Jonathan Schonberg
Stratford,CT
Summary
Driven and successful alternative investments sales management executive with expertise and experience in National Accounts, Institutional and Retail Distribution, Sub-Advisory Sales, Strategic Planning, Product Development, External Wholesaling, and Business Development. Successfully built sales and marketing teams, gained platform placement, and expanded partnerships across multiple distribution channels. Extensive knowledge of complex investment products; highly successful at broadening firm brand awareness. Led the growth of Water Island Capital's AUM from $170 million to $3.9 billion.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Business Development
American Elm Distribution Partners
09.2023 - 07.2024
- Worked with CEO of firm's largest client (Damien Dwin of Lafayette Square) to create six marketing videos tailored for RIAs and the broader Wealth Management channel
- Represented firm at industry conferences and strengthened firm's relationship with National Association of Personal Financial Advisors “NAPFA”
- Contributed to NAPFA monthly magazine by authoring article on private credit
- Served as Product Specialist and led outreach for firm's newest alternative client (Quent Capital) which manages a Global Long/Short Small Cap Growth hedge fund.
Head of Distribution (L2) & Head of RIA and Wealth Management (Kailash Concepts)
L2 Asset Management & Kailash Concepts
10.2021 - 08.2023
- Created strategy pitchbooks and served as Product Specialist for L2's largest institutional client
- L2's total AUM increased from $170 million to $300 million during tenure – much of the growth was due to this client
- Shepherded a new RIA prospect through due diligence and obtained $13+ million commitment to L2's long/short hedge fund which had $18 million in AUM at time of commitment.
Business Development Director
Gerstein Fisher
10.2018 - 01.2020
- Introduced Gerstein Fisher mutual funds, SMA's and model portfolios to institutional consultants, OCIO's, institutions, RIA's and broker/dealers such as UBS and American Portfolios Financial Services.
Founder, President
Saltmeadow Associates
05.2016 - 09.2018
- Financial technology startup focused on non-traditional investment research tools; achieved proof of concept for software designed to generate and evaluate a range of investment ideas.
Head of Distribution
Water Island Capital (Advisor to Arbitrage Funds)
03.2006 - 03.2016
- Spearheaded and developed the firm's sub-advisory, institutional, and retail distribution capabilities
- Led, managed, and supervised Water Island Capital's investor relations, public relations, and research relationships as Product Specialist; guided all sales and support on national basis
- Recruited and hired team of Internal and External Wholesalers to cover lower 48 states; implemented sales-tracking system, training initiatives, and metrics designed for success
- Successfully marketed and sold Water Island's full suite of products to wirehouse advisors, registered investment advisors, independent broker-dealers, TAMPs, and consultants.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - English
Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT05.1997
Skills
- Relationship Building
- Communication Skills
- Capital Markets Acumen
- Sales training and leadership
- Key Account Management
- Vendor Management
- Revenue Growth
- Leadership, Management
Accomplishments
- Nominated by Water Island Capital's founder and subsequently named a ‘Rising Star of Mutual Funds' by Institutional Investor News in 2010; due to success, awarded 5% equity stake in the firm.
- Grew firm annual revenue from $2 million to $38 million as Head of Distribution.
- Sourced and won three sub-advisory mandates totaling $1 billion; directly managed those relationships as Water Island's Institutional Sales Representative and Client Advisor.
Certification
FINRA Series 24
FINRA Series 7
FINRA Series 65
FINRA Series 63
Timeline
Director of Business Development
American Elm Distribution Partners
09.2023 - 07.2024
Head of Distribution (L2) & Head of RIA and Wealth Management (Kailash Concepts)
L2 Asset Management & Kailash Concepts
10.2021 - 08.2023
Business Development Director
Gerstein Fisher
10.2018 - 01.2020
Founder, President
Saltmeadow Associates
05.2016 - 09.2018
Head of Distribution
Water Island Capital (Advisor to Arbitrage Funds)
03.2006 - 03.2016
Bachelor of Arts - English
Middlebury College