investment strategy he oversees is custom-built to align with each client’s personal vision of success.

He understands that financial markets are complex, dynamic systems, constantly adapting and evolving. People are no different. Each investor carries unique beliefs, perspectives, and goals that shift over time.

Steve’s mission is rooted in understanding the individual first. What drives them? What informs their decision-making? What is their “why”? By uncovering these insights, Steve crafts investment portfolios that are not only tailored to the person but also integrated with their broader financial plans and strategies.

Throughout his career, Steve has come to embrace a critical truth: there is no magic bullet in investing. No secret formula. No one-size-fits-all portfolio.

What sets Steve apart is his process, beginning with a deep understanding of the client and then applying the art and science of investing in pursuit of their specific goals.

In the end, Steve believes the closest thing to a magic bullet in investing is a well-designed, disciplined plan—and the commitment to stick with it.

Generation Capital Advisors: A better way to manage wealth (Ep. 1)

Generation Capital Advisors: A better way to manage wealth (Ep. 1)

Most wealth problems are not caused by one bad investment; they come from complexity that never gets cleaned up.

In this episode, Matt Ackerman hosts a conversation with Samuel Diarbakerly to talk about why “simplification is the ultimate form of sophistication,” and what it actually takes to make wealth management feel clear, coordinated, and human. Samuel Diarbakerly shares how Generation Capital Advisors was built to deliver family-office-level coordination without the typical ultra-high minimums. They walk through the firm’s planning-first process, why most people cannot even find their existing financial plan, and how the right team can quarterback tax, estate, investments, insurance, and client service as one connected strategy. The conversation also covers the “core and explore” portfolio structure, using technology and selective AI thoughtfully, and building a generational firm culture rooted in partnership and kindness.

What to expect:

  • Why simplification can be a competitive advantage in wealth management
  • The difference between investment management and holistic planning leadership
  • “Core and explore” portfolios, endowment-style simplicity, and purposeful complexity
  • How strong advisors coordinate CPA, estate attorney, and planning conversations
  • The generational question families quietly worry about most
  • Where technology, cybersecurity, and AI fit, and where they should not
  • Why Integrated Partners became the operational backbone for Generation Capital’s growth
  • And more!

Connect with Sam Diarbakerly: 

Connect with Matt Ackerman:

About our Guest:

Matt Ackerman is a leader at Integrated Partners and the episode host. He guides a candid conversation with Samuel Diarbakerly on how modern advisory firms can combine high-touch service, thoughtful technology, and disciplined planning to help families simplify complexity and stay focused on what matters most.