The Long Road to the ‘Other Half’ of the Capital Market

This podcast episode discusses the movement towards allowing retail investors to access private equity markets through digital platforms. It emphasizes the challenges involved in opening up these platforms to retail investors, including regulatory compliance and regional differences. The episode highlights the importance of responsible and transparent investment practices while enabling retail investors to take advantage of the growth opportunities offered by private markets. Liquidity and regulatory issues are identified as key factors in facilitating retail access to private markets. The episode concludes by emphasizing the need for thoughtful and considerate approaches to ensure retail investors can participate in private equity opportunities. Main points • The role of digital platforms in enabling retail investors to participate in private markets • Challenges and regional differences in opening up private investing platforms to retail investors • The importance of enabling thoughtful and considered investment while ensuring regulatory compliance • The trend towards private markets driven by companies staying private longer and growth opportunities for retail investors • Liquidity and regulatory issues as critical factors in allowing retail investors to access private markets • The need for responsible and transparent approaches to ensure retail access to private equity opportunities • The regulatory recognition of the industry's maturity and the importance of gaining regulators' trust • The importance of protecting investors' interests and ensuring real opportunities for returns • Addressing liquidity and trust in the system as critical issues in private markets • The prediction that regulators will increasingly recognize the potential for retail investors to access private markets in the next five years • The responsibility of the industry to demonstrate responsible access to the asset class • The potential for private investment platforms to provide real access to diverse investment opportunities and styles • The significance of liquidity in private equity investments and differing liquidity expectations from various investors • The challenges in making private equity investments more liquid and the potential loss of associated benefits • The need for investors to understand that private equity is inherently illiquid and approach it with a long-term perspective