$26B RIA EP Wealth strikes private market alliance with Opto Investments

EP Wealth Advisors is putting a whole new menu of alternative investment options in the hands of its advisors through a new platform partnership.

The $26 billion RIA's collaboration with Opto Investments, a private markets platform designed to help financial advisors access institutional-grade investments, is aimed at enhancing its ability to offer customized private market portfolios to high-net-worth clients.

Earlier in June, Mercer Advisors announced its own partnership with Opto to bring private market investing opportunities to its advisors.

Opto's latest collaboration with EP Wealth with technology-driven solutions, helping the firm address long-standing challenges in private markets investing, such as high fees and operational complexities. Opto’s platform will enable EP Wealth’s advisors to offer clients a more scalable and streamlined approach to portfolio construction.

Adam Phillips, managing director of investments at EP Wealth Advisors, emphasized “Opto’s fiduciary-first approach [to] build personalized portfolios" for clients using "institutional-grade investments from a vast array of managers.”

“When introducing private market strategies to client portfolios, a one-size-fits-all approach simply does not work," Philips said in a statement.

Opto’s platform is designed to reduce the administrative burden associated with alternative investments, including managing capital calls and handling tax documentation, which will help EP Wealth advisors to focus on client relationships.

By utilizing Opto’s tools, the firm aims to deliver bespoke strategies that align closely with each client’s goals and risk preferences, including a curated selection of private markets opportunities and custom fund options that reduce excess liquidity and diversify investments across managers.

“We remain hyper-focused on positioning advisors to confidently navigate the intricacies of private markets in a more scalable way,” said Ryan VanGorder, chief executive officer at Opto. “Our team’s deep expertise in due diligence and sourcing, coupled with our powerful technology engine, alleviates the operational burden associated with private markets investing.”

At last count, Opto's platform has grown to inlude more than 200 RIA firms, including nearly 40 that are building or launching their own custom funds. But that footprint is set to grow larger following its August partnership with Conway Investment Solutions, another TAMP provider with a reported $1 billion in AUM.