Richard C. Wilson on Spotting Uncommon Investments
At a Family Office Club keynote, Richard C. Wilson discusses how investors can assess deal flow and identify uncommon investment opportunities.
He speaks to private equity funds, real estate developers, and private investors, connecting deal selection with investor fit, focused strategies, and credible offers.
In this video: Richard C. Wilson (founder and CEO)
What they said
- Quality deal flow comes from a defined strike zone. Richard says investors should first define the attributes of a quality deal, then seek more opportunities within that circle. Comparing more investments that fit the same focus can help reveal which ones are better aligned or more credible.
- Richard's definition of an anomaly. Richard defines an anomaly as three standard deviations from average, or 0.3% of what an investor sees. He uses the term for opportunities that stand apart from the ordinary options in a portfolio.
- Uncommon deals fit investor demand. Richard says an opportunity should be uncommon, but uniqueness alone is not enough. It should differ from competitors while fitting what investors want and where the market is heading.
- Investor economics align with outcomes. Richard says fees should be transparent and aligned with investor outcomes. In his view, a manager should not make money before the investor does, and should be paid well when the investment performs well.
- Focused offers gain credibility. Richard says an opportunity needs a compelling team. He also argues that a clearly defined niche, such as a strategy focused on a specific market and company type, is more credible than a broad claim of global reach.
In their words
"the ultra-wealthy don't like responding to a lot of sales messages they want to meet the person"
"they haven't gotten rich by being foolish with their money"
Why it matters if you are building or preserving great wealth
Richard says someone who has never invested with you may introduce you to their father, friend, or family office executive if your deal is unique, focused, and credible. That referral can put the opportunity in front of a family office through a trusted relationship.
From Richard's exclusive Billionaires.com interviews
Lessons from Richard C. Wilson's one-on-one interviews, as published on each interview page.
- Anu Aga: Focus on one main cause. Her family found its giving more satisfying and impactful once it chose primary education for the underprivileged in India.
- Binod K. Chaudhary: Never chase a deal out of desperation. Stay cool and look at every part of the deal. Have your advisers and your finance team review it critically. Your counsel should review it too.
- Larry Connor: Learn from every mistake. Larry's team owns its failures and makes no excuses. They learn, change quickly, and keep getting better.
See the data
Frequently asked questions
What feedback can Family Office Club members request?
Richard says members can resubmit their materials every three months. He says his team reads them and provides two to four pages of feedback.
What is one uncommon investment structure Richard mentions?
Richard describes a consumer products investment structured as a gross revenue royalty. He says that structure had rarely been discussed on Family Office Club stages.
Sources
Quotes are copied from the video captions and checked against the transcript. Timestamps link to the moment in the video. General information only, not legal, tax or investment advice.