Adam Sansiveri, Regional Senior Managing Director, SVP, Head of Nashville Private Wealth, Co-Head Sports & Entertainment, Bernstein

In an interview with Invest:, Adam Sansiveri, Regional Senior Managing Director, SVP, Head of Nashville Private Wealth, Co-Head Sports & Entertainment of Bernstein, discussed the growing sophistication of entertainment-industry investors, the impact of technology on wealth management, and key shifts in client priorities and risk tolerance.

What have been some of the key milestones and achievements for the firm over the last year or so?

It’s been an exciting journey for our firm in Nashville, which recently marked its seven-year anniversary. Over that time, it’s been incredibly rewarding to see how deeply we’ve been embraced by the community. Some highlights of that relationship include our representation on more than 100 local boards, a team of over 1,200 employees in the area, and millions of dollars contributed philanthropically. Seeing Bernstein become a household name in Nashville has been especially gratifying.

Our dedication to supporting the community we call home, and where our global headquarters is based, has allowed us to stand out culturally within the city. That same commitment has also fueled business growth that has exceeded even our own expectations.

What are some metrics through which you measure your firm’s growth and success?

Our litmus test for success, in every city where we operate, is simple: how fast the city is growing and whether we can outpace that growth rate. When we do, it’s a clear sign that we’re gaining market share. In Nashville, we’ve consistently done just that and have achieved growth by double-digit margins. It remains our fastest-growing market in the country.

Where are you seeing the greatest areas of traction or transformation within your client base?

We’re seeing significant momentum in two primary areas. The first is with founders, business owners, and entrepreneurs. We’ve established ourselves as the firm for founders, and the work we do in this space continues to set us apart from our competitors.

The second area, and the one I am most proud of, is our growing impact in the nonprofit sector. We’ve become the largest wealth advisor and money manager for nonprofits in Nashville, and our growth in this space is accelerating. What makes us different is the depth of our support. Beyond investment management, we help with board education, governance structure development, fundraising, and overall community partnership. This holistic approach allows us to serve not just advisors, but as true partners to the organizations we support.

Given the diversity of clients you serve, what shifts are you observing in their priorities?

The most notable shift we’re seeing is a bifurcation in risk tolerance. Across the board, from business owners, nonprofits, family offices, and individual families, there is a heightened sense of caution due to global uncertainties. After years of consistent, above-average growth, there are many competing forces weighing on investors. For nonprofits, there is social uncertainty. For businesses, concerns around tariffs and market volatility. And for investors, the rapid emergence of AI and the lofty valuations add new layers of complexity. In this environment, we believe success requires both a global perspective paired with tailored solutions to each client’s unique circumstances.

As someone deeply involved in the sports and entertainment space, how are your clients navigating the growing financial complexities, such as private investing? 

The entertainment industry often operates in its own orbit, but Nashville has become a major beneficiary of its recent reconsolidation. While the publishing side of music has long been rooted here, much of the industry had shifted to New York and Los Angeles before ultimately returning. Today, Nashville has reestablished itself as a leading music hub.

Our clientele in this space is diverse, ranging from media executives, institutions, nonprofits, and individual artists, each facing distinct challenges. For example, while there was strong anticipation that mergers and acquisitions would rebound this year, that momentum has yet to return to the levels seen in 2021. At the same time, independent labels have become increasingly attractive acquisition targets for major players due to their recent successes.

On the artist side, we’re seeing a new level of business sophistication. Artists once relied solely on music revenue, but they’re now exploring brand launches, private equity investments, and equity stakes in companies by leveraging their influence. This shift has expanded our role far beyond traditional investing in stocks, bonds, and real estate. Today, we help clients maximize their broader business potential.

I often point to the Ashton Kutcher or Ryan Reynolds model where fame is used as a springboard for strategic investments. While this approach offers incredible opportunities, it also introduces new layers of complexity. Our goal is to help clients navigate those complexities and avoid major missteps while making the most of the unique advantages their visibility provides.

From a technological perspective, what innovations or tools are proving most impactful right now, and how do you see them shaping the future of wealth management?

Being at the center of our industry’s research ecosystem, part of our job is to identify where the greatest areas of growth, disruption, and innovation are happening. That insight and long-term perspective are fundamental to many of our investment strategies. That has always been the case, whether during the tech boom, the internet era, the rise of mobile devices, or now with AI, automation, robotics, energy transformation, and space travel. The list goes on.

Within our industry specifically, we’re seeing substantial productivity gains driven by AI and large language models. While these tools are not entirely new, they’re now being applied in ways that enable advisors to operate more efficiently. They help capture notes more effectively, access information faster through internally developed chatbots, and streamline portfolio management. For example, tasks that once required analysts to sit through lengthy earnings calls and spend hours reading transcripts can now be completed by proprietary tools in a matter of seconds. These advancements enable us to analyze vast amounts of data with unprecedented speed.

The broader wealth management industry is on the cusp of even greater innovation and efficiency through these tools. We believe staying at the forefront of these developments is critical because it allows us to serve our clients with the highest level of insight and care.

Looking ahead, what are your top priorities and goals over the next couple of years?

The short answer is that our focus has always been, and will continue to be, serving our ever-evolving client base. As our clients’ needs and goals change, so should we—ensuring that we meet their investment priorities and exceed their service expectations. Our clientele is highly sophisticated, and our business must continuously adapt to meet that standard.

We’re also expanding regionally, which is driven by the distinct, differentiated needs of our clients. Our reach now extends across Tennessee, throughout the South, and even on a global scale. Growth and innovation remain central to our mission, but they’re always guided by the constant demands of our clients.

What are some key market trends, particularly private markets trends, that you are observing and how does that impact your clients?

We’re at an inflection point in the investment universe. Alternative asset classes were once viewed as niche, but we’ve long argued they’ve become a core component of modern portfolios. The sheer scale of alternative asset classes now makes them essential for investors, and we are deeply focused on this space. We believe our research capabilities allow us to identify dislocations, uncover opportunities, and manage risk more efficiently in this evolving landscape.

For our clients in Nashville, this is particularly relevant. We provide access to institutional-quality private market investments that are typically reserved for pension plans, university endowments, and global family offices. This is a major differentiator for our firm and a key part of our strategy as we continue to grow.

On a broader note, what’s happening in Nashville is so exciting. Since announcing our relocation in 2018, the city has undergone transformative growth with several industry-leading firms setting up headquarters, and several yet-to-be-announced developments are reshaping the landscape. The East Bank development and other major initiatives are propelling Nashville into its next chapter, whether you call it 2.0, 3.0, or beyond. Being headquartered at the epicenter of this change, on Fifth and Broadway, positions us to play an active role in the city’s dynamic evolution under strong leadership.