Listening First with Crewcial Partners

In this episode, host Robert Morier sits down with Kyle Marmelstein, Investment Director at Crewcial Partners, live from Newport, Rhode Island.

With over 15 years in institutional consulting and manager research, Kyle shares insights into building lasting partnerships, managing risk through market cycles, and why empathy and listening are essential tools in the allocator’s toolkit.

From the lessons of 2008 to today’s private equity dislocations, Kyle offers a grounded view of what it means to invest with conviction, humility, and purpose.

Crewcial Partners is an independent investment advisory firm based in New York, serving endowments, foundations, and mission-driven institutions across the U.S. With over 40 years of experience, the firm designs customized portfolios that align mission with performance, grounded in rigorous research, transparent communication, and long-term partnership.

Key Insights for Allocators

• Hybrid OCIO models — Kyle explains how Crewcial Partners bridges advisory and execution, offering clients flexibility while maintaining investment discipline.
• Private equity secondaries — Learn how current market dislocations are creating opportunity for smaller endowments and foundations to enter private markets more efficiently.
• People and process alignment — Discover why trust, transparency, and culture drive Crewcial’s due diligence and client partnerships more than any model or metric.

Key Takeaways for Asset Managers

• Preparation and empathy win the meeting — Kyle emphasizes the importance of knowing allocators’ pain points and coming prepared to connect, not just to sell.
• Tell your story honestly — Authentic storytelling, humility, and transparency—especially about mistakes—build trust faster than performance charts ever will.
• Understand the human side of due diligence — Hear how allocators like Kyle “build the mosaic” over time, testing conviction and consistency through multiple meetings.

Listen now to hear how one allocator’s journey from the 2008 crisis to today’s dynamic markets reveals enduring truths about partnership, patience, and purpose in investing.