In this episode of Partnering to Create Wealth, David Marcus speaks with Jacob Gonzalez, co-founder and Head of Debt Capital Markets at Cirrus Capital Partners.

Jacob shares his journey from Cornell to investment banking, private equity, and now building Cirrus Capital alongside his partner, Ryan Ridgeway. Together, they’ve carved out a niche working hands-on with lower-middle-market businesses to find the right lenders, prepare for diligence, and secure tailored credit solutions.

We discuss:

• The evolution of Cirrus Capital and what sets their model apart from traditional brokers and advisors
• Key diligence steps every borrower should prepare for before raising debt
• How lenders evaluate fit beyond price — and what borrowers should be looking for in return
• Trends shaping the debt markets in 2025, including hybrid structures and a resurgence in consumer packaged goods (CPG) lending
• Why lender–borrower relationships thrive on partnership, trust, and long-term alignment

Jacob also shares candid reflections on entrepreneurship, choosing the right business partner, and his vision for Cirrus Capital’s future as a merchant bank.

François de Visscher, co-founder and Executive Chairman of FODIS, joins me to discuss how family offices approach direct investing. We cover the opportunities and challenges families face, how to avoid common pitfalls, and the keys to sustaining wealth across generations.

In this episode of Partnering to Create Wealth, François shares lessons from 45 years of advising families worldwide — from the importance of strategy over opportunism, to how direct investments can reinforce a family’s identity, and why stewardship goes beyond financial capital.

Key Takeaways:

• How François’ family business roots shaped his career.
• The founding of FODIS and its role as an outsourcing arm for family offices.
• Why direct investments can reinforce a family’s identity and cohesion.
• The balance between family offices and private equity — partners and competitors.
• The importance of strategy over opportunism in direct investments.
• François’ SGA framework (Stability, Growth, Agility) for building trans-generational wealth.

Matt Regan, CEO of Wealthcare Capital Management, joins me to explore the forces reshaping the wealth management industry and what RIAs must do to thrive in the decade ahead.

We discuss the accelerating shift of assets toward independent advisors, the realities behind fee compression, the role of technology in building scalable practices, and the shortage of next-generation advisors. Matt also shares candid insights on regulatory pressures, the impact of robo-advisors, and why outsourcing non-revenue-generating activities is critical to growth and enterprise value.

Whether you’re an advisor, investor, or simply curious about where wealth management is headed, this conversation offers practical insights and a clear-eyed view of the future.

In this episode, I’m joined by Leigh Hoagland, co-founder and former CEO of New York Private Finance and now senior advisor to the firm. Leigh shares the backstory of a borrower we’ll call “Bob”—a food entrepreneur who used a loan from NYPF to buy out a minority partner and retain full control of his company.

We explore:

• Why Bob borrowed personally instead of through the company
• How we structured the loan using a blend of illiquid private equity and a participating interest
• What made this deal a win for the borrower—and for NYPF
• How our model differs from mezzanine debt and other private credit providers

Leigh also shares reflections from his time at Bankers Trust and Deutsche Bank, and explains how regulatory shifts gave rise to the NYPF model.

Will Bowmer, Managing Director and Co-Head of Technology at Lincoln International, joins David to share his path from corporate law to investment banking, including his time navigating the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy. Will discusses building Lincoln’s tech banking practice in San Francisco, the firm’s strength in valuing private companies and private markets, and how AI is reshaping dealmaking and advisory work. Along the way, he reflects on lessons from past market cycles and what’s driving today’s technology M&A landscape.

Alex Penning, Managing Director and Head of Banking and Lending at Cresset Capital, joins the show to discuss how Cresset helps clients think strategically about credit. We talk about the firm’s rapid growth, its integrated approach to family office services, and how Alex’s team works with business owners and wealth creators to find the right lending partners and solutions.

David Marcus speaks with Christian Berger of McGuireWoods about his unique role as a business development leader in a top law firm, the rise of independent sponsors, the McGuireWoods Independent Sponsor Conference, and his utility infrastructure venture, GridHawk.

In this episode, I’m once again joined by my colleague and New York Private Finance co-founder, Brian Bristol. We discuss key features of NYPF's credit facilities, how they’re structured, and the unique advantages they may offer to clients seeking liquidity without selling their assets.