Billionaire's Money Maven: From Cambridge to Clean Oceans - Noelle Laing's Wild Ride

Walton's World: Not Just Rollbacks Anymore

Alright folks Saul Goodman here your friendly neighborhood lawyer... and now apparently financial news guru? Who knew! Seems like Lukas Walton from the Walmart dynasty is playing the good guy with his family office Builders Vision. Forget rock bottom prices; they're aiming for clean energy sustainable food and happy fishies. They've just bumped Noelle Laing to Chief Investment Officer. Color me intrigued especially since I’ve always thought of ‘impact’ as what happens when my car hits a pothole.

From Humble Beginnings (Cambridge Seriously?) to Impact Queen

Turns out Ms. Laing was advising Walton way back when at Cambridge Associates. You know those folks who whisper sweet nothings into the ears of billionaires and endowments? She's been with Builders Vision since '19 and running their philanthropy arm since '22 shifting a cool $1.7 billion into 'mission aligned investments.' That's fancy talk for saving the world while making a buck. Sounds like my kind of party if there's a cut in it for Saul of course. As I always say "Better Call Saul!" especially when billions are involved.

Billion Dollar Sandbox: Playing Nice with the Planet

Now she's running the whole shebang including some family trusts and their asset management arm. We're talking a 'multibillion dollar taxable portfolio,' which let's be honest sounds like a pile of cash big enough to solve world hunger... or buy a really really nice RV. Walton himself says she's 'the perfect person for the job.' I'm sure she is. After all you don't get to handle that kind of dough without knowing a thing or two right?

Building an Empire One Investment at a Time

Laing's consolidating the investment teams and hiring a bunch more folks. Seems Builders Vision is playing in the big leagues now rivaling those institutional investors. She says this allows them to 'tackle its core causes in a wide range of ways,' from grants to startups to co investments. It's a 'spectrum of investments,' people! Like my spectrum of legal services – from traffic tickets to... well let's just say I've seen things. She aims to get exposure and move oceans food and agriculture and energy into the future. As I always say I once talked a DMV worker out of a parking ticket with only a glance and a few kind words. I can talk anyone into anything.

Sustainable Seafood and Saving the Bahamas (Seriously?)

They recently backed some sustainable seafood fund in Norway and even co guaranteed debt for the Bahamas so they can spend the savings on marine conservation. The Bahamas! Who knew they needed saving? I thought it was all sunshine beaches and… well let's not get into that. Point is these folks are serious about this whole 'saving the world' thing. My usual clients would probably prefer spending that money on... other things. But hey different strokes for different folks right?

Cambridge Mafia: The Women Who Rule Wealth

Apparently Ms. Laing is part of a growing group of women managing investments for the ultra rich all hailing from Cambridge Associates. Seems like Cambridge is the Hogwarts for financial wizards! They're churning out CIOs like I churn out… well let’s just say I’m good at my job. All this talk about billions and impact is giving me ideas. Maybe I should rebrand Saul Goodman & Associates as a 'socially responsible' law firm. After all every criminal deserves a fair trial right? That's my mission! Now if you'll excuse me I need to make a phone call... to Cambridge.