Financial Services, Enablement
Breaking down barriers: How asset managers are revolutionizing alternative investment distribution
By John Rivers — On February 18, 2026
Alternative investments (alts) are redefining wealth management and becoming a mainstream staple of private wealth portfolios. As access to private markets expands and alternatives gain visibility with clients, advisors are seeking new ways to differentiate their practices, manage risk, and position these strategies in portfolios.
This shift is creating both pressure and opportunity for asset managers. Firms that move beyond traditional distribution strategies and redefine how they educate, enable, and partner with advisors and home office teams will deepen relationships and drive long-term growth.
A recent Ignites webinar, sponsored by Seismic — Leveling Up Distribution to Meet the Alts Moment — brought together leaders from AllianceBernstein, Privacore Capital, and Seismic to explore the forces reshaping alternative distribution, the barriers to broader adoption, and how asset managers are adapting as alts move further into the mainstream.
Watch the webinar recording to learn why today’s distribution models are under strain and how leading firms are evolving their approaches to help advisors differentiate in an increasingly competitive market. Read on for a sneak peek of the conversation, then dive into the full recording below.
Why does the "alts moment" feel incomplete?
Alts are gaining visibility as access to private markets expands and product innovation accelerates. Yet adoption of alts strategies within advisor portfolios hasn't kept pace. While many advisors are exploring how alternatives could help differentiate their practices, far fewer feel fully prepared to act.
That hesitation is driven by a lack of confidence and clarity, as 44% of industry professionals cite advisor education and strategy complexity as the top barrier to alternative investment growth. Without confidence in how these strategies work — and how to explain them to clients — advisors hesitate to recommend alts or integrate them into portfolios.
As Brendan Boyle, CEO and Co-founder of Privacore Capital, notes, "Even though the growth of alternatives is rather dramatic, there's still a long way to go. It's early innings."
Watch the webinar to understand why this gap persists — and why growing awareness hasn't yet translated into widespread confidence or consistent portfolio integration.
Why are traditional distribution models breaking down?
Traditional distribution models are breaking down as advisor expectations of asset managers continue to evolve. Broad messaging and generic education are no longer resonating in a market that demands relevance, specialism, and value.
Michael Capella, Managing Director and Head of U.S. Strategic Relationship Group at AllianceBernstein, says, "You have to be smarter around who you're targeting, and smarter around how you're using scalable metrics to do that, using technology and marketing platforms to do it."
The conversation explores why leading with products as opposed to building a strong rapport with advisors and understanding their business models is a critical mistake.
Why are education and trust now inseparable?
Advisors aren't just asking what alternatives can do — they're asking how they work, their risks and downside scenarios, and how to explain those realities to clients. This means developing a trusted relationship and creating a message that both the advisor and end client can readily understand.
As Brendan Boyle shares, "If you really want to make an impact in 2026, be a value-added partner to your advisors, making sure they understand the strategy and the risks involved. That's how trust is built — and how you can grow those relationships in a meaningful way.
The panel discusses how education is shifting from one-off events to an ongoing trust-building strategy, and why transparency has become central to advisor relationships.
How are sales models evolving to scale without losing human touch?
As alternatives grow more complex, distribution teams must adapt how they operate in kind. Generalists and specialists are being deployed more deliberately, with successful teams introducing alternative specialists after core advisor relationships are established. This way, they can build a collaborative environment that complements, not replaces, the generalist relationship.
At the same time, firms are being pushed to balance high-touch engagement with the need to scale. Advisors still value personal interaction, but they also expect timely, relevant education that fits into their day-to-day workflows. Enablement technology is emerging to support this continuous, targeted engagement that drives long-term relationships.
Kerry Ryan, Sr. Director of Global Financial Services Industry & Product Marketing at Seismic, emphasizes that success in alts distribution requires, "always-on education informed by peer-to-peer insights."
Ready for the full picture?
This blog highlights the questions asset managers are grappling with as alts move into the mainstream. The on-demand webinar provides the answers.
Watch the webinar to hear candid insights from industry leaders navigating alternative distribution today, including what they're rethinking, what they're testing, and what they believe will matter most next.
The business landscape is shifting, and change is accelerating. Firms that adapt how they educate, engage, and enable advisors will be best positioned for what's ahead.