Alt Goes Mainstream: The Latest on Alternative Investments, WealthTech, & Private Markets

Monthly Alts Pulse Ep. 12: Taking the pulse of private markets and the future of AI and automation in private markets with Eileen Duff, Managing Partner & Chief Client Success Officer at iCapital

Oct 4, 2024

Eileen Duff, Managing Partner & Chief Client Success Officer at iCapital, shares her extensive expertise in alternative investments. She delves into the transformation of distribution in private markets and the role of technology, especially AI and automation, in enhancing client experiences. Eileen discusses strategies for engaging diverse clients and the significance of improved data connectivity. She emphasizes the need for better education on investment products and the efficiencies gained through automation in post-investment processes.

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Intro

00:00 • 3min

Strategies for Diverse Client Engagement

02:54 • 12min

Transforming Post-Investment Processes

15:16 • 4min

The Evolution of Registered Funds and Its Impact on Investor Education and Technology

18:46 • 2min

Optimizing Data in Private Markets

20:39 • 5min

Welcome to the 12th episode of the Monthly Alts Pulse, a collaboration between iCapital x Alt Goes Mainstream.

This month’s episode features one of iCapital’s senior executives, Eileen Duff, Managing Partner & Chief Client Success Officer, and a private markets veteran who was Head of Alternative Investments, North America for Credit Suisse for a number of years. At iCapital, she oversees Investor Relations, Enterprise Integration, and Client Operations teams to optimize the client experience. Eileen has had a number of senior and instrumental roles at iCapital. She's also a member of iCapital's Operating Committee. She was previously Head of Fund Management & Research for iCapital, where she was responsible for origination and development of new investment products and lifecycle management of existing offerings. She also led Distribution for iCapital, leading the sales and relationship management function after joining from Credit Suisse.

iCapital, as the leading platform that is responsible for the majority of individual and advisor-led investment flows into the alts space, has its finger on the pulse of what’s happening in private markets.

Eileen and I had a fascinating and lively discussion about how technology innovation, and AI and automation in particular, are revolutionizing alternative investments and how technology can drive growth and operational efficiency.

We covered:

How and why alternatives distribution has evolved.
The importance of meeting clients where they are.
The evolution of wealth channel strategies.
How much does structure matter?
When and why Eileen saw registered funds as a major driver of the future growth of private markets well before they became mainstream.
The impact of registered and evergreen funds on operations and fund administration.
Where will the biggest efficiencies come from in the automation of post-investment processes?
How AI and automation will enhance operational efficiency?

Thanks Eileen for a great episode … looking forward to next month’s Monthly Alts Pulse conversation!