NYAIR Episode 63
Taking Advantage of the Rise of Alternatives in Retail
Alternative investments are on a trajectory to reshape global portfolios—no longer reserved for the elite. In this breakthrough NY-AIR episode, hear directly from the minds driving digital access, innovation, and scale in alternatives. Discover how RealBlocks and its partners are opening new frontiers in private investments for high-net-worth and retail investors.
Featured Guests
Perrin Quarshie
Founder & Former CEO, RealBlocks
A recognized fintech innovator, Perrin Quarshie built RealBlocks into a leading distribution platform for alternative investments, enabling global capital raising through digital technology. Perrin’s unique background as a civil engineer and investment banker at Barclays gave him insight into the complexity—and opportunity—of alternative assets. At RealBlocks, he led partnerships that democratized access, deploying solutions for $77B+ in assets, and has been a go-to advisor for managers expanding into retail and foreign markets.
Scott Brooks
Former COO & CEO, RealBlocks
A 35-year industry veteran, Scott Brooks has steered RealBlocks through phases of explosive growth, product innovation, and strategic acquisition. He has wide expertise building institutional and retail wealth channels at Capview Partners, SEI, DWS/RREEF, JPMorgan, and Oppenheimer, and led RealBlocks’ creation of streamlined, regulatory-compliant platforms for alternative managers and investors worldwide. Brooks is renowned for driving more than $35B in new capital and shaping standards for digital transformation in asset management.
Key Insights From This Episode
Retail Investors Are The New Frontier
Access to private securities and alternatives is expanding rapidly beyond institutions—digital platforms like RealBlocks make this possible by aggregating smaller investors for managers.
Efficiency is the True Differentiator
Automation, digital onboarding, and integrated compliance can cut the cost and time for managers to raise capital abroad by over 90%, breaking down barriers to global distribution.
Liquidity With the Illiquidity Premium
Platforms now enable secondary trading for alternative assets—creating new “escape hatches” without compromising on the potential returns of illiquidity.
Tech Overhead Is Out, Turnkey Is In
Cloud-based, white-label alternatives solutions let managers launch and scale retail share classes or feeders with minimal upfront investment, serving international and US clients alike.
Democratizing Due Diligence
Rigorous digital due diligence and expert matchmaking now bring institutional-quality product vetting to the broad RIA and high-net-worth space—raising standards and investor confidence.
Access the Full Conversation
Want the full story? Dive into detailed strategies, operational playbooks, and real-world case studies that can accelerate your own capital raising and portfolio diversification. Download our custom insights deck and listen to the complete episode for frameworks, regulatory tips, and deep market intelligence—crafted for asset managers and financial advisors redefining the alternatives edge.
Soundbites Worth Saving
“We live in a society where pretty much anything can be bought online with a few clicks—alternative investments should be no different.”
— Perrin Quarshie
“Bringing better access to retail investors is one of our key value components—aggregating those smaller tickets, making large managers accessible for all.”
— Scott Brooks
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