Today, CAIA Association is excited to announce the launch of the Private Equity Microcredential available on the UniFi by CAIA™ platform. The program is designed to equip the private wealth management industry with the core knowledge needed to understand the complexities of private equity.
For years, CAIA has been shining a light on one of the growing trends that has defined the past decade: a steady shift from public to private markets as companies seek to raise capital. By some estimates, private equity investments, including the venture, growth, and buyout categories, now represent the largest segment of the alternative investments industry, with few signs of slowing on the horizon.
“As the private equity asset class has matured, there are more considerations than ever for advisors to weigh, including the role that more established LP-led secondaries may play, the rise of continuation vehicles, and a strong desire (from both asset managers and investors) for more private equity exposure via regulated and semi-liquid vehicles,” said Aaron Filbeck, CAIA, CFA, CFP®, CIPM, FDP, Managing Director, CAIA Association. “Our new microcredential is designed so that the experienced advisor will quickly be able to get up to speed on the new PE access points coming online, while the newcomer to private investing will finish the course knowing the right questions to ask to best understand their own capabilities and those of the GPs who are offering this exposure.”
With collaboration from industry leaders, Cliffwater, FS Investments, and Meketa Capital, this program introduces the entire spectrum of the private equity industry including venture capital, growth equity, and buyouts with an emphasis on portfolio implementation.
“Mature asset classes like private equity require mature, in-depth educational resources to help practitioners understand all of the considerations that come with portfolio integration,” added Phil Huber, Managing Director & Head of Portfolio Solutions at Cliffwater, as well as a member of the UniFi Advisory Council. “Where UniFi really stands out is in the way the platform’s content and lessons benefit from the involvement and input of senior professionals from both asset and wealth management worlds.”
This online, self-paced program features insights from prominent asset and wealth management firms within the program’s 5 modules that qualify for 7.5 hours of CE for CFP and IWI certificate holders.
“This is an exciting addition to the educational offerings available for advisors who are looking to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to private equity investing,” said Michael Bell, CEO of Meketa Capital. “I think participants will be very pleased with how robust the curriculum is and the range of implementation questions it helps answer.”
The Private Equity Microcredential joins the growing range of UniFi by CAIA™ offerings, which also include a Digital Assets Microcredential, a Private Debt Microcredential, a Real Estate Microcredential, and the Fundamentals of Alternative Investments Certificate program, the flagship of the UniFi by CAIA ™ portfolio of educational programs.
“Today marks a significant achievement for all of us who have been working closely to make the Private Equity Microcredential a reality. This is an educational resource that could not be coming to market at a better time, and I’m looking forward to all of the conversations this will spark in both asset and wealth management about the changing nature of the private markets and the important role private equity can play in a well-constructed portfolio,” said Kirsten Pickens, Co-Head, U.S. Distribution at FS Investments.
More information on UniFi by CAIA™ can be found here: https://caia.org/programs/unifi
About CAIA Association
The CAIA Association, a global professional body, pioneers a new era in investment management. At the forefront of the shifting of alternative investment asset classes from ‘alternative’ to mainstream, CAIA embraces diverse expertise and interdisciplinary knowledge essential for responsible capital allocation and client stewardship. A Member-driven organization representing professionals in more than 100 countries, the organization seeks to prepare investors for a dynamic future, disrupting traditions, creating opportunities, and fostering long-term sustainability. To learn more about the CAIA Association and how to become part of a professional network that is shaping the future of investing, please visit https://caia.org/.
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