The Alt Evolution: How Private Markets Are Reshaping Wealth Management with Tony Davidow

This week, Jack Sharry talks with Tony Davidow, Senior Alternative Investment Strategist at Franklin Templeton, about the rising importance of alternative investments. Drawing from decades of experience and his latest book, Private Markets, Tony breaks down how advisors can responsibly incorporate private equity, credit, and real estate into client portfolios. He discusses the evolution of the wealth channel, the challenges of advisor education, and the need for clear, jargon-free communication with clients. Together, they emphasize thoughtful allocation over hype, aiming to empower advisors to build stronger, more resilient portfolios in today’s changing financial landscape.

In this episode:

• (00:00) - Intro

• (02:08) - Tony’s unconventional path into alternatives

• (04:58) - Tony's role at Franklin Templeton

• (07:07) - Tony's book, Private Markets, and its early success

• (13:54) - The liquidity trap: why alts don’t belong in ETFs

• (16:33) - Concerns and opportunities in the growing alts market

• (20:21) - Integrating alternatives within a portfolio 

• (22:38) - What’s next for alternatives?

• (24:14) - Tony's key takeaways

• (25:47) - Tony's interests outside of work

Quotes

"We need to make sure we can get clients comfortable with what these (alts) strategies are designed to do. If we use them the right way and clients and advisors have a good experience, the overall industry flourishes." ~ Tony Davidow

" This industry will always evolve. And that's what makes it so exciting, and it's why people of our generation are still excited about the industry every day." ~ Tony Davidow

"There's a lot of information available in the industry. Start on the journey, and wherever you are on the journey, keep on challenging yourself. You'll have a higher likelihood of achieving your client's goals by using alternative investments." ~ Tony Davidow

Links 

• Tony Davidow on LinkedIn

• Franklin Templeton

• Franklin Templeton Institute

• Morgan Stanley

• Guggenheim Partners

• Charles Schwab

• Private Markets: Building Better Portfolios with Equity, Private Credit, and Private Real Estate

• Alternative Allocations with Tony Davidow

• Goals-Based Investing: A Visionary Framework for Wealth Management

• Neil Bathon

• Alternatives by Franklin Templeton

• Jenny Johnson

Connect with our hosts

• LifeYield

• Jack Sharry on LinkedIn

• Jack Sharry on Twitter

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