Profile
“Being true to who we are is key; we are purely a referral-based business. There is zero marketing or advertising”
Adam Rakowski,
Ortus Financial
Bob Long is the CEO of StepStone Private Wealth (SPW), a pioneering division of StepStone Group, one of the largest allocators to the private markets globally. Under his visionary leadership, SPW is transforming the landscape for investors and financial professionals alike by offering innovative, value-based solutions. With assets under management surpassing $5 billion in just five years, this focus has positioned SPW as an emerging leader in the space.
With over three decades of experience in the private markets, Long has served as the CEO of two publicly traded companies across the US and Europe. He previously held senior roles at Bank of America, and earlier in his career served as in-house counsel for an investment bank and as a securities lawyer for a major law firm.
Long is also a founding director of the Defined Contribution Alternatives Association, where he chairs the Public Policy Committee, advocating for advancements in alternative investments for retirement plans. He has also served on the board of the Children’s Home Society of North Carolina and is an active supporter of adoption organizations.
Long earned his BA degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his JD from the University of Virginia. He has been named one of 50 “GameChangers” by Private Equity International. He has been profiled in the Wall Street Journal and has hosted CNBC Squawk Box Europe on numerous occasions.
128 S Tryon Street, Suite 1600, Charlotte, NC 28202
+1 704 215 4300
Bob.Long@StepStoneGroup.com
linkedin.com/in/boblongstepstone
stepstonegroup.com/what-we-do/solutions-services/private-wealth-solutions
Bob Long
Chief Executive Officer
StepStone Private Wealth
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“You can’t control the outcome, but you can always control what version of you turns up every day”
Adam Rakowski,
Ortus Financial
1988–1993
1993–2007
2007–2012
2014–2016
2019–present
Associate, Corporate & Securities Group at Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
1988–
1993
2002–2007: Group Head, Strategic Capital Division at Bank of America
2000–2002: Co-Head, Real Estate Mezzanine Group
1993–2000: Associate General Counsel
1993–
2007
President and CEO, Conversus Asset Management at Conversus Capital
2007–
2012
CEO of OHA Investment Corporation at Oak Hill Advisors
2015–present: Founding Board Member at DCALTA - Defined Contribution Alternatives Association
2014–
2016
2019–present: Chief Executive Officer at StepStone Private Wealth
2019–
present
Milestones
Milestones
ELITE WOMEN 2024 JUDGE
“You can’t control the outcome, but you can always control what version of you turns up every day,” he says.
While at the helm of a rapidly growing business and a family that includes two young children at home, Rakowski has learned to manage what he calls a “never-ending list of commitments” that consists of a new team member each month, a new interstate office and two to three new referral partners monthly.
“Our business is a human business, so investing genuine time in every person can be draining on a personal level. Balancing it all is a challenge,” he says. “Simply put, do what you say you will do, and act at all times with honesty and integrity, being respectful and empathetic. The financial outcomes are a byproduct of the human interactions we have.”
Attracting, retaining and delivering exceptional client outcomes and service starts with a sincere interest in their journey and remaining relevant to them as their lives and needs evolve, notes Rakowski. He points out that he and his team put in most of the work upfront in building meaningful relationships, which is a testament to its 99% client retention rate.
He says, “We are clear in the types of clients we work best with and our value proposition. We also look for a cultural alignment with all of our referral partners, and we are acutely aware of our strengths and how different we are from our industry peers.”
Rakowski recently opened a Queensland business and plans a foot in every other capital city. He strives to establish the brokerage as a national business with on-the-ground representation in every state by the end of 2025.