Institute CEO and Director of Programs Share Insights on Private Markets in Kiplinger

In a Kiplinger article published in November 2025, Investments & Wealth Institute CEO Sean Walters and Director of Programs Mike Kurz examine how expanding access to private market products is reshaping the responsibilities of financial advisors. As new vehicles such as evergreen funds, interval funds, and non-traded structures “democratize” private markets, the authors note that many retail investors are seeking exposure to strategies once limited to institutions and the ultrawealthy. This surge in demand requires advisors to elevate their approach to client education, risk interpretation, product due diligence, and expectation-setting around liquidity, valuation, and performance dispersion.

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Walters and Kurz emphasize that as private markets grow in opportunity and complexity, the advisors who distinguish themselves will be those who understand how to align private strategies with individual client goals and liquidity needs — not merely provide access to them. They highlight the importance of operational due diligence, manager evaluation, and the ability to translate firm-approved offerings into coherent portfolio strategies. Advanced credentials such as the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) certification, they note, help advisors build the specialized expertise required to navigate private market structures responsibly and communicate their unique characteristics to clients.

Read the full article here: https://www.kiplinger.com/investing/private-markets-what-financial-advisers-need-to-tell-clients