Ready to connect with the investment community here in Cleveland? Want to learn about the people, events, projects, and firms that are making a difference? Want all of that but feel like you don’t have the time? This is the show for you.
Welcome to Guardians of Finance.
Brought to you by the CFA Society of Cleveland and hosted by Matt McLaughlin, CFA, CAIA and Portfolio Specialist at Diamond Hill Capital Management, Guardians of Finance will provide you with a chance to foster deeper connections and know what is getting the attention of Clevelands’s Investment community.
Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast platform and head to Guardiansoffinance.com where you can connect or reconnect with the CFA Society of Cleveland and attend an educational or social event, and find volunteer opportunities.
Andrew Medvedev, Dean of the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University
Our guest today is Andrew Medvedev, Dean of the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.
Andrew has a fascinating story. He was born in Russia, eventually made his way to Cleveland, and took a path that was anything but straightforward. We talked about how he once imagined a future in law or medicine before finding his way into finance, how he got his start in investment banking, and how those experiences shaped the leader he is today.
We also spent time on what’s happening at Case Western and Weatherhead, and the opportunities he sees ahead for students, the university, and the broader Cleveland business community.
Connect with Andrew here:
Andrew Medvedev LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-medvedev-56613a/)
Host Matt McLaughlin, CFA, CAIA, is a Portfolio Specialist at Diamond Hill Capital Management. He is a Past President and Board Member of the CFA Society of Cleveland. Connect with Matt here:
Matt McLaughlin LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewmclaughlincfa/)
We'd like to thank the CFA Society Cleveland's 2026 Annual Sponsors First Trust, Invesco, State Street Global Advisors, BlackRock, Man Group, Avantis Investors and ScaleCo. We'd also like to that our University Partners the Case Western Reserve Weatherhead School of Business and University of Akron School of Business. The support from these partners and others helps the Society bring engaging content like the Guardians of Finance podcast and other in-person events. We welcome you to attend an event in the future to network, learn, and stay involved with the investment community in Northeast Ohio.
16 Dec 2025
Brad Knapp, CFA, CAIA, President and CEO of Clearstead
Today we’re joined by Brad Knapp, CFA, CAIA, President and CEO of Clearstead. Brad began his career in banking, then moved into wealth management at Hawthorn right as the Global Financial Crisis was unfolding. From there, he’s played a key role in the evolution from Hartland to Clearstead, as the firm expanded from its institutional roots into a major presence in private wealth.
We’re going to talk about those early experiences, what ultimately drew him into private wealth management, how Clearstead has changed along the way, and his involvement with the CFA Society of Cleveland. We’ll also get into some of the boards and nonprofits he supports here in Northeast Ohio.
Connect with Brad here:
Brad Knapp LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-knapp-cfa-caia-a4a25a4/)
Host Matt McLaughlin, CFA, CAIA, is a Portfolio Specialist at Diamond Hill Capital Management. He is a Past President and Board Member of the CFA Society of Cleveland. Connect with Matt here:
Matt McLaughlin LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewmclaughlincfa/)
We'd like to thank the CFA Society Cleveland's 2025 Annual Sponsors First Trust, Invesco, State Street Global Advisors, BlackRock, Man Group, Avantis Investors and ScaleCo. We'd also like to that our University Partners the Case Western Reserve Weatherhead School of Business and University of Akron School of Business. The support from these partners and others helps the Society bring engaging content like the Guardians of Finance podcast and other in-person events. We welcome you to attend an event in the future to network, learn, and stay involved with the investment community in Northeast Ohio.
14 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT
Brendan Anderson, Founder & Managing Partner of ScaleCo Capital
Today we’re joined by Brendan Anderson, Founder & Managing Partner of ScaleCo Capital. We kick things off with his jump from banking to buying his first company as we dig into what gave him the courage to make the move and how he made that first deal happen. From there, Brendan breaks down what ScaleCo looks for and how they partner with “lifestyle businesses” to professionalize and grow them without losing the owner’s DNA. We also dig into why, for many entrepreneurs, buying a business can be a smarter on-ramp than starting from scratch. And yes, we wrap with the story behind the T-shirt he owns but can never wear. Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoy this episode with Brendan Anderson.
Connect with Brendan here:
Brendan Anderson LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andersonbrendan/)
Host Matt McLaughlin, CFA, CAIA, is a Portfolio Specialist at Diamond Hill Capital Management. He is a Past President and Board Member of the CFA Society of Cleveland. Connect with Matt here:
Matt McLaughlin LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewmclaughlincfa/)
We'd like to thank the CFA Society Cleveland's 2025 Annual Sponsors First Trust, Invesco, State Street Global Advisors, BlackRock, Man Group, Avantis Investors and ScaleCo. We'd also like to that our University Partners the Case Western Reserve Weatherhead School of Business and University of Akron School of Business. The support from these partners and others helps the Society bring engaging content like the Guardians of Finance podcast and other in-person events. We welcome you to attend an event in the future to network, learn, and stay involved with the investment community in Northeast Ohio.
Inside a recent episode
Andrew Medvedev, Dean of the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University
Published 21 Apr 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] We've had a top three organizational behavior department for years in this place. Our executive education, open enrollment programs were just ranked number three by financial times in the country and number two in the world actually for customer satisfaction. So I think we know how to actually engage executives that think about leadership quite a bit. And much of what we do really centers around two constituencies, the pre -professional side of the house, which deals with undergraduates or fifth year masters, basically folks before they get their first job. And there we focus on developing leaders who can turn intention into outcome, repeatedly their complexity and chaos. […]
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