Kestra bolsters alts focus with deepened iCapital partnership

Kestra Financial is improving its offering for advisors and clients alike through an expansion of its relationship with iCapital, the fintech platform focused on alternative investments.

Through the newly extended collaboration announced on Tuesday, the Kestra Holdings subsidiary is arming its advisors with improved access to alternative products, simplifying the investment process.

The partnership between Kestra Financial and iCapital has been in place for over five years, but by integrating new capabilities from iCapital, Kestra expects to create a more seamless experience for advisors. This expansion will include a wider range of alternative investment products such as private equity, private credit, real estate, infrastructure, and hedge funds, alongside additional features designed to streamline operations.

A report by Bain Capital, the global alts giant, estimates private assets will see a compound annual growth rate of 9 to 10 percent in the next eight years, reaching $65 trillion by 2032.

"We are excited to enhance our alternative investment offerings through our partnership with iCapital," John Amore, executive vice president of wealth management at Kestra Financial, said in a statement. "These new capabilities highlight our commitment to empowering advisor success by equipping them with the tools needed to deliver exceptional value and service to their clients."

Key features of the expanded partnership include reduced minimum investment requirements, real-time access to product information, and simplified administrative processes. The enhanced platform also offers single sign-on functionality via Kestra’s Advisor Complete portal, along with a more efficient submission process.

Steve Houston, managing director and co-head of iCapital Solutions, expressed enthusiasm for the strengthened collaboration.

"We are honored to expand our strategic partnership with Kestra Financial, leveraging iCapital’s technology to simplify private markets investing," Houston said.

He added that the improved integration will make it easier for Kestra advisors to research, market, and complete transactions involving alternative investments.