2025 Vision: Meet Stephanie Drescher and 9 Others Who Will Shine!
Have you noticed how alternative asset managers are making waves in the wealth market? It’s a phenomenon that’s hard to miss! From cutting-edge technology platforms to strategic mergers in asset management, the landscape is evolving rapidly. Add to that the swift launch of new limited liquidity funds aimed at mass affluent investors, and it’s clear that those championing the “democratization of alternatives” are stepping up to engage with advisors at every turn.
Leading this charge is none other than Stephanie Drescher, the dynamic head of Apollo’s client and product solutions group. Apollo Global Management is becoming a household name in the investment realm, managing a staggering $700 billion in private investments and making its mark as a newly minted member of the S&P 500. While the wealth channel comprises just a slice of that massive pie, Apollo’s ambitions are soaring. Over the past three years, they’ve invested a whopping $1 billion into building out their wealth team, which now boasts 140 dedicated professionals.
Drescher articulates this vision perfectly: “We saw a golden opportunity to expand our robust institutional relationships into the wealth management arena, tapping into wirehouses, private banks, registered investment advisors, independent broker/dealers, and family offices.” Her commitment over the last few years has been laser-focused on cultivating these invaluable connections as Apollo’s global wealth platform continues to flourish.
Today, Apollo is ramping up its global fundraising from the wealth channel, surpassing an impressive $10 billion annually. In total, they’ve raised $27 billion and developed 30 innovative investment vehicles, spanning everything from traditional drawdown structures to fresh, semi-liquid strategies in credit, equity, and real assets.
Reflecting on Apollo’s strategic evolution, Drescher reveals, “Before we fully committed to the wealth sector, we offered alternatives sporadically to advisors and their clients through traditional drawdown products. Fast forward to now, and we’ve dramatically broadened access through a diverse array of perpetual and semi-liquid solutions, along with other groundbreaking structures. Our primary goal with individual investors is to uncover opportunities that provide superior returns per unit of risk, curate a portfolio of solutions that align with client ambitions, and establish access points tailored to each buyer’s needs.”
Looking ahead, Apollo has set ambitious targets for 2029: to double the size of its wealth team, raise $30 billion annually from the wealth channel, and achieve a staggering $150 billion in assets under management for wealth-focused products. This could potentially account for half of the company’s annual third-party capital raises—talk about game-changing!
Drescher, who earned her undergraduate degree from Barnard College and holds an MBA from Columbia University, has a stellar background in alternative investments. Since joining Apollo in 2004, she has built an impressive career following a decade at JPMorgan Chase’s alternative investment group.
“I was initially attracted to Apollo for the very qualities that invigorate it today: an entrepreneurial spirit, a dedication to innovation, and a meritocratic culture. These elements drew me in then and still shape my daily experience,” Drescher shares passionately. “I recognized that the firm was on a transformative path, poised to redefine the alternatives industry—one strategy at a time.”
But it wasn’t just her professional journey that shaped her; it was her family that had the most profound impact on her career path. “My grandmother was the first person who sparked my interest in finance and the markets,” she recalls. “Born in the late 1800s and unable to complete her education, she instilled in me the value of education and the importance of closely following financial markets. During my high school years, she lived with us, and we spent countless hours tracking the markets and learning about companies together.”
