This week, Jack Sharry talks with Tony Davidow, Senior Alternative Investment Strategist at Franklin Templeton, about the rising importance of alternative investments. Drawing from decades of experience and his latest book, Private Markets, Tony breaks down how advisors can responsibly incorporate private equity, credit, and real estate into client portfolios. He discusses the evolution of the wealth channel, the challenges of advisor education, and the need for clear, jargon-free communication with clients. Together, they emphasize thoughtful allocation over hype, aiming to empower advisors to build stronger, more resilient portfolios in today’s changing financial landscape.

In this episode:

(00:00) - Intro

(02:08) - Tony’s unconventional path into alternatives

(04:58) - Tony's role at Franklin Templeton

(07:07) - Tony's book, Private Markets, and its early success

(13:54) - The liquidity trap: why alts don’t belong in ETFs

(16:33) - Concerns and opportunities in the growing alts market

(20:21) - Integrating alternatives within a portfolio 

(22:38) - What’s next for alternatives?

(24:14) - Tony's key takeaways

(25:47) - Tony's interests outside of work

Quotes

"We need to make sure we can get clients comfortable with what these (alts) strategies are designed to do. If we use them the right way and clients and advisors have a good experience, the overall industry flourishes." ~ Tony Davidow

" This industry will always evolve. And that's what makes it so exciting, and it's why people of our generation are still excited about the industry every day." ~ Tony Davidow

"There's a lot of information available in the industry. Start on the journey, and wherever you are on the journey, keep on challenging yourself. You'll have a higher likelihood of achieving your client's goals by using alternative investments." ~ Tony Davidow

Links 

Tony Davidow on LinkedIn

Franklin Templeton

Franklin Templeton Institute

Morgan Stanley

Guggenheim Partners

Charles Schwab

Private Markets: Building Better Portfolios with Equity, Private Credit, and Private Real Estate

Alternative Allocations with Tony Davidow

Goals-Based Investing: A Visionary Framework for Wealth Management

Neil Bathon

Alternatives by Franklin Templeton

Jenny Johnson

Connect with our hosts

LifeYield

Jack Sharry on LinkedIn

Jack Sharry on Twitter

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