Introducing UniFi by CAIATM, Filling a Key Educational Gap For Professionals Across the Private Wealth Management Industry

April 20, 2022 at 09:10 AM EDT

New platform will provide wealth professionals in a variety of job functions the means to build their knowledge and earn microcredentials in private credit, private equity, digital assets, and more

The Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association, the professional body for the global alternative investment industry, is announcing the launch of UniFi by CAIA™, a new platform designed specifically for the needs of professionals serving the private wealth management industry whose investment toolkit is increasingly being augmented by the ongoing democratization of alternative investment strategies.

UniFi by CAIA™ will allow participants to complete a series of online modules in a number of key alternative investment categories, such as private equity and private credit. Upon completion of those modules, participants will earn a microcredential that will serve as a key signal to clients, colleagues, and the industry that they have achieved a notable level of knowledge around a specific topic.

“Clients are finding their desired financial outcomes to be ever more elusive, resulting in a wave of new and innovative investment products coming to market. Of course, this sparks a great deal of investor interest but also highlights a critical education gap across the entire value chain of the private wealth management industry,” said Aaron Filbeck, CAIA, CFA, CIPM, FDP, Managing Director and Head of UniFi by CAIA™. “Current educational offerings might not provide the right type of solutions for many of these professionals, which is why we’ve created UniFi and designed the platform to allow participants to ‘choose their own adventure,’ educate themselves, and build more resilient portfolios to meet their client’s objectives.”

The design of the UniFi ecosystem and the forthcoming content roadmap has also benefited from the involvement of a new Advisory Committee made up of ten wealth and asset management industry luminaries:

Anna Snider, CAIA; Head of Due Diligence, Global Wealth; BOA/Merrill Lynch, who also serves as Chair of the Advisory Council;
Jeremy Beal; Managing Director, Head of Alts; Morgan Stanley;
Phil Huber, CFA, CFP; CIO; Savant Wealth Management;
Kristin Kallergis; Global Head of Alts; JP Morgan;
Fran Kinniry, CFA; Principal, Head of Vanguard Investment Advisory Research Center; Vanguard;
Sylvia Kwan, CAIA, CFA, PhD, CIO, Ellevest;
Jeff Masom; Head of US Distribution; Franklin Templeton;
Tom Morrison; Senior Managing Director of PW Solutions; Blackstone;
Scott Reeder; Managing Director of Alts; Blackrock; and
Chris Tauri; Group VP, Alts Distribution; T. Rowe Price;

“I could not be more excited to be Chairing the UniFi Advisory Council and about the key issues this platform will help solve across the private wealth management space,” added Ms. Snider. “Product proliferation without a concurrent focus on education does not leave the end investor well-served. But a one-size-fits-all approach to education does not properly support the wealth managers who are working so hard on unique and bespoke client needs every day. UniFi is an elegant solution; customizable, flexible, and built to allow pros and their teams to go as deep as needed on the topics most relevant to them and their clients.”

UniFi by CAIA™ will be making additional announcements in the weeks and months to come about specific modules and microcredentials, that are being brought online for use by UniFi users. More information can be found here: https://caia.org/programs/unifi.

“Wealth professionals need to be able to address the broadening needs of a client base appropriately intent on an asset allocation approach that traverses the entirety of the risk premia spectrum,” added William J. Kelly, President and CEO of CAIA Association. “The democratization of alternative investments is already an unstoppable force reshaping the investment and wealth management industries, and we should embrace this trend, but also envelope it with the highest levels of education, transparency, and an industry-wide partnership model that unambiguously put the interests of the client first. This the founding principle of UniFi platform and we are excited to be bringing it to the marketplace.”

About the CAIA Association

The CAIA Association is a global professional body dedicated to creating greater alignment, transparency, and knowledge for all investors, with a specific emphasis on alternative investments. A Member-driven organization representing more than 12,000 professionals in more than 100 countries, CAIA Association advocates for the highest ethical standards. The organization provides unbiased insight on a broad range of investment strategies and industry issues, key among them being efforts to bring greater diversification to portfolio construction decisions to achieve better long-term investor outcomes. To learn more about the CAIA Association and how to become part of the organization’s mission, please visit https://caia.org/.