The Ben® Story
Beneficient – Ben, for short – was founded to address an emerging gap in the alternatives industry. Lowered minimums had opened this exciting asset class to a broader pool of investors. However, no one was providing these smaller investors with the level of access to early exit solutions similar as what was afforded to large institutional investors.
We’re focused on truly democratizing the alternatives landscape and empowering mid-to-high net worth individuals and small-to-midsized institutions to access early exit solutions for their illiquid alternative asset investments when they’re needed, wanted, or simply when it makes financial sense. By leveraging cutting edge technology and serving a wider range of investors than any other solution provider, we’re executing our vision.
Our Leadership
Our business is grounded in a strong management team and Board of Directors with extensive experience in alternative assets and financial services.
Our Team
Ben’s management team includes industry veterans with broad fiduciary, investing, and operating experience in both the credit and alternative asset markets. Our senior management team enjoys longstanding relationships with investors, general partners, and advisors of alternative asset funds.
Derek Fletcher
President & Chief Fiduciary Officer
Jeff Welday
Global Head of Originations & Distribution
Greg Ezell
Chief Financial Officer
Scott Wilson
Chief Underwriting Officer
Maria S. Rutledge
Chief Technology Officer
Our Board
Ben’s Board of Directors includes industry leaders with direct market experience in the key aspects of Ben’s business
Our Board
Ben’s Board of Directors includes industry leaders with direct market experience in the key aspects of Ben’s business
Brad Heppner
Director
Chairman
Credit Committee
Enterprise Risk Committee
Executive Committee Chair
Nominating Committee Chair
Thomas O. Hicks
Director
Compensation Committee Chair
Enterprise Risk Committee
Executive Committee
Nominating Committee
Bruce W. Schnitzer
Director
Compensation Committee
Enterprise Risk Committee Chair
Executive Committee
Patrick J. Donegan
Director
Audit Committee
Credit Committee
Enterprise Risk Committee
Products and Related Party Transactions Committee
Karen J. Wendel
Director
Audit Committee
Enterprise Risk Committee
Products and Related Party Transactions Committee
Our Proprietary Technology
Revolutionizing the Alternative Assets Landscape through Technological Innovation
Powered by tech innovation and a forward-thinking approach, Ben’s redefining alternative assets by addressing key challenges faced by investors. The estimated $11 trillion1 global alternative investments market holds immense potential, yet lags in innovation, favoring big institutions. We’re changing the narrative with tech advancements and an innovative trust structure, ensuring wider accessibility to exit strategies for alternative assets.
Flagship Technology for Rapid and Cost-Effective Solutions
Ben’s proprietary technology is supported by an innovative transaction and trust structure which finances the delivery of seamless and cost-effective options that address each client’s specific needs.
AltAccess®
AltAccess leverages proprietary digital technologies to deliver a simple, straightforward online experience for investors seeking solutions for their alternative assets. In a single tool, we’re able to manage risk and simplify the transaction closing process. Clients can use AltAccess to upload documents, work through tasks and complete their transactions with standardized transaction agreements with no additional costs or hidden fees.
ExAlt Plan®
Central to our online transactions, the ExAlt Plan structure is designed to facilitate the delivery of a client’s preferred election, whether that’s cash, equity securities or debt securities, or a combination of cash and equity or debt securities when exiting alternatives.
Ben AltAccess is AT&T NetBond® certified.
The SOC 2® Type I and Type 2 and SOC 3® reports are an independent auditor’s attestation of the security controls that Ben had in place during the report’s coverage period. Ben received their reports in November 2022, May 2023 and May 2024.
Our Foundational Proprietary Technology
Our flagship technology is supported by two proprietary systems, each focused on a core functionality of the alternative asset transaction process:
Underwriting Evaluation Tools
Portfolio Management Backbone
AltScore® – Algorithms producing risk-adjusted quality score for alternative asset returns
AlphaAlt® – Data-driven algorithms forecasting alternative asset growth and cashflows
ValueAlt® – Algorithms helping to assess the value Ben could offer its customers by determining an optimal advance rate on a fiduciary loan
OptimumAlt® – Fiduciary loan portfolio optimization algorithms specialized for alternative assets
AltRating – Credit rating algorithm for fiduciary loans or other financings collateralized by alternative assets
AltC® – Algorithm creating a consolidated metric for monitoring the fiduciary loan portfolio’s concentrations of alternative asset collateral
(1) Sources: Preqin, Boston Consulting Group Global Asset Management 2022 Report
Industry Impact
The Technology-Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institution (TEFFI) Act is a comprehensive statutory and regulatory framework which authorizes the chartering of regulated fiduciaries providing financing, custody, and trustee management services to investors and managers of alternative investments. This ground-breaking legislation creates a business, regulatory, and tax-friendly operating environment in the state of Kansas and represents a major step in modernizing the alternative asset industry.
Under the TEFFI Act, a portion of alternative asset financing fees will go directly to rural communities located in Kansas economic growth zones. Through its subsidiary, Beneficient Fiduciary Financial, L.L.C., Ben received its charter under the TEFFI Act and
strives to work with all stakeholders to establish the best operating framework for the industry and ensure benefits flow throughout state.
Learn More About TEFFI’s Impact >
Learn More About TEFFI Legislation >
