Private Markets: How Interval Funds Are Opening Access to Alternatives with Kimberly Flynn
In this episode of *Investing to Win*, host **Garret Wong** sits down with Kimberly Flynn to dive into:
- Private markets and the rise of interval funds
- How private equity and private credit are becoming accessible to individual investors
- The decline of the traditional 60/40 portfolio and the future of diversification
…and the powerful lessons entrepreneurs, investors, and operators can use to level up their business, leadership, and thinking.
🎥 **Prefer watching the conversation? The full video is available on YouTube:**
https://youtu.be/2pzAQetxJlw&list=UULFRs3SSmwVFbR2QEjIDqU0Ug
This creates a richer experience with facial expressions, visuals, and deeper engagement.
Whether you're a business owner, investor, operator, or someone exploring new pathways to financial freedom, this episode delivers practical, no-fluff insights you can take action on immediately.
---
## 🔥 Episode Summary
In this in-depth conversation, Kimberly Flynn — President of XA Investments — demystifies the world of private markets and explains how interval funds are transforming investor access to alternatives. Drawing from her background in investment banking, equity research, and asset management, Kimberly outlines how institutional-grade investment strategies are now being packaged for individual investors through SEC-registered structures.
She describes why the traditional 60/40 model has lost effectiveness, especially after 2022 when both stocks and bonds delivered negative returns. Private equity, private credit, and real asset strategies offer new ways to pursue returns and manage risk, but they also require education and thoughtful planning. Kimberly breaks down the mechanics of interval funds, the reasons they’ve surged in popularity, and why advisory practices must understand their nuances — from liquidity considerations to suitability requirements.
The discussion also explores major trends impacting the investing landscape, including the growth of direct lending due to the retreat of traditional banks, the rise of private credit yields, and how everyday investors can begin integrating alternatives into retirement planning. This episode provides clarity, actionable insight, and a grounded look at where private markets are heading.
---
## 🎯 Key Takeaways
• Understand how interval funds work and why they’re growing
• Learn why private equity and private credit are expanding beyond institutions
• Discover why the 60/40 model is being challenged
• Recognize the role of direct lending in today’s market
• Explore how advisors can begin integrating alternatives responsibly
• Gain insight into risks, liquidity, and investor suitability requirements
---
## 🧠 Topics Covered
• What private markets are and how they differ from public markets
• Interval funds explained
• Private equity vs. private credit
• Direct lending and the decline of bank financing
• Liquidity considerations for alternative investments
• The future of the 60/40 portfolio
• Retail access to institutional investment strategies
• Risk/return characteristics of alternatives
• Advisor education and suitability
---
## 🔍 SEO Keywords
private equity, private credit, interval funds, alternative investing, direct lending, roll ups, XA Investments, asset management, capital raising, portfolio construction, diversification, private markets access, financial advisors, private credit yields, 60/40 portfolio
---
## ⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Setting the Stage: Why Private Markets Matter in 2025
Garret introduces the episode and frames the rapid rise of alternative investments.
01:00 – Kimberly Flynn’s Career Journey & Building XA Investments
Kim shares her path from Oklahoma to investment banking to leading XA Investments.
03:00 – Investment Banking vs. Equity Research: Key Differences & Lessons
Exploring the analytical, solitary nature of equity research versus the intensity of banking.
06:30 – The Truth About Investment Banking Lifestyle & Career Trade-Offs
Kim describes 80–100 hour weeks, mentorship, and long-term career implications.
09:30 – Private Equity Explained: How Firms Buy and Grow Companies
Breaking down PE strategies, middle-market focus, and specialization in sectors.
12:00 – Unicorns, Late-Stage Growth & Why Companies Stay Private Longer
Why today’s tech giants avoid IPOs and what this means for investors.
14:00 – Understanding Interval Funds & How They Expand Investor Access
Kim explains interval funds as SEC-registered vehicles enabling retail access to private markets.
17:00 – Roll-Up Strategies: How Private Equity Creates Value in Fragmented Industries
Dental, veterinary, HVAC, and home services as examples of scalable consolidation.
19:45 – AI-Resistant Businesses & Opportunities in Home Services Roll-Ups
Why plumbers, electricians, and landscaping remain attractive in an AI-driven world.
22:30 – The Real Impact of AI on Research, Investing & Business Operations
Where AI helps (summaries, efficiency) and where it falls short in asset management.
25:00 – The Coming Talent Gap: How Automation Affects the Next Generation of Workers
Kim discusses how reducing entry-level talent creates future shortages.
28:30 – AI Voice Agents & Automating Sales and Customer Operations
Garret shares real-world implementation of AI booking and triage tools.
31:00 – Competing in AI: Why Roll-Ups Offer Lower Risk and Better Entry Points
Why going head-to-head with tech giants is dangerous for small operators.
33:00 – What Private Equity Looks For When Buying Roll-Ups and Platform Companies
The growing trend of PE-to-PE exits and consolidation models.
35:10 – Shrinking Public Markets & the Future of IPOs
Why fewer companies are listed today and how exchanges are trying to change it.
38:00 – Direct Lending Deep Dive: How Private Credit Replaced Bank Lending
Private lenders step in as banks pull back — and yields rise as a result.
41:00 – Asset-Backed Lending & Inflation-Proof Credit Strategies
Why tangible collateral is attracting both advisors and institutions.
43:30 – Why Small Business Lending Has Become So Difficult
Garret’s experience with loans during COVID and banks avoiding service-based industries.
46:30 – SBA Loans: The Last Reliable Path for Small Business Financing
How SBA structures help entrepreneurs expand or survive economic stress.
49:00 – The Death of the 60/40 Portfolio & the Rise of Alternatives
Why public markets alone no longer deliver retirement-ready diversification.
52:00 – Education, Risk & Suitability: How Advisors Should Approach Alternatives
The importance of informed guidance, long time horizons, and liquidity awareness.
55:00 – First Steps for Advisors Integrating Alternatives into Client Portfolios
Kim’s practical recommendation: start by learning interval funds and advisor resources.
57:00 – Kimberly’s Definition of Success & Final Reflections
A personal answer on building expertise, health, and long-term fulfillment.
---
## 👤 About Kimberley Flynn
Kimberly Flynn is the President of XA Investments, a Chicago-based asset management firm specializing in private markets, product development, and interval fund innovation. With a career spanning investment banking, equity research, and institutional asset management, Kimberly has helped expand advisor and investor access to private equity, private credit, and alternative strategies. Under her leadership, XA Investments manages approximately $1B across multiple funds and operates a leading consulting and research practice focused on private markets.
---
## 🔗 Episode Links & Resources
• 🎥 **Watch the YouTube version:** https://youtu.be/2pzAQetxJlw&list=UULFRs3SSmwVFbR2QEjIDqU0Ug
• Guest Website: https://www.xainvestments.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyannflynn/
• Additional Resources:
XA Funds: https://xainvestments.com/xflt/
---
## 📘 Recommended by Garret
**Get Garret’s bestselling book *The Property Playbook*: https://a.co/d/3Ww0si0**
Build wealth without burnout using the systems that scaled over $1B in managed assets.
---
## 🌐 Stay Connected
**Join the My First Keys Community:** https://my-first-keys.mn.co/landing/
Weekly landlord education, walkthroughs, systems & support.
**Follow on Instagram**
https://www.instagram.com/garretwongofficial/