The latest news in investment offerings, financial products and other services relative to wealth advisors and their clients.

BlackRock has gone live with what the US investment giant says is a first-of-its-kind portfolio giving access to private and public markets. 

The model portfolio sits within a Unified Managed Account. The model and others are powered by GeoWealth’s UMA technology and supported by iCapital’s underlying technology capabilities.

The launch marks the first time a customizable model portfolio that includes access to both private and public market assets is available through a UMA, featuring streamlined administration and custodial integration, BlackRock said in a statement yesterday. 

“This launch represents a significant step forward, helping advisors allocate across both public and private markets all in one unified, professionally managed portfolio,” Jaime Magyera, co-head of BlackRock’s US Wealth Advisory Business.

BlackRock says it manages about $300 billion in such models globally.

As more RIAs adopt model portfolios into their practices, managed models present a “significant growth opportunity,” the US firm says. BlackRock predicts managed model portfolios to roughly double in assets over the next four years, growing from $5 trillion today into a $10 trillion business. 

BlackRock’s custom models’ business is its fastest growing models segment, accounting for $50 billion in new assets over the past five years.