The Role of Private Debt in Today’s Market with Rob Olsen, Matt Choi and Rahman Vahabzadeh
Release Date: 05/15/2025
Sarah McLachlan & John Nicola on Music, Mentorship, and Miracles
The Wealth Exchange
Music has the power to transform lives, and few understand this better than Sarah McLachlan. In this episode, host John Nicola, CEO, CIO and Chairman at Nicola Wealth, sits down with the Grammy-winning artist and philanthropist to explore her remarkable journey from a 19-year-old with a record deal to the founder of a groundbreaking music education program. Together, they trace McLachlan's path from Halifax to Vancouver, her early experiences with World Vision that sparked a lifelong commitment to giving back, and the creation of Sarah McLachlan School of Music 24 years ago. The...
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The Rational Investor: Navigating Behavioural Pitfalls with John Nicola
The Wealth Exchange
Even the most disciplined investors can be influenced by emotions and biases. In this episode, Benjamin Jang, Investment Strategist at Nicola Wealth, introduces John Nicola, Chairman, CEO & CIO, who explores the field of behavioural finance. John examines the psychological traps that can influence even the most experienced investors, from loss aversion and overconfidence to anchoring and confirmation bias, and how these behaviours can affect long-term returns. Drawing on historical examples and modern research, John highlights practical ways investors can counteract bias through...
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Housing at a Crossroads: What’s Driving Canada’s Real Estate Market?
The Wealth Exchange
Canada’s housing market is at a crossroads, driven by record immigration, shifting interest rates, and mounting construction challenges. In this episode, host Ethan Astaneh, Wealth Advisor | Client Relationship Manager, sits down with Dan Wurtele and Ryan Dash of The Vancouver Life Real Estate Group for a data-driven look at the state of Canadian real estate. Together, they unpack the demand story behind immigration, what interest rates and cap rates are signalling, and why investor sentiment remains cautious. The conversation also dives into stalled development projects, the rise of...
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Planning Through Uncertainty: A Guide for High-Net-Worth Families
The Wealth Exchange
In this episode, Vanessa Flockton, President of Private Wealth at Nicola Wealth, addresses the questions on every investor’s mind: How do you plan and invest when the world feels anything but stable? From rising geopolitical tensions and tariff wars to market volatility and inflation concerns, Vanessa shares a grounded approach to navigating uncertainty through disciplined financial planning. With a sample case study of long-time clients, Vanessa illustrates how Nicola Wealth’s disciplined approach, grounded in personalized planning, diversified asset allocation, and a focus on...
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Pattern Recognition and Persistence: Hard-Won Lessons from a PE Veteran
The Wealth Exchange
What does it take to build a lasting career in private capital? In this episode, Nicola Wealth’s Rob Olsen sits down with Mike Mazan, longtime private equity leader, board member, and co-founder of KingsPeak Partners, to explore the evolution of Canada’s private capital landscape over the past two decades. From early lessons at McKinsey and Rogers to landmark investments at Birch Hill Equity Partners, including early backing of Constellation Software, Mike reflects on the wins, the pivots, and the leadership values that shape successful long-term investing. He shares his transition...
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Canadian Markets vs. Tariff Headwinds: Q2 2025
The Wealth Exchange
Markets may be rising, but risks are too. In this quarterly edition of The Wealth Exchange, Nicola Wealth Portfolio Manager and Investment Strategist Ben Jang joins host Jasmine Maricic to unpack the sharp contrasts of the second quarter of 2025 — from tariff shocks and interest rate uncertainty to surprising equity rebounds. Together, they explore where Nicola Wealth sees opportunity in today’s complex environment, including fixed income, public equities, and secondary private markets. They also touch on reporting transparency, the importance of rebalancing, and strategies to help...
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People First, Profit Follows: Building a Legacy of Generosity
The Wealth Exchange
Mark Therriault, Vice President of Business Succession and Estate Planning, sits down with Mike and Karen Heppell, founders of Longboard Architectural Products. From betting the farm on a manufacturing startup to creating one of Abbotsford’s most admired workplace cultures, the Heppells share their journey of grit, vision, and leading with purpose. They share how they built a thriving business grounded in people-first values, operational excellence, and community impact, and why generosity is now embedded in their culture, from philanthropy to employee engagement.
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Going on a Bear Hunt: Four Market Factors to Consider
The Wealth Exchange
Recorded live on June 3 in Victoria, Nicola Wealth Advisor | Client Relationship Manager, Chris Warner, hosts a timely discussion on the forces shaping today’s investment environment. Ben Jang, Portfolio Manager, Investment Strategist, opens with a compelling analysis of the four key indicators that have preceded every bear market over the past 200 years, and why all four are now in play. Shaun Blythen, Vice President, Real Estate Investments & Portfolio Strategy, provides an update on Nicola Real Estate’s development activity in Victoria and discusses the long-term role of real...
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How Altos Ventures Built Success by Thinking Long Term
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...
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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_outlineIn 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 deal resilient in uncertain times, this episode offers a clear, inside look at how private lenders approach risk, return, and long-term opportunity in the U.S. middle market.