In today’s episode, we welcome the PE Guy, whose real name is Johnny Hilbrant Partridge. The PE Guy character was started in early 2025 after capitulating from years of ridiculous travel and lifestyle stories from folks in finance, but particularly, private equity. He is certainly making his rounds in the CFA community, and we quickly realized he would be a great guest on our podcast (due to his role in PE, Private Equity, as the PE Guy often says in his skits).
We cover Johnny’s start with the Ellen DeGeneres show, then his sudden fame as a Soul Cycle Instructor, and then becoming a content creator. We discuss why he picks on private professionals more than any other position in finance, how he strikes the balance between making the PE Guy unlikeable yet charismatic, and a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into the PE Guy. We then dive into social media influencer platforms and how he manages each of them. We also talk about how financial firms should pay attention to unique content, instead of traditional advertising.
Last, and certainly not least, the PE Guy makes a brief appearance in character, asking him where he summers, to his thoughts on the best golf courses in Florida, to where he stations his yacht in the Mediterranean, and much more.
Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA & co-host Chris Cannon, CFA.
To listen to the full podcast, go to The Investors First Podcast website.