Scott Carmichael

Founders spend years building a business, and often years preparing it for sale. Escala says too few spend adequate time preparing for the transition and the period immediately after settlement, when concentrated business value is converted into liquid capital.

When managed well, founders can establish a pathway to resilient sustained wealth. Without enough groundwork, the impact can be long-term and compounding.

Founders are selling, but settlement is not the finish line

The complexity of the transition that follows a successful business sale cannot be underestimated. While settlement may feel like the end of the journey, it marks the beginning of a very different set of decisions and adjustments.

Scott Carmichael, Head of Advisory at Escala, said, “Settlement of a business sale or transition can affect every aspect of daily life, with the challenges being just as psychological and emotional as they are financial or operational. For this reason, the plan needs to consider the whole of life alongside investment planning.”

Founders who sell businesses have invariably been consumed by the day-to-day operations of the business and the sale process itself. In many instances, little forward planning has been undertaken.

“The advisor’s role is first and foremost to listen, understand where a founder’s ambitions lie, identify potential risks, and help create a clear vision for what comes next.”

Many founders move from running a business they know intimately to overseeing a significant pool of liquid capital across markets and opportunities that may feel far less familiar.

“That shift can be confronting,” Carmichael said. “Even simple measures, such as establishing a regular ‘salary’, can reduce uncertainty and support better decision-making.”

“Continuity is critical. While founders may have long-standing relationships with accountants, lawyers and other trusted advisors, the wealth advisor is the element that brings these functions together, ensuring they work collectively to formulate a cohesive strategy and a clear vision for the future. Keeping those relationships aligned is an equally important part of managing risk.”

The post-sale strategy is a critical wealth issue

Escala believes the initial post-sale period is one of the most critical, yet often overlooked, stages of the founder wealth journey. A successful exit creates an important opportunity to pause after what is often one of the most significant events of a founder’s life. It provides the time to evaluate personal priorities, family objectives and long-term ambitions before committing capital. It is equally important to recognise that developing a sound strategy for a life-changing event takes time. Over the years following a sale, objectives and vision often become clearer.

“Founders need to understand their liquidity needs, tax position, income requirements, family objectives, retained business interests and long-term investment horizon,” Carmichael said.

“That requires careful consideration. The first question should be what the capital needs to achieve, not where to invest.”

Simon Dawkins, Head of Capital Markets and Escala’s Direct Investment Group, believes without a plan, founders can move too quickly into risk assets, sit too long in cash, or move back towards concentrated direct opportunities because they feel familiar.

Escala’s Direct Investment Group, led by Dawkins, was established to meet Escala’s UHNW client demand for access to institutional-quality direct investment opportunities across all asset classes; and plays a very relevant role in this scenario.

“For example, we see an important role for a curated portfolio of direct investment-grade bonds to provide capital stability, liquidity within two to three days, and materially higher returns than cash. Being in such a liquid strategy to start with allows for quick redeployment into risk assets as prescribed by the client’s advice team,” said Dawkins. “Capital needs to be working from day one, and this strategy gives clients, together with their advice team, time to refine their target risk profile and allow staged investment into less liquid risk assets.”

Carmichael commented that it is not uncommon for the entirety of a founder’s sale proceeds to be directed to the Direct Investment Group on day one.

He added “it is an excellent example of how an integrated model, which combines wholesale advice, Chief Investment Office oversight, and institutional-quality investments can assist the shift from wealth creation to wealth stewardship.”

The role of wholesale advice

Carmichael concludes that a key part of the ongoing advisory relationship, much like the sale, is helping founders create continuity through that next phase. This may involve working alongside spouses, family members, accountants and other trusted advisors to ensure decisions remain aligned and the family’s objectives are clearly understood.

“These are deeply personal matters and, ultimately, the goal is to provide founders with confidence that their wealth is structured not only for today’s needs, but for the people and priorities that will matter long into the future.”

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Tracey McNaughton

Australia’s biggest long-term economic challenge may not be inflation, but productivity. While recent debate has focused on AI, housing, superannuation, infrastructure and tax, each issue ultimately comes back to the same question: where will capital be invested, and will it make Australia more productive?

As governments seek to attract private investment and fund the next wave of economic growth, policy settings are becoming increasingly important in determining where capital flows and what gets built.

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Torty Howard

Escala, a leading Australian wealth advisory firm serving high-net-worth individuals, family offices and not-for-profit organisations, has announced a new adviser career framework and client origination incentive (COI), designed to attract, develop and retain talented young advisers.

Launching this month, the Escala Advisory Growth Track introduces a clear, competency-based pathway from entry level roles through to Investment Advisor, alongside enhanced learning and development opportunities, and an established mentorship program.

This comes as the industry more broadly faces several structural challenges, including falling numbers of advisers, gender imbalance, an ageing workforce, and evolving skillset requirements to keep pace with emerging technologies.

Torty Howard, Chief Operating Officer at Escala, said the move also addresses broader concerns around the pipeline of talent entering the advice profession, with the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA) citing a 48% reduction in adviser numbers since 2019¹.

Ms Howard stated, “The advice industry continues to face challenges due to the widening gap in not only retail but also wholesale advice needs. The Escala Advisory Growth Track is intended to nurture our existing talent and bring in new talent. As a business, we focus on wholesale advice in the ultra high net worth and family office space and have a strong history of organic staff growth. Building on this success, it’s now important to introduce a clearer, more structured career pathway and framework, and help fill the advice gap in that space.”

She also underlined Escala’s commitment to promoting female participation in the industry and says that intention with this initiative is to increase clarity and structure to drive awareness of how accessible the pathway is in wholesale investment advice.

“Research shows that women represent as little as 22% of the industry.² With increasingly defined pathways we aim to drive better representation within Escala and the industry overall, as well as offering a diversity of advisors for clients.”

Belinda Jackson, Head of People & Culture at Escala and Focus Partners Australia said the program is underpinned by the recognition that progression is defined by the accumulation of experience, skills and exposure, rather than a succession of titles, and that careers aren’t always linear.

“Successful careers in advice do not look the same for everyone and we wanted to create a framework that reflects that reality. People can move laterally, build technical expertise, or pursue client facing roles depending on their strengths and ambitions,” said Ms Jackson.

“As a business, we’re investing in the future of financial advice and wealth management. The program we’ve introduced enables employees to take greater ownership of their careers while being supported by the business.”

“We know the industry is facing a decline in advisor numbers, so it’s critical we create clear, attainable pathways for people to build long-term careers, particularly in wholesale advice,” she said.

Ms Jackson believes that for many graduates and early career professionals, one of the biggest barriers is simply understanding how to progress. This framework removes that ambiguity and gives people a structured path forward.

“Additionally, our partnership with Focus US has created an opportunity to leverage leading edge learning and development to support this pathway.  Over the past six months we have had two cohorts of Advisors and Associates engaged in a Focus Growth program that is providing meaningful skill development from the best in the industry,” Ms Jackson said.

Client origination incentive

Escala has also introduced a new COI model to reward early career professionals for contributing to business growth, ensuring that team members continue to be appropriately recognised and rewarded

Under the model, team members who play a role in origination are eligible for a share of the associated revenue, aligning incentives with both individual contribution and firm growth.

The initiative is also designed to strengthen Escala’s employee value proposition, with a focus on structured learning, mentoring and on-the-job development, embedded throughout the career pathway.

“So much learning happens through experience, so providing meaningful exposure to clients and real work early on is critical,” said Ms Jackson. “Our role as an employer is to create the environment, support and opportunities that allow people to build confidence and capability over time.”

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Notes:
[1] https://faaa.au/adviser-education-reforms-vital-to-help-close-advice-gap/
[2] https://future-impact.com.au/industry-insights/women-in-wealth-report/

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Ben James

Escala, an Australian private wealth investment and advisory firm, working with high-net-worth individuals and families, family offices and not-for-profit organisations, says investors need to place greater emphasis on understanding the country-level drivers shaping global markets, as differences between economies play a larger role in outcomes.

The firm works with clients who have complex financial needs, and where their investment decisions extend beyond markets to structure, timing and long-term objectives.

Escala says that while broad regional exposures such as ‘Europe’ and ‘emerging markets’ remain a useful foundation, they are increasingly being complemented by a more granular view of the underlying exposures within those regions.

Ben James, Chief Executive Officer at Escala, said the shift reflects how portfolios are being constructed rather than a change in overall direction.

“For most clients, this is not about moving away from global exposures,” Mr James said. “It is about understanding them more clearly and understanding where capital is actually deployed, what is driving returns, and how the different countries interact.

“The difference is not access. It is a judgement of what risks we want to take, what to avoid, and how it fits together in a portfolio.”

He said that as markets become less synchronised, investors are spending more time on how portfolios are structured and how risks are distributed across them. “Advice is considered over years, not quarters.”

Escala said the growing dispersion between countries in growth, inflation, policy settings and sector composition is making it more important to look through regional labels, rather than relying on them in isolation.

Tracey McNaughton, Chief Investment Officer at Escala, said recent market behaviour has reinforced the value of that approach.

“Japan is a good example,” Ms McNaughton said. “Corporate governance reform and changes in capital management have supported a distinct investment case that is not captured by a broad ‘Asia’ allocation.”

She said a similar divergence is evident across emerging markets.

“Broad market indices can give the impression of consistency where that does not exist.

“The differences between countries such as India and China in terms of growth, policy direction and capital flows are meaningful. Even within Asia, markets like South Korea are being influenced by their own mix of reform and sector exposure.”

South Korea was among the strongest-performing equity markets globally last year, as semiconductor demand and corporate reform momentum helped offset concerns around US tariffs.

This divergence pattern has continued into this year.

“The MSCI World Index returned 5.2% year-to-date to 30 April 2026, while the MSCI Emerging Markets Index returned 13.9% over the same period. In US dollar terms, these figures mask significant dispersion between the strongest and weakest country markets inside those indices,” Ms McNaughton added.

“In some cases, technology-exposed markets have advanced sharply, while others tied more closely to energy, financials or domestic demand have lagged, despite sitting within the same regional grouping.

“The same pattern can be seen in geopolitical tail risks. Looking at exposure at a country level helps clarify where risk is concentrated, which markets are absorbing those risks, and which are less exposed.”

Escala said a more granular understanding of geographic exposure can improve portfolio construction by helping investors better assess diversification and identify where risks and opportunities are concentrated.

“Diversification is not only about how many regions you hold,” Mr James said. “It is about how those exposures behave together.”

He said this is particularly relevant for clients making long-term decisions across generations or managing capital against defined objectives.

“The aim is to build portfolios that hold up over time, and make decisions that clients remain comfortable with.”

Escala emphasised that this approach is underpinned by a disciplined investment process, including country-level macro and policy analysis, identifying structural drivers of return, and implementing exposures through carefully selected managers with a focus on risk, liquidity and portfolio fit.

Ms McNaughton said the value ultimately comes down to execution. “Identifying a market that looks attractive remains extremely important. As important, is to understand its role in the portfolio and how it contributes to overall outcomes.”

Escala expects this more considered approach to global investing to remain vital as the world shifts from a rules-based order to one dictated more by state-backed industrial policy.

“In a more complex environment, clarity becomes more important,” said Mr James.

“Broad exposures remain part of the solution, but understanding what sits beneath them, and where adjustments need to be made, is where the real value is added.”

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Stanford is an experienced private markets investor with a career spanning more than two decades across asset consulting, direct investing and venture capital strategies.

One of his most significant roles was as Head of Private Equity and Venture Capital at Hostplus, where he established the fund’s direct co-investment program and positioned Hostplus as a recognised leader in venture investing. He has also worked at the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, led the Venture Capital investment strategy at Breakthrough Victoria and as JANA Consultant was responsible for consulting and investment research. He began his investment career at Russell Investments as a private equity, infrastructure and alternatives researcher.

Ben James, CEO of Escala Partners, said Stanford’s appointment reflects Escala’s increasing focus on sophisticated strategies beyond traditional markets. “We are pleased to have Neil join our team at a time when we are increasingly offering our clients access to high-quality alternative investments. The landscape for investors is changing and our clients are no longer satisfied with traditional exposures to equities and bonds. They want exposure to private markets, venture and alternative strategies that can drive returns whilst balancing risk. Neil’s deep experience in structuring co-investments and identifying value in complex markets will be instrumental in delivering that.”

James added that Escala’s strength lies in bridging advice with execution. “At Escala, our advisors and investment specialists work hand in hand to ensure that our clients are not only aware of the forces shaping global markets but also have access to practical solutions that can enhance their portfolios. Neil will play a central role in building that bridge between research, strategy and execution.”

Chief Investment Officer Tracey McNaughton emphasised the importance of alternatives in the firm’s client offering. “At Escala, we are strengthening our commitment to alternative investments given the asset class’s ability to enhance returns, reduce volatility and offer meaningful diversification. Private markets can provide access to growth opportunities that are less correlated to public markets, but thoughtful portfolio construction is critical. Neil brings not only a proven track record, but also the ability to align opportunities with the long-term wealth goals of our clients.”

McNaughton added that Stanford’s venture capital experience would be a strong complement to Escala’s existing capabilities. “Venture and private equity are not just about chasing the next big thing; they are about identifying businesses and assets that can compound value over decades. Neil has demonstrated that discipline throughout his career, and we are excited to bring that expertise to our clients.”

Stanford said he was excited to join Escala at a time of growing demand for alternative investments. “What drew me to Escala was its commitment to delivering truly bespoke solutions for clients. Alternatives are no longer on the fringe, but a core part of sophisticated portfolios. I look forward to bringing my experience in building co-investment programs and venture strategies to help Escala’s clients access opportunities that are differentiated, resilient and aligned with their long-term wealth ambitions.”

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Ed Brooke

In an environment marked by persistent geopolitical uncertainty, Escala Partners investment advisor and partner Ed Brooke has underscored the importance of preserving liquidity and ensuring portfolios remain nimble enough to adapt quickly to changing conditions. Brooke believes investors must avoid complacency and focus on portfolios that can withstand multiple scenarios, with particular attention paid to the defensive side of investments.

“The key message for our clients is to be diversified so that your investment portfolio can do well in a lot of different scenarios. And make sure you understand what’s in the defensive part of your portfolio. Because that’s what will matter most if things do turn around- you don’t want to see the defensive part of your portfolio down 15 per cent when equity markets are down 30 per cent,” Brooke said.

He warned against overconcentration, especially as recent market gains may have pushed equity allocations beyond original targets. “If Aussie equities are now 5 to 10 per cent above your strategic asset allocation, our recommendation at the moment would be bring it back to at least neutral weight,” Brooke said.

He noted that such conversations with clients can be challenging, particularly when asking them to rotate from an asset class delivering outsized returns into others that appear less compelling in the short term. “I’d say the hard conversation is when you talk about Australian equities, and it’s up 20 per cent year to date, and we want you to diversify into some assets that are up 10 to 12 per cent year to date. So that conversation can be interesting,” he added.

Brooke emphasised the need to think long term over a horizon of five years or more, warning that equity markets could correct if price gains are not underpinned by earnings growth. “It’s better to start reducing now and rotating into some of those asset classes that will, likely, over the next five years, provide a much better risk return,” he said.

On the defensive side, Brooke highlighted the role of cash and investment-grade bonds as a stabilising buffer. He said a diversified portfolio of floating rate corporate bonds has historically offered around 2.5 per cent above cash, with minimal volatility and high liquidity even during periods of stress. “We typically use corporate bonds as the anchor in portfolios either through direct positions, good quality funds, or a blend of the two. The key is to avoid over concentration in this part of a portfolio and understand how the portfolio will perform during times of stress. Stick with high quality,” Brooke said. When reviewing bond funds, his team scrutinises the share of sub-investment grade holdings and any exposure to private debt as those can underperform or freeze liquidity in a downturn.

While corporate bonds remain a core anchor, Brooke pointed out that clients comfortable with sacrificing some liquidity are increasingly turning to alternative assets. Global private debt, private equity, hedge funds, and uncorrelated strategies such as royalties are generating strong risk-adjusted returns.

He noted that although the balance between growth and defensive assets remains broadly unchanged, growth allocations are becoming less equity heavy as private market assets gain prominence.

Diversification within growth allocations, he said, can significantly reduce volatility in times of policy shifts, inflation shocks or recession risks. “We saw this play out in April this year, in the week post “Liberation Day” when our growth portfolios were less than half as volatile as pure direct equity portfolios,” he said.

Escala’s asset allocation framework typically advocates around 30 per cent in diversified alternatives, 30 to 35 per cent in defensive assets such as cash and investment-grade bonds, and about 35 per cent in equities with a global tilt.

For Brooke, this balanced and diversified approach is the foundation for protecting wealth while retaining the agility to adjust in uncertain times.

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Simon Dawkins

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority’s (APRA) decision to phase out $44 billion worth of additional Tier 1 (AT1) bank hybrids by March 2032 will mark the end of a product income-focused Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) investors have largely embraced. While many will remember the hybrids era fondly, Simon Dawkins, Partner and Head of Capital Markets and Fixed Income at Escala Partners, says there’s an even better option in plain sight for those who qualify as wholesale or sophisticated investors.

“With AT1 hybrids set to disappear, many investors will need to rethink how they generate income from this part of their portfolio,” Dawkins says. “For eligible investors, high-quality, investment-grade Australian floating-rate notes (FRNs) available in the wholesale over-the-counter (OTC) bond market are not just a substitute for hybrids but a more superior proposition.”

To be considered a sophisticated investor, an individual must have a gross annual income of at least $250,000 for the past two years or net assets of at least $2.5 million. Through Escala’s managed discretionary account (MDA), these investors can access a curated portfolio of direct fixed-income securities traded in the wholesale market under information memorandums rather than retail prospectuses.

The MDA portfolio typically holds senior debt, subordinated debt, covered bonds, mortgage-backed securities supported by residential or commercial property loans and corporate bonds issued by Australian and global companies.

While most securities are issued in the Australian wholesale market, some are structured under US SEC Regulation S, making them available globally but not to US buyers. Dawkins notes the portfolio may also include kangaroo bonds, issued in Australian dollars by offshore entities, and, from time to time, selected hybrids.

The appeal of this market lies in its scale and liquidity. “The Australian OTC bond market trades $3–4 billion a day on average. In normal market conditions, transactions settle in T+2, meaning clients can have cash in hand within three business days. That’s a stark contrast to the ASX hybrid market, where selling a substantial holding can take days or even weeks,” Dawkins says.

This liquidity advantage also addresses frustrations with term deposits (TDs), which became harder to break after the GFC due to APRA rules designed to protect bank funding stability. “Many investors don’t want their capital locked away. If you’ve just sold a property and have a tax bill in a few months, the penalties for breaking a TD make it unviable. An OTC bond portfolio offers the yield you need and the liquidity to access funds quickly,” Dawkins explains.

While OTC bonds don’t carry franking credits, Dawkins says the trade-off is worth it. “With investment-grade FRNs, capital prices are relatively stable and the downside risk is minimal – you receive your coupon payments and principal back at maturity. By contrast, hybrids can be forcibly converted to equity, often at the worst possible time, and their capital value can swing more sharply.”

“This is about embracing a better investment that’s been hiding in plain sight. The OTC bond market makes perfect sense as an asset allocation tool, as an income strategy, and as a liquidity strategy.”

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The advisory and investment teams will remain largely the same but will now be more aligned with, and supported by, Focus Financial Partners. Clients will continue to benefit from industry-leading investment advice delivered by the expertise and guidance of seasoned advisors.

As part of this integration, Escala has enhanced its leadership structure to include:

• Ben James, who has been appointed CEO. Mr. James, who is a founding partner of the firm, previously served as its Head of Advisory.
• Torty Howard, who has been appointed COO.
• Simon Dawkins, who will continue as Escala’s Head of Capital Markets and Fixed Income Division.

In addition, Travis Danysh, Chief Corporate Development Officer at Focus Financial Partners, is expected to be appointed Executive Chairman of Focus’ Australian businesses, further strengthening the alignment between the two organisations. Mr. Danysh brings deep cross-functional experience that supports long-term value creation for clients. Prior to his current role, Mr. Danysh held other roles at Focus and has led various strategic initiatives across multiple Focus firms. Before Focus, Travis had a career in investment banking.

Mr. Dawkins will continue in his role leading Escala’s Capital Markets division, ensuring consistency and continuity within one of the firm’s most critical arms. Escala clients will also continue to benefit from leading investment insights delivered by the dedicated and experienced CIO team, led by Chief Investment Officer Tracey McNaughton.

James highlighted the significance of the integration, stating, “This integration completes the journey by formally bringing us into the fold of Focus Partners Australia. This is more than a structural change, it’s a strategic evolution. Joining forces with Focus Partners Australia allows us to set the foundation for our continued growth and evolution, through which we will deliver expansive solutions and a differentiated client experience through a unified and integrated global organization.”

“As part of the evolution of—and commitment to—Focus’ presence in the Australian market, we are excited by the opportunity to collaborate with our other businesses in Australia to build a scaled, premier wealth management organisation capable of delivering comprehensive services, deep expertise, and a personalised experience,” said Danysh. “The addition of Escala to Focus Partners Australia is an important step towards solidifying our position within the Australian market through a leading operating and growth platform, capable of delivering holistic solutions to our clients and their advisors.”

Ms. Howard reinforced the firm’s commitment to its founding principles while embracing the advantages of global integration, improved technology and reporting, and expanded operational scale. “Our investment philosophy remains unchanged, but it will be significantly enhanced by access to global resources and international investment solutions,” she noted.

“Escala will continue to deliver tailored investment offerings through a collaborative, team-based approach that is now further empowered by the expertise and capabilities of Focus. We are more aligned than ever to showcase our deep commitment to long-term client success.”

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Scott Carmichael

In the face of ongoing market volatility, Scott Carmichael, founding partner and investment adviser at Australia’s leading private wealth and investment advisory group, Escala Partners, is reminding investors that this isn’t a new phenomenon but part of a familiar cycle.

“Market volatility today is no different to any other upheaval over the past few decades,” says Carmichael. “What sees investors through these times is following the golden rules – long-term investment in high-quality, diversified assets across, and within, asset classes.

“That is the way for long-term outperformance. The risk of short-term underperformance comes from making the wrong decisions at the wrong time, that is making emotional, behavioural type decisions.

Carmichael’s investment commandments include steering clear of speculation, avoiding concentration risk and having a deep understanding of personal liquidity needs, income requirements and a clear view of the client’s family circumstances. “Investment planning goes hand in hand with succession planning around the type of assets that families have,” he adds.

One principle he lives by is the “4 per cent rule” or its inverse which is multiplying your annual living expenses by 25 to determine the corpus required for retirement. “The rest of your portfolio basically runs for free,” he says.

Ben James, fellow Escala co-founder and investment adviser, echoes Carmichael’s focus on fundamentals. He notes that valuation metrics are notoriously difficult to use as timing tools. “Timing getting in is hard, but timing to sell is even harder,” says James. “In periods of volatility like we saw in April, we reflected on our long-term rules to stick with high-quality investment managers, let capital compound, use asset allocation as your key defence and trust the process.”

Both advisers emphasise the dual role they play- not just guiding portfolios but providing emotional counsel during market swings.

“Advisers often act like psychologists,” says Carmichael. “We need to make sure that we’re communicating in both good and bad times, and stress-testing our client portfolios.”

That means asking clients tough questions like, “How would you feel if you faced a 20 per cent correction?” and ensuring portfolios are structured to survive those scenarios.

For Carmichael and James, the message is clear: in a world of unpredictable markets, discipline, communication and a robust strategy trump any crystal ball.

Ends

Media contact

Simrita Virk, Capital Outcomes

simrita@capitaloutcomes.co

About Escala Partners

Founded in 2013, with offices in Sydney and Melbourne, Escala Partners is a premier private wealth investment and advisory group dedicated to delivering sophisticated, high-quality investment solutions to high-net-worth individuals, family offices and institutional clients. The firm is committed to providing objective and tailored investment strategies, leveraging deep expertise and innovative technology to create long-term wealth for its clients.

Discover more about Escala:  https://escalapartners.com.au/

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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.”

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*Source: Escala Agenda https://escalapartners.com.au/insights-news/agenda/agenda-2025-alternatives/

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