In a recent episode of Bloomberg's Masters in Business, host Barry Ritholtz sat down with Lawrence Calcano, chairman and CEO of iCapital, to discuss how the fintech firm has become a leading platform for alternative investments. Calcano shared insights on the company's mission to make private equity, hedge funds, and other alternative assets more accessible to wealth managers, advisors, and individual investors.
iCapital, founded in 2013, now serves over $200 billion in assets and partners with major financial institutions to streamline the administration and distribution of alternative investments. Calcano emphasized the growing demand for alternatives as investors seek higher returns and diversification beyond traditional stocks and bonds.
The episode also touched on the challenges of regulatory compliance, the role of technology in scaling the platform, and the future of retail access to private markets. Calcano highlighted that iCapital's goal is to build "the world's alternative investment marketplace" by connecting asset managers with a broader range of investors through a unified, tech-driven ecosystem.
Barry Ritholtz and Calcano explored how the industry is evolving, with more advisors embracing alternative investments as a core part of client portfolios. Calcano noted that education and transparency are key to overcoming historical barriers, and that iCapital's platform aims to simplify the process while maintaining rigorous due diligence.