[ Uncorrelated Minds ]: Recent Episodes

Kevin Kaylakie

Welcome to the Uncorrelated Minds podcast with Kevin Kaylakie of SineCera Capital. In this podcast, we talk with successful individuals who dared to swim against the tide, and in doing so, created extraordinary results. Join Kevin and his guests as they deconstruct the processes and events that allowed these individuals to create clarity, confidence, and purpose in their own lives and learn how it is attainable for you.

Summary:

In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie speaks with Chad Braun, the managing partner and co-founder of Fifth Corner. Chad shares his incredible professional journey and how the Irreplaceable Corners TM approach differentiates them in the real estate space.

Kevin and Chad discuss:

How a company’s core values, and strategy can impact not just investors, but entire communities.
There are some negative leverage real estate deals, but is that the best strategy if you want a positive cash flow.
What is the real estate future forecast, are we expecting another real estate cycle like in the 80s.
How Fifth Corner created a functional rent structure that is not directly affected by increasing property taxes.
And more…

Connect With Chad Braun:

Chad Braun on LinkedIn
Fifth Corner

Connect With SineCera Capital:

Email: Kevin Kaylakie
Email: Connee Sullivan
Email: Adam Packer
Contact SineCera Capital
(512) 980-4600
SineCera Capital
LinkedIn: Kevin Kaylakie
LinkedIn: Connee Sullivan
LinkedIn: Adam Packer

About Our Guest:

Chad started his career with Kenneth Leventhal & Co in their real estate advisory practice and has spent the past 24 years exclusively working in the commercial real estate business. He helped grow AmREIT (NYSE:AMRE) from $50 million to over $1 billion in assets when it sold to EDENS in February 2015. As CFO and COO, he was responsible for all aspects of capital formation, accounting and reporting, asset management, investor relations and human resources.

In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie speaks with David Steinwedell, founder and CEO of Affordable Central Texas. They provide a brief overview of a private sector solution to a current problem in Austin and other Texas cities, affordable housing.

Kevin and David discuss:

How a private market solution can be both beneficial to investors and ESG.
The difference between Capital A Affordable housing and Attainable housing.
The 3 benefits of a fund managed by a nonprofit: transparency, substantial affordability and stability.
The current rate environment leading to a period of price discovery in the real estate market.
How does affordable housing operate.
And more

Connect With Henry Yoshida:

Austin Housing Conservancy
Affordable Central Texas
LinkedIn: David Steinwedell

Connect With SineCera Capital:

Email: Kevin Kaylakie
Email: Connee Sullivan
Email: Adam Packer
Contact SineCera Capital
(512) 980-4600
SineCera Capital
LinkedIn: Kevin Kaylakie
LinkedIn: Connee Sullivan
LinkedIn: Adam Packer

About Our Guest:

David Steinwedell, a 34-year veteran in real estate and investment and an 11-year Austinite, applies the best practices of private equity and asset management to the city’s moderate- and middle-income affordability challenges. David has worked at fund advisers, REITs and real estate investment banks, and has led teams in acquisitions, asset management, and debt and property management. He has been involved in over $15 billion in financial transactions across several REITs and high-net-worth investment funds, and was the executive director of the Urban Land Institute-Austin for four years until transitioning full time to his current role as president and CEO of Affordable Central Texas. His experience across all property types and various investment vehicles provides the background to make flexible investments and create innovative transaction structures to address Austin’s rapidly changing marketplace. David is a graduate of Hamilton College and has served on the boards of NAREIM, ULI – Austin and Atlanta, and the Tritt Foundation. He and his wife, Patty, reside in Austin and have three grown children.

Kevin and David discuss:

Investing in Value Ad versus Core Plus Investments and risk adjusted returns.
Leverage and risk, to have negative leverage or to be overleveraged?
Hilltop Product as an asset appreciation, wealth preservation, and cash flowing product.
How do you Value Ad into investment properties.
The future of real estate and real estate investing.
Comparing multi-family and single-family space offerings .
And more…

Connect With David Wylie:

David Wylie on LinkedIn
Hilltop Residential

Connect With SineCera Capital:

Email: Kevin Kaylakie
Email: Connee Sullivan
Email: Adam Packer
Contact SineCera Capital
(512) 980-4600
SineCera Capital
LinkedIn: Kevin Kaylakie
LinkedIn: Connee Sullivan
LinkedIn: Adam Packer

About Our Guest:

David is the Founder & Managing Partner of Hilltop Residential.

David has been in the multifamily investment business since 2000, having received national recognition for his performance in the apartment market across Texas and the United States. During his 21 years in the industry, David has been involved in over $15 billion of multifamily transactions. David’s deep relationships in the industry, as well as his extensive experience in identifying investment opportunities, are integral pieces to the Hilltop team.

David attended The University of Texas where he studied business and Spanish and spent two semesters in Argentina developing his Spanish language communication skills and furthering his education. He is actively involved at Second Baptist Church, is an active member of NMHC (National Multifamily Housing Council),ULI (Urban Land Institute), and serves on the Regional Advisory Council with Apartment Life.

In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie speaks with Christopher Holtby, Co-Founder and Head of Learning & Business Development of Wealth Advisors Trust Company.

Kevin and Christopher discuss:

Removal and appointment of Trustees
Trust Law and the Trust Task Force in South Dakota
4 Reasons to choose South Dakota Trust Jurisdiction
How do Directed Trusts and Delegated Trusts Work
What to keep in mind when appointing a Trustee
And more…

Connect With Christopher Holtby:

Wealth Advisors Trust Company
LinkedIn: Christopher Holtby

Connect With SineCera Capital:

Email: Kevin Kaylakie
Email: Connee Sullivan
Email: Adam Packer
Contact SineCera Capital
(512) 980-4600
SineCera Capital
LinkedIn: Kevin Kaylakie
LinkedIn: Connee Sullivan
LinkedIn: Adam Packer

About Our Guest:

At Wealth Advisors Trust Company, Christopher applies his business building, love of learning, operational, and wealth management expertise gained at Ernst & Young. His role includes learning and facilitating knowledge around the trustee industry to assist those in choosing a trust company. Christopher has co-authored two white papers, Directed Trusts Made Simple and the Trusteed IRA, and authored one published peer-reviewed paper, An Advisors Roadmap to the Trustee Industry. From the operational side, Christopher created the trust administration process within SalesForce. He and his family are clients of the trust company as well.

Christopher grew up in Toronto, Canada, graduated from the University of Arizona receiving a BA in Psychology with an emphasis on statistics and a minor in English Literature. He lives in Dallas with his wife and three sons and enjoys skiing, mountain biking, hiking, reading history, and watching and participating in sports with his sons.

In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie speaks with John Anderson, Chief Financial Officer at 35South Capital.

Kevin and John discuss:

Core plus real estate assets.
35South Capital and the closing of their fund.
Negative leverage in commercial real estate.
Value-add in real estate and 35South Capital’s approach.
Real Estate Investment in the Texas Triangle.
And more…

Connect With John Anderson:

35South Capital
LinkedIn: John Anderson

Connect With SineCera Capital:

Email: Kevin Kaylakie
Email: Connee Sullivan
Email: Adam Packer
Contact SineCera Capital
(512) 980-4600
SineCera Capital
LinkedIn: Kevin Kaylakie
LinkedIn: Connee Sullivan
LinkedIn: Adam Packer

About Our Guest:

John Anderson serves as Chief Financial Officer, is a member of the Investment Committee and brings over 25 years of experience to the team. Prior to founding 35 South Capital, Mr. Anderson co-founded CJN Investments, a boutique private equity firm that invests in local businesses and real estate in the greater Houston area and throughout the state of Texas. Prior to CJN, he was the Regional Director of Development for Weingarten Realty. Mr. Anderson also previously worked at Pelican Builders, AmReit, Fairfield Residential and the Archon Group (a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs).

John graduated from Baylor University with a BBA is Business Management and an MBA from The University of Texas at Austin, specializing in Real Estate and Investments.

In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie speaks with Connee Sullivan, Head of Family Office Service for SineCera Capital.

Kevin and Connee discuss:

Tax Preparedness: contributions to 401(k)s, HSAs, 529s, Charitable contributions to DAFs, and considering estate and gift tax planning.
Tax loss harvesting.
Planning checklist and the gathering of important documents
Strategies for liquidity management.
And more…

Connect With SineCera Capital:

Email: Kevin Kaylakie
Email: Connee Sullivan
Email: Adam Packer
Contact SineCera Capital
(512) 980-4600
SineCera Capital
LinkedIn: Kevin Kaylakie
LinkedIn: Connee Sullivan
LinkedIn: Adam Packer

In this episode, Connee Sullivan speaks with Kevin Kaylakie, founder and CEO of SineCera Capital.

Kevin and Connee discuss:

The meaning of SineCera
The story behind and basis of our core values
Being true fiduciaries by heart and by handshake.
Selecting business partners who exemplify our values.
And more.

Connect With SineCera Capital:

Email: Kevin Kaylakie
Email: Connee Sullivan
Email: Adam Packer
Contact SineCera Capital
(512) 980-4600
SineCera Capital
LinkedIn: Kevin Kaylakie
LinkedIn: Connee Sullivan
LinkedIn: Adam Packer

The dynamics of selling a business have changed considerably over the years. Private equity firms are increasingly focused on creating synergies, and many founders are staying in the business even after the sale.

In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie speaks with Terese Everson, director at Focus Strategies Investment Banking, about the exit planning process and the factors that can affect the outcome.

Kevin and Terese discuss:

”01:14” How Focus Strategies helps businesses in the lower middle market
”05:13” Biggest value creators and detractors (and what the valuation process looks like)
”13:26” Why more founders are staying involved even after the sale
”15:45” The mental preparation before letting go of the business
And more

Connect With Terese Everson:

Focus Strategies Investment Banking
LinkedIn: Terese Everson

Connect With SineCera Capital:

Email: Kevin Kaylakie
Email: Connee Sullivan
Email: Adam Packer
Contact SineCera Capital
(512) 980-4600
SineCera Capital
LinkedIn: Kevin Kaylakie
LinkedIn: Connee Sullivan
LinkedIn: Adam Packer

About Our Guest:

Terese Everson joined Focus Strategies in 2019. Terese has over 20 years of finance experience in investment banking and private equity in a variety of industries and has worked on over $3 billion in transactions.

Prior to joining Focus Strategies, Terese was a Vice President at Cienda Partners in Dallas, where she led the acquisition of real estate and distressed debt investments in hospitality, office, land, multi-family, master-planned community and industrial sectors. Prior to Cienda, Terese was an investment banker in New York at Bear Stearns and subsequently at Deutsche Bank Securities in the Healthcare Group. Terese has also worked as Director of Acquisitions IFM Services and as an associate at Olympus Real Estate Corporation, a former affiliate of Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst. She began her career as an analyst at JP Morgan Chase in the Mergers & Acquisitions group.

Vintage timepieces are more than watches. They are unique pieces of history. They can be passed down from one generation to the next, and they often increase in value over time. Vintage watches offer both an investment opportunity and a beautiful piece of jewelry.

In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie speaks with Jacek Kozubek, the founder and owner of Tropical Watch. Jacek shares his fascinating journey in this niche market and how the vintage watch market has evolved over the years.

Kevin and Jacek discuss:

”06:48” What draws buyers to vintage watches
”10:10” The origin of Tropical Watch and how it came to specialize in vintage Rolex pieces
”13:36” How Jacek deals with the problem of counterfeit watches
”21:03” The role of vintage watches as a store of value
And more

Resources:

10 Past Ten

Connect With Jacek Kozubek:

Tropical Watch

Connect With SineCera Capital:

Email: Kevin Kaylakie
Email: Connee Sullivan
Email: Adam Packer
Contact SineCera Capital
(512) 980-4600
SineCera Capital
LinkedIn: Kevin Kaylakie
LinkedIn: Connee Sullivan
LinkedIn: Adam Packer

About Our Guest: Jacek Kozubek is a world-renowned dealer of vintage timepieces, with a particular focus on vintage Rolex pieces. As the founder of 10 Past Ten and Tropical Watch, Jacek has been in the vintage watch market for over a decade.

In traditional forms of IRAs (individual retirement accounts), investment options are often limited to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. However, “self-directed IRAs” enable owners to invest their retirement savings into alternative asset classes.

In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie speaks with Henry Yoshida, CFP®, founder and CEO of Rocket Dollar, Inc. They provide a brief overview of how self-directed IRAs function, their benefits, and the key rules one must be aware of before investing in it. They also explain why there is a discrepancy in the amount invested in traditional vs. self-directed IRAs across the United States.

Kevin and Henry discuss:

”03:43” How the retirement plan landscape has evolved over the years
”09:11” The two main types of self-directed IRAs
”13:26” Prohibited transactions within a self-directed IRA
”17:47” How investors like Peter Thiel manage to get billions of dollars into Roth IRAs
”21:44” Up-and-coming alternative asset classes
And more

Resources:

Investopedia: Best Self-Directed IRA Companies

Connect With Henry Yoshida:

Rocket Dollar, Inc.
LinkedIn: Henry Yoshida

Connect With SineCera Capital:

Email: Kevin Kaylakie
Email: Connee Sullivan
Email: Adam Packer
Contact SineCera Capital
(512) 980-4600
SineCera Capital
LinkedIn: Kevin Kaylakie
LinkedIn: Connee Sullivan
LinkedIn: Adam Packer

About Our Guest:

Henry Yoshida is CEO and Co-founder of Rocket Dollar, a web platform that lets people invest tax-advantaged retirement dollars into private alternative investments. He is a Certified Financial Planner professional, licensed Realtor®, and has 20 years of experience in finance. In the past, Henry was the founder of venture capital backed robo-advisor Honest Dollar [acquired by Goldman Sachs], was the founder of MY Group LLC [$2.6B AUM retirement plan advisory firm], and spent 10 years at Merrill Lynch.

He graduated from The University of Texas at Austin, has an MBA from Cornell University, and lives in Austin with his wife and two daughters.

Selling a business is a significant liquidity event that requires complex planning in various areas, such as business valuation, attracting the right buyers, tax planning, and post-sale wealth management. Moreover, given the current market conditions, long-time business owners might wonder: Is the timing right to sell a business? In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie speaks with … Continue reading The Current M&A Market: Is This the Right Time To Sell a Business? With Jack Selman (Ep. 26) →

With the end of 2022 fast approaching, several financial issues are top of mind for many families, such as high inflation and year-end tax planning. In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie and Connee Sullivan join in a kitchen table conversation to address the financial topics that matter most to families. They also share best practices to … Continue reading Kitchen Table Conversations (Part 1): Key Financial Topics Every Family Should Consider (Ep. 25) →

Access to top-performing funds across venture capital and growth equity is often limited to large institutional investors. Having built long-term relationships with these managers, Accolade Partners is able to gain access to their deals and offer high-net-worth clients the opportunity to invest via diversified funds of funds. In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie talks with Aram … Continue reading Fund of Funds: Accessing Top-Tier Venture Capital and Growth Equity Funds With Aram Verdiyan of Accolade Partners (Ep. 24) →

Seed-stage investing is a fascinating space where startups can offer considerable growth potential in their earliest stages. That attractiveness is further fueled by the recent upsurge in successful Enterprise SaaS and B2B Fintech startups. In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie talks with Anna Garcia, the Founder and Managing Partner of Altari Ventures, a New York–based venture … Continue reading Early-Stage Venture Capital: Opportunities in Enterprise SaaS & Fintech With Anna Garcia (Ep. 23) →

Early-stage venture capitalists (VCs) often lack the capital required to fund their pro-rata shares in subsequent financing rounds of their leading portfolio companies. That’s where Alpha Partners, instead of competing head-on against them, partners with early-stage VCs to bridge that capital gap. In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie talks with Steve Brotman, the managing partner of … Continue reading Venture Capital Today: Creating Alliances and Evaluating Market Segments With Steve Brotman (Ep. 22) →

After nurturing a family business for years, a founder may now be looking for successors who can grow it to the next level. This transfer can be within the family, to an existing employee, or to a strategic investor. In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie speaks with Gina Luna, Founding Partner of GP Capital. They provide … Continue reading Transitioning Capital Through a Value Added Partner With Gina Luna (Ep.21) →

In the world of investing and philanthropy these days, the focus is on impact. There is a generational divide on what this actually means and how to approach it. In this episode, Connee Sullivan speaks with Chelsea Toler, Founding Partner at NOVA Impact and President at Keep Families Giving Foundation. Together, they talk about implementing … Continue reading A Next Gen Perspective on Impact Investing and Philanthropy With Chelsea Toler (Ep.20) →

Have you ever considered fine art as collateral for private credit investments? The high-end art market attracts ultra-high-net-worth clients from around the world with art-secured lending becoming a globally valued asset class. For private credit investors, it can be a great diversifier for their portfolios. In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie speaks with Alan Snyder, the … Continue reading Art-Secured Loans: A Unique Gateway to Private Credit with Alan Snyder (Ep. 19) →

As an entrepreneur or a private equity investor, you may be involved with businesses that are in their early growth stages and transitioning from “founder-led” to “professional management.” In this episode, Connee Sullivan speaks with Amanda Eisel, the CEO of Zelis, who has significant experience in private equity and working with founders. Amanda discusses how … Continue reading Addressing the Founder’s Dilemma from a Private Equity Lens with Amanda Eisel (Ep. 18) →

The private market space has been around for a long time. But recently, it has been gaining interest from family offices and high-net-worth individuals. SineCera Capital remains highly committed to finding the right private investment managers who can be trusted with clients’ capital. In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie sits down with Alexander Schoenbaum, CEO of … Continue reading Private Market Investing for Family Offices and High-Net-Worth Individuals with Alexander Schoenbaum (Ep. 17) →

In working with clients on their philanthropic goals, SineCera Capital brings the same rigorous analytic approach as it does with investments. In this episode Connee Sullivan highlights one of the Austin non-profits that best fits this model. LifeWorks is on a mission to end youth homelessness, and does so with a focus on data-driven results. … Continue reading Making Data Driven Philanthropy Decisions with Susan McDowell (Ep. 16) →

In 2021, we experienced a spike in inflation rates, bond tapering by the Fed, and increased popularity of cryptocurrencies and NFTs. How did SineCera Capital’s all-weather portfolio perform through it all? Find out in this episode, as Kevin Kaylakie and Adam Packer provide insight on the impact of various economic factors and market trends on … Continue reading Diversifying Through SineCera Capital’s All-Weather Portfolio With Kevin Kaylakie and Adam Packer (Ep. 15) →

All great businesses begin with an idea. But what’s the secret behind turning an idea into a thriving enterprise? Find out in this episode, as Kevin Kaylakie speaks with Kim Overton, the founder and CEO of SPIbelt. Kim reveals how SPIbelt went from a small, local startup to a globally successful company with sales in … Continue reading What it Takes to Build a Successful Business Venture With Kim Overton (Ep. 14) →

With every dollar you save in taxes, you have the opportunity to spend more on the betterment of your community. Are you ready to get the biggest charitable bang for your buck? In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie speaks with Brandon O’Neill, CFP®, CAP®, a charitable planning consultant for Fidelity Charitable. They unpack strategies to help … Continue reading Donor-Advised Funds: Doing More Good With Less Money With Brandon O’Neill (Ep. 13) →

Electric, natural gas, hydrogen, and nuclear energy. You probably don’t realize how much you rely on them until they are no longer there. General Ken Eickmann is a senior research fellow and deputy director at the Center for Energy Security at the University of Texas. Among his many accomplishments, he has chaired committees for the … Continue reading Powering the Future With General Ken Eickmann (Ep. 12) →

Ultra-high-net-worth families need a trusted collaborative partner who will bring clarity, instill confidence, and help align their wealth with well-defined goals. This is what Kevin Kaylakie and his team at SineCera Capital work to provide each and every client. In this episode, SineCera Capital’s Chief Investment Officer, Adam Packer, joins Kevin to discuss this framework … Continue reading Clarity, Confidence, and Purpose in Alternative Investment Management (Ep. 11) →

The pharmaceutical and biotech industry is facing a major challenge: How to effectively scale and distribute drugs. This is partially due to outdated software tools in the industry— and that is exactly what CherryCircle Software’s co-founder, CEO, and product visionary, Yash Sabharwal, wants to solve. In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie welcomes Yash to explore his … Continue reading Solving Biotech’s Biggest Digital Challenges With Yash Sabharwal (Ep. 10) →

The labyrinth of estate planning involves navigating goals, assets, taxes, investments, and the future. Flexibility is key. In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie is joined by Doug Paul of McGinnis Lochridge law firm. Doug shares several tax planning tools you can apply to your estate plan. He also explains why he believes this is the golden … Continue reading The Golden Period of Estate Planning With Doug Paul (Ep. 9) →

As a startup business, finding investors can be a difficult process. It’s always nice to have help guide you through the process and connect you with the right people. In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie speaks with Hall Martin, Founder & CEO of TEN Capital Network. Hall shares how his firm helps connect startup companies with … Continue reading Angel Networks and Seed Stage Funding With Hall Martin (Ep. 8) →

The number one problem ultra high net worth families face is finding a resource that helps them have a complete view of their wealth as a family, regardless of where the assets are managed or by whom they are managed by. That’s why SineCera Capital enlisted Addepar to help solve this problem. In this episode, … Continue reading The One Question Every Family Asks Me — With Dan Golosovker (Ep. 7) →

Memories are invaluable. Everyone has their own story, and family stories are what maintain the family culture that can easily be lost over time. Will you let those memories fade — or will you capture them through visual storytelling? In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie is joined by Mike O’Krent, founder of Life Stories Alive. With … Continue reading The Power and Importance of Capturing Family Memories with Mike O’Krent (Ep. 6) →

Many wealth management firms use the term “family office services.” But very few truly provide the level and scope of services that families with significant wealth need. In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie joins Connee Sullivan, SineCera Capital’s Head of Family Office Services, to discuss how SineCera Capital sets itself apart. Connee discusses the role she … Continue reading How Family Office Services at SineCera Capital is Different (Ep. 5) →

Risk parity skeptics, get ready to discover the true value of implementing this strategy into your investment portfolio. In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie and Adam Packer discuss SineCera Capital’s risk parity approach and reveal how they assemble each piece of this strategy to create an “all-weather” investment approach that serves the unique needs of high … Continue reading Seeing the Forest for the Trees (Ep. 4) →

SineCera Capital’s unique investment philosophy is rooted in behavioral finance, a study of how your money decisions are impacted by psychological, social, and cultural influences. In this episode of Uncorrelated Minds, Kevin Kaylakie and Adam Packer reveal some insightful information about SineCera Capital’s investment philosophy and how the team helps build wealth solutions for high-net … Continue reading Behavioral Finance as the Basis. Empirical Finance as the Solution. (Ep. 3) →

While Kevin Kaylakie has worked hard to make SineCera Capital synonymous with an extraordinary client experience, he hasn’t accomplished this alone. Standing beside him each step of the way are his partners, Connee Sullivan and Adam Packer. In this episode of Uncorrelated Minds, meet Connee, the Head of Family Office Services, and Adam, SineCera’s Chief … Continue reading Meet SineCera Capital’s Connee Sullivan and Adam Packer (Ep. 2) →

Welcome to the debut episode of the Uncorrelated Minds Podcast with Kevin Kaylakie! In this podcast, join Kevin as he talks with successful individuals who think outside of the box, and in doing so, have created extraordinary results. In this inaugural episode, get your official introduction to Kevin Kaylakie, CFP®, CPWA®, the founder and CEO … Continue reading Meet Kevin Kaylakie of SineCera Capital (Ep. 1) →