Work EthicSeptember 30, 2026

Investing for the Next 40 Years | Jim Dunn (Verger Capital)

Today, we're going in depth with Jim Dunn. Jim is the CEO and co-founder of Verger Capital, an OCIO focused on serving endowments and foundations.

In this episode you’ll learn:

- Why endowments require a different investment mindset.

- Why overcoming failure can be one of the most valuable qualifications in a candidate.

- The benefits of building a high-touch business and how trust compounds over time.

- How your personal history shapes your professional purpose.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:00 - What Sports Taught Him About Leadership

02:24 - Growing Up Working Class With No Roadmap

03:39 - The Moment He Stopped Coasting

05:35 - Finding His Way Into Institutional Investing

07:35 - The Endowment Mindset: Investing for the Next 40 Years

09:23 - Why He Looks For People Who Have Failed

11:26 - Creating a Culture Where People Can Take Risks

13:04 - Investing with a Mission, Not Just a Portfolio

16:13 - The Early Mistakes of Building a Business

21:02 - A CEO’s Job: Clear the Decks for Your Team

22:02 - Choosing Alpha over AUM

23:00 - The Future of Non-profit Investing

26:04 - Work Ethic Rapid Fire Questions

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Just a heads up: this podcast is for information purposes only. Read more about Work Ethic and subscribe to our newsletter http://ethic.com/work

Connect with Ethic on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethic)

Find out more about Jim and Verger (​​https://vergercapital.com/team/jim-dunn/)

Connect with Jim on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-dunn-9070731/)

The information presented should not be construed as investment advice or a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold any security. The information does not constitute an offer to sell any product or service offered by Verger Capital. Information presented in this episode is not intended to be an endorsement of Verger Capital or its investment management services.

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