Q1 2025 in Focus: What Moved Markets and What Comes Next
Release Date: 04/09/2025
The Long Game: How Military Discipline Built a Contrarian VC Empire
The Wealth Exchange
In this episode, Rob Olsen, Head of Private Capital at Nicola Wealth, and Jason Luo, Senior Director of Venture Capital, speak with Han Kim, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Altos Ventures, a global venture capital firm known for backing breakout companies like Roblox, Coupang, and Woowa Brothers. Han walks through Altos’ early challenges, from launching a fund just before the Asian financial crisis to navigating the dot-com bubble, and explains how those experiences shaped a long-term, founder-first approach to venture investing. The conversation explores what it means to invest with...
info_outline
The Uncertainty Premium: Finding Value When Markets Fear Change
The Wealth Exchange
Recorded live on May 29 at the Nicola Wealth Vancouver Strategic Insights event, this episode features Chairman, CEO, and CIO John Nicola in conversation with the firm’s senior investment leaders. Together, they explore how the team is approaching today’s market environment and identifying opportunities across real estate, private capital, and public assets. Featuring: Alex Messina, Managing Director, Nicola Real Estate Robert Olsen, Head of Private Capital Ben Jang, Portfolio Manager, Investment Strategist William John, Co-Head, Public Assets – Fixed Income This episode shares our...
info_outline
John Nicola on Strategy, Succession & Serendipity
The Wealth Exchange
In this special episode recorded live at the Canada Private Markets Meeting in Toronto, Nicola Wealth’s Founder, Chairman, CEO and CIO, John Nicola joins Michael Kaumeyer, Vice Chair, Nicola Family, for an insightful conversation on leadership, legacy, and navigating uncertainty. John reflects on the unexpected path that led him into financial services and the deliberate decisions that shaped Nicola Wealth’s unique model, one built on integrated planning, long-term thinking, and shared ownership. From early lessons in sales to building a multi-generational firm, John shares what he’s...
info_outline
The Role of Private Debt in Today’s Market with Rob Olsen, Matt Choi and Rahman Vahabzadeh
The Wealth Exchange
In this episode of In the Ring with Rob, host Rob Olsen is joined by Nicola Wealth’s Matt Choi and guest Rahman Vahabzadeh, Managing Director at Audax Private Debt, one of the most established firms in the space with over $24 billion in assets under management. Together, they explore how private debt has evolved into a key component of today’s investment portfolios, why it’s gaining traction with both institutional and individual investors, and how firms like Audax are navigating an increasingly complex and competitive market. From the rise of unitranche financing to what makes a...
info_outline
Carney and Trump, What's Next?
The Wealth Exchange
In this timely episode, Gary Mar, President and CEO of the Canada West Foundation and former Alberta Cabinet Minister, joins Ben Jang, Portfolio Manager and Investment Strategist at Nicola Wealth, to discuss the recent Canadian federal election and what the results could mean for the economy, energy, and national unity. The conversation explores the potential for cross-party cooperation, the evolving relationship with the United States, and how Canada can strengthen its position through productivity, infrastructure, and Arctic strategy. Together, they offer a thoughtful and wide-ranging...
info_outline
John Nicola’s Philosophy on How Sharing Success Can Result in Exponential Growth
The Wealth Exchange
What does it take to build a firm that lasts—and a culture that grows with it? In this episode, recorded live at the 2025 Private Wealth Canada West Forum, Nicola Wealth Chairman and CEO John Nicola joins board member and Rethink Founder Tom Shepansky for a thoughtful conversation on leadership, growth, and the value of sharing success. From the early influences that shaped his thinking to Nicola Wealth’s “Share the Pie” philosophy, John offers insights on building a resilient business, investing in people, and staying focused on the long game. For entrepreneurs, executives, and...
info_outline
Q1 2025 in Focus: What Moved Markets and What Comes Next
The Wealth Exchange
Ben Jang, Portfolio Manager at Nicola Wealth, joins host Jasmine Maricic to discuss key developments from the first quarter of 2025 and the potential implications for the global economy. They review market reactions to U.S. tariffs and their broader impact on trade dynamics, including Canada’s positioning in a shifting global landscape. Ben also shares perspectives on Canadian and U.S. equity valuations, diverging labour market trends, and the return of terms like “stagflation” to economic discourse. The conversation touches on European equity performance, inflation and interest rate...
info_outline
The Growing Role of Secondaries in Diversified Portfolios with Rob Olsen, Adrian Millan & Tori Buffrey
The Wealth Exchange
Secondaries have emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments within private capital, offering investors potential access to liquidity and flexibility in an asset class traditionally known for long holding periods. In this episode, Rob Olsen is joined by Nicola Wealth’s Tori Buffrey and Adrian Millan, Partner at PJT Park Hill in New York, to explore how this market is evolving and what it means for today’s investors. Together, they explain the fundamentals of LP- and GP-led secondaries, discuss the increase in transaction volume, and examine the structural and market trends shaping the...
info_outline
Canadian Residential Real Estate Outlook: Multiplexes, Mortgages & Market Shifts with The Vancouver Life
The Wealth Exchange
Host Ethan Astaneh speaks with Dan Wurtele and Ryan Dash, partners at The Vancouver Life Real Estate Group. Dan and Ryan lead a team of award-winning real estate advisors helping clients navigate the evolving Greater Vancouver market—and beyond. In this episode, they offer a timely and comprehensive overview of the Canadian residential real estate landscape, from buyer, balanced, and seller market dynamics to the ripple effects of the mortgage maturity wall. They discuss how major cities like Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, and Victoria are faring, and why condo markets in particular are facing...
info_outline
Building Lasting Value in Private Equity with Rob Olsen, Aly Champsi and Sunny Lee
The Wealth Exchange
In this episode, host Robert Olsen and co-host Sunny Lee from Nicola Wealth speak with Aly Champsi, Managing Director at DW Healthcare Partners, a private equity firm focused on healthcare investments with offices in Toronto and Park City, Utah. The conversation explores healthcare-focused private equity, highlighting how sector specialization and operational expertise create a competitive edge in a crowded market. Aly explains why healthcare, comprising 17% of U.S. GDP, presents attractive investment opportunities across multiple subsectors. They also discuss challenges like tariffs and...
info_outlineBen Jang, Portfolio Manager at Nicola Wealth, joins host Jasmine Maricic to discuss key developments from the first quarter of 2025 and the potential implications for the global economy.
They review market reactions to U.S. tariffs and their broader impact on trade dynamics, including Canada’s positioning in a shifting global landscape. Ben also shares perspectives on Canadian and U.S. equity valuations, diverging labour market trends, and the return of terms like “stagflation” to economic discourse.
The conversation touches on European equity performance, inflation and interest rate expectations, and the evolving role of fiscal and monetary policy. Ben also outlines how Nicola Wealth’s multi-asset portfolios are managed to stay diversified and respond to changing conditions across public and private markets.
Highlights
1:02 - How much has Trump shaken up the Global Economic landscape with the recent tariff threats?
6:35 - European Union x Canadian Trade
11:04 - U.S Exceptionalism
12:51 - Trade tensions and how they are impacting the Canadian interest rate
15:10 - Why have European stocks outperformed US stocks this last quarter?
18:00 - The importance of a diversified portfolio