E432: $24 Billion Investor on Private Credit, the Psychology of Winning & Fear of Failure

Highlights:

• How Ted spotted the opportunity in private credit before it became an asset class.
• Why the financial crisis permanently shifted lending away from banks.
• The two ways Ted believes private credit managers can generate alpha.
• Why Monroe built its moat around lower middle-market companies.
• Why Ted expects private credit to grow from $2 trillion to $5 trillion.
• What the surge of retail capital means for the future of private credit.
• Why Ted believes the greater risk today may actually sit in private equity.
• The personal tradeoff Ted made while building Monroe Capital.

Guest Bio:

Theodore L. “Ted” Koenig is Chairman and CEO of Monroe Capital LLC. He founded Monroe in 2004 after previously serving as President and CEO of Hilco Capital LP. Ted also co-founded HOPE Chicago and has received lifetime achievement recognition from the Association for Corporate Growth Midwest and SFNet, as well as recognition from Private Debt Investor as one of the top changemakers in private credit. He earned a B.S. in accounting with high honors from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and a J.D. with honors from Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Sponsors:

Juniper Square:

Juniper Square is trusted as the operations partner by more than 2,300 private markets GPs worldwide, connecting technology, data, and fund administration services to help GPs fundraise efficiently, streamline operations, and improve the investor experience. Their unified platform centralizes data and connects LPs and GPs across every workflow, including fundraising, investor onboarding, compliance, treasury, and reporting. Today, more than $1 trillion in LP capital is managed through Juniper Square. For more information, please visit https://www.junipersquare.com/howiinvest.

AlphaSense:

AlphaSense is the AI-powered market intelligence platform trusted by 85% of the S&P 100, helping investment professionals make faster, more confident, data-driven decisions. Built for hedge funds, asset allocators, private venture capital firms, and investment bankers, AlphaSense uses advanced AI and powerful search across premium proprietary content to surface the insights that matter most—before the market moves. Elevate your research and stay ahead of the competition. Visit https://www.alpha-sense.com/howiinvest to learn more.

AlphaSummit Discount Code: AS26HII50

Are you interested in sponsoring the How I Invest Podcast? Please email David Weisburd at [email protected].

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LinkedIn:http://linkedin.com/in/theodore-koenig

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Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in this episode should be interpreted as an offer to buy or sell any securities or to participate in any investment strategy. All opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the views of Weisburd Pierce. Participants may hold positions or have financial interests in the companies, funds, or investments discussed. Any references to specific investments are for illustrative purposes only. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of capital. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Any third-party data or opinions have not been independently verified. Listeners should conduct their own research and consult their own advisors before making any investment decisions.