Escala Partners launches investment platform to strengthen alternatives capabilities, positioning itself at the forefront of private wealth investment innovation.
Torty Howard
Escala Partners, one of Australia’s leading private wealth investment and advisory firms, has significantly strengthened its alternatives investment capabilities with the launch of an end-to-end investment platform. The platform, which will support Escala’s alternative offerings for its wealth clients, is designed to streamline operations and enhance the investment experience.
The Escala alternatives platform, set up in collaboration with the One Investment Group, will offer bespoke solutions to optimise operational workflows, including document processing, onboarding, subscriptions, performance reporting, tax management, investment calls and distributions processing.
Torty Howard, Co-CEO of Escala Partners, said, “The wealth management industry is undergoing a pivotal transformation, embracing alternative and private market investments at an increasing pace. We continue to see growth in this space as family offices and high-net-worth investors look to allocate more capital to alternatives to enhance diversification, hedge against inflation and achieve superior returns. At the same time, technological advancements are making these investments more accessible, efficient, and customisable.”
Howard added that the alternative investment lifecycle for clients involves a complex process spanning pre-investment (education, research, sourcing and due diligence), investment (strategy customisation, onboarding and subscriptions) and post-investment (performance reporting, tax management and capital distributions) processes.
“End-to-end capability like this is critical because it allows us to build, manage and maintain an entire alternative investment program while eliminating operational and administrative complexities – all through a single, integrated system. This will enhance the workflows of our Chief Investment Officer (CIO) teams, wealth advisors and operational staff, providing clients with a holistic view of their wealth, encompassing both public and private investments,” she added.
Ben James, Head of Advisory, Investment Advisor and Partner at Escala Partners, added, “Our clients are increasingly looking for sophisticated investment strategies that go beyond traditional asset classes. This capability provides them with a seamless and transparent investment experience, offering access to high-quality alternative investments with greater ease, efficiency, and clarity. By reducing operational friction and enhancing customisation, we are empowering our clients to diversify their portfolios in a way that aligns with their long-term financial goals.”
The alternative asset market has continued its strong momentum, with total assets now estimated at $16.3 trillion. Demand remains robust for private equity and private credit, while uncorrelated strategies are gaining traction as investors seek greater diversification amid an increasingly challenging economic environment.*
James also pointed to the continued expansion of private markets, fuelled by their low correlation to traditional asset classes. “Private markets are now an essential source of capital for innovation and economic activity worldwide, creating long-term tailwinds for investment in this space.
“As the number of publicly listed companies declines globally, the opportunity set in private markets continues to expand. Private investments are no longer just a niche allocation; they are becoming an integral part of sophisticated investment portfolios.”
———–
You must be logged in to post or view comments.