The Private Equity Fund Lifecycle: What Happens to Your Capital Across 10-12 Years
TL;DR A standard PE fund runs 10-12 years: capital calls cluster in years 1-5, cash distributions peak in years 6-10, and the J-curve means you carry negative or flat IRR for the first 2-3 years. DPI
How PE Firms Value Your Portfolio: The Mark-to-Model Problem Every LP Must Understand
According to the IPEV Valuation Guidelines (updated 2025), private equity and venture capital fund managers are required to estimate fair value for portfolio holdings at every NAV reporting date. T...
Co-Investment in Private Equity: The Insider Track to Better LP Returns
A co-investment lets you put capital directly into a single private equity deal alongside the fund, at zero carried interest and reduced or zero management fees. According to ILPA Principles 3.0, this
The PE Distribution Waterfall: How $100M in Fund Proceeds Gets Divided
The distribution waterfall is the contractual mechanism that determines how every dollar of fund proceeds splits between you, the limited partner, and the general partner. Get this wrong, and a fund t