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Alternatives & Their Impact on the Financial Advisory World | Ep. 23 Alan Strauss 

In this episode of The Advisor Summit, we sit down with Alan Strauss, Senior Partner and Director of Investor Relations at Crystal Capital Partners, to break down the world of alternative investments — an asset class that’s no longer “alternative,” but essential.

From hedge funds and private credit to private equity and emerging technologies, Alan shares a clear, practical lens for understanding alts and why they’ve become the third leg of the modern portfolio. With decades of experience working with advisors and institutions, he explains how firms can overcome intimidation, avoid pitfalls, and confidently integrate alternatives at scale.

If you're looking to future-proof your practice, better diversify portfolios, and serve clients with institutional-grade sophistication, this conversation is a must-listen.

Key Takeaways

• Alternatives are now mainstream — not a niche. Alan explains that alts have matured into a multi-trillion-dollar space and are now a core component of sophisticated portfolios, sitting right alongside public equities and fixed income.
• Education eliminates the intimidation factor. Most advisors avoid alts simply due to unfamiliarity. By breaking down hedge funds and private markets into simple, understandable concepts, Alan shows advisors how accessible the category truly is.
• Diversification and low correlation are the superpowers of alts. Private credit, hedge funds, and private equity offer lower volatility, better income potential, and access to innovations not found in shrinking public markets — making them powerful tools for client portfolios.
• Advisors scale faster with the right platform partner. Crystal Capital Partners handles due diligence, manager access, administrative heavy lifting, and portfolio construction, allowing advisors to offer alts without wearing every operational or research hat themselves.
• Client expectations are evolving — and advisors must evolve too. Younger generations, high-net-worth families, and institutions increasingly expect sophisticated alternative allocations. Advisors who embrace this shift early will differentiate themselves and grow more profitably.

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Alan's website

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