CAIS on Monday announced that it further expanded alternative investment strategies from several global asset managers that are available on its CAIS Marketplace, increasing options for advisors looking to create more diversified client portfolios.
The latest expansion features alts strategies from asset managers including BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley Investment Management and Nuveen, according to CAIS.
Over the past year, these and other asset managers introduced new strategies on the CAIS Marketplace that ran the gamut across infrastructure, private debt, private equity and real estate, delivered via structures such as business development companies (BDCs), interval funds and non-traded REITs, CAIS pointed out.
“Advisors and their clients are facing one of the most complex investing environments in decades, with persistent volatility, higher rates, and a growing need for diversification,” Brad Walker, Co-President of CAIS, told WSR by email.
“The shift toward private markets as a core portfolio pillar is happening now, not later,” he said. “As private markets become more accessible, expanding the CAIS Marketplace at this moment, we’re ensuring advisors have timely access to leading managers, strategies and investment structures to meet their clients’ investment needs and objectives.”
In a news release announcing the further expansion of alts offerings, he said: “Advisors are increasingly turning to alternatives as a core pillar of modern portfolio construction. This shift represents a key inflection point.”
In September 2023, CAIS said it expanded its menu of strategies with launches and additions from the alternative asset managers Apollo Global Management, Ares Management, Bain Capital, Blue Owl Capital, the Carlyle Group, Fidelity Investments, Franklin Templeton, KKR, Neuberger Berman, Nuveen, Partners Group and StepStone Group.
Increasing Alts Interest
Pointing to a recent CAIS-Mercer Survey, CAIS said Monday that advisors continue to be motivated to allocate to alts. Private debt was the top allocation, with 89% of the 550 advisors who responded to a survey conducted from Sept. 10 to Oct. 18, 2024, mentioning that strategy. Respondents included independent RIAs, broker-dealer affiliates, family offices and other advisor professionals.
Private debt was followed by private equity (86%) and real estate (85%), with 75% saying they expected to increase allocations to private equity and 60% planning to increase allocations to private debt, according to the survey. CAIS said the results highlighted the appetite for diversification, downside protection and yield in an uncertain environment.
“CAIS’ combination of access, education, and technology is empowering advisors to integrate alternative strategies at scale—marking an important inflection point for both the industry and the financial advisors driving adoption,” Jeff Carlin, Global Head of Wealth Advisory at Nuveen, said in the news release.
He added, “Expanding our strategies on CAIS allows us to reach a broader set of advisors and ultimately deliver the diversification and outcomes their clients are increasingly seeking.”
Asset managers who provide investments on the CAIS platform gain access to a network of advisors that “oversee more than $7 trillion in assets,” according to the firm.
The platform includes pre-trade, trade and post-trade technology; a custom online education offering (CAIS IQ); digital marketing support; and integrations with custodians, reporting providers, fund administrators and transfer agents.
The CAIS Models Marketplace will also carry model portfolios reflecting some of the new structures and products, CAIS said.
Several alternative asset managers will participate at the 2025 CAIS Alternative Investment Summit, in Beverly Hills, California, Oct. 13-16.
CAIS said it serves more than 2,000 firms that support over 50,000 advisors.
Jeff Berman, Contributing Editor and Reporter at Wealth Solutions Report, can be reached at jeff.berman@wealthsolutionsreport.com.
