In this episode of The Alternative Mason, Brittany Mason chats with John Davi — founder of Astoria Portfolio Advisors and one of the sharpest minds in the ETF world. John shares how growing up in Queens shaped his hustle, how early stints at Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley fueled his love for markets, and what drove him to launch Astoria back in 2017.

They dive into how Astoria blends macro insights with quantitative research, what it’s really like to build an independent firm from the ground up, and where John sees the next big wave — from alternative investments to the rise of AI in finance.

Key Takeaways:

• Diversification is Crucial: It's the only free lunch in the market. A well-diversified portfolio can protect against market volatility.
• Blend of Macro and Quant: Astoria's approach of marrying macro insights with quantitative research offers a unique edge in financial strategies.
• Embrace Innovation: John Davi emphasizes the role of AI and crypto in modern investment strategies, highlighting their potential to transform portfolios.
• Calculated Risk-Taking: Davi advises taking calculated risks for higher rewards, a strategy that has propelled his success.

Connect with us below!

• John Davi on LinkedIn
• Astoria Portfolio Advisors
• Brittany Mason on LinkedIn
• Banríon Capital Management

What happens when a banker’s son builds a venture firm in a place most investors overlook? Brad Zapp, Cp-Founder, President and Head of Strategy & Marketing at Connetic Ventures, shares how rejection fueled his pivot into early-stage investing, eventually leading to Wendal, an AI-powered associate that reviews founders 24/7. With this remarkably innovative tool, Brad is reimagining who gets funded and who gets to invest. This episode unpacks how AI, behavioral science, and fund structure innovation are opening venture capital to a much broader audience.

Key takeaways:

• AI can scale deal sourcing and diligence, even from outside traditional VC hubs.
• Psychometric screening helps identify unconventional but high-potential founders.
• Interval funds are breaking down access barriers for everyday investors.

Connect with us below!

• Brad Zapp on LinkedIn
• Connetic Ventures
• Brittany Mason on LinkedIn
• Banríon Capital Management

Greg Friedman has a financial journey that starts in his early childhood, investing his birthday money, and has brought him to launching Peachtree Group in 2007. In this episode, he explains what he calls the Mispriced Risk Business and how he’s overseen $11 billion in real estate investments.

Key takeaways:

• Greg’s first memories and how they shaped his entrepreneurial mindset.
• The difference between happiness and fulfillment.
• Mispriced risk and how to make money out of it.
• The importance of relationships for any business.

Connect with us below!

• Greg Friedman on LinkedIn
• Peachtree Group
• Brittany Mason on LinkedIn
• Banríon Capital Management