The program is a joint venture of iCapital’s newly-created non-profit organization, the iCapital Foundation, dedicated to advisor and investor education alongside other social and community support initiatives.

iCapital Network, the New York-based global tech platform for alternative investments, which operates around the world, has launched a new education program for advisors. It is teaming up with the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association.

Called AltsEdgeTM, the progam will initially consist of 10 guided modules covering an overview of the private markets, various types of strategies and product structures, hedge funds, registered funds, and portfolio construction. The modules are hosted on a system that includes in-program learning assessments and a chance for continuing education credits.

The program is a joint venture of iCapital’s newly-created non-profit organization, the iCapital Foundation, dedicated to advisor and investor education alongside other social and community support initiatives.

This entity will host the education program with the CAIA Association.

“Clients will continue to want and need greater access to private markets, and they are naturally looking to their financial advisors to manage their investment diversification across a more complex set of offerings,” William J Kelly, CEO of the CAIA Association, said. “But as advisors act on a broader client allocation model, there is a need to educate.”

“Wealth managers are seeing heightened receptivity to alternative investments from clients, but comprehensive, foundational education continues to be cited as a barrier to increased adoption,” Lawrence Calcano, chairman and chief executive of iCapital Network, said.

In January iCapital Network agreed to buy assets of AI Insight, an alternative investment education and compliance platform aimed at advisors. In September last year, iCapital said it was buying portfolio analytics tool, factorE, to evaluate and manage complex portfolios that hold a mix of traditional and alternative investments. iCapital has more than 340 employees and services more than $68 billion in global client assets for more than 125,000 underlying accounts.

The group, which is on an expansion drive, is building out a European presence. It plans to open new offices in Europe and Asia and has agreed to buy a 65-person tech team in Portugal, called Runtime Group. In October last year, it appointed Marco Bizzozero as head of international business; he had previously worked as wealth management CEO for UniCredit, the Italian banking group. iCapital also named former Deutsche Bank figure Tom Slocock as managing director and head of international product development and origination.