AMHERST, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association, the global professional body for the alternative investment industry, is today sharing a 2023 “roadmap” for the numerous microcredentials and certificate programs that make up its UniFi by CAIA™ platform, a digital-first series of educational offerings geared towards the needs of client- and advisor-facing professionals in the asset and wealth management industries.
Of note, the first microcredential being offered as part of the UniFi platform has gone live today, covering private debt.
Sponsored by Ares Wealth Management Solutions, the global wealth management platform of Ares Management, and Briarcliffe Credit Partners, this Private Debt Microcredential is a 5-hour online program designed to provide asset management and wealth management industry professionals with foundational knowledge of one of the fastest-growing private market categories of the past decade.
The curriculum is divided into four major components, covering the fundamentals of private debt, private corporate lending, asset-based lending, and private debt portfolio implementation. Upon successfully completing all of the modules and a final quiz, participants will be awarded a certificate of completion as well as a verifiable digital badge. The program will also qualify for continuing education credits, including for certificate holders from the CFP Board and Investments and Wealth Institute.
“We’re thrilled to be launching the first of what will be several microcredentials under the UniFi by CAIA banner,” said Aaron Filbeck, CAIA, CFA, CFP®, CIPM, FDP, Managing Director, and Head of UniFi by CAIA™. “The hunt for yield and uncorrelated returns has caused an explosion of interest in the category and a concurrent jump in the number of strategies being made available through intermediaries in the wealth channel. It is essential that private wealth management professionals have a baseline level of knowledge about this space as its growth continues. This new microcredential will be a powerful indicator of a commitment to ongoing education.”
“We are incredibly excited to support CAIA on an initiative like this,” said Christina Adamson, Partner, and Co-Head of Distribution for Ares Wealth Management Solutions. “We have a tremendous amount of respect for their mission and efforts in alternative investment education. We believe that this new microcredential platform will be highly valued across the industry and at all professional levels.”
“The private debt industry is growing faster than any other private asset class which makes this the perfect time to launch this microcredential,” added Jess Larsen, Founder and CEO of Briarcliffe Credit Partners. “Education is critical as the industry comprises myriad complex and sophisticated strategies, so I’m glad private debt is the first microcredential being rolled out by UniFi by CAIA.”
Additionally, CAIA is today confirming that the Digital Assets Microcredential, previously announced in Q4 2022 is expected to go live near the midpoint of 2023.
“Digital assets have staged quite the rebound to start 2023, and we’ve been receiving a large number of inquiries as to when this microcredential will be released to the marketplace,” added Filbeck. “We’re very excited to have digital assets be the second of what will be several areas covered among UniFi’s soon to be expansive microcredential offerings.”
Lastly, CAIA is also announcing plans for the rollout of an updated curriculum for its Fundamentals of Alternative Investments (FAI) certificate program, targeting Q4 of 2023. Just shy of its 10-year anniversary, the FAI certificate program has offered nearly 10,000 people from over 200 companies with a foundation of core concepts in alternative investments. Designed to prepare asset and wealth professionals to comprehend, discuss, and position a variety of alternative asset categories with a range of clients, the program was brought under the UniFi by CAIA™ umbrella in 2022. By refreshing the curriculum, UniFi will further support those committed to both continuing education and seeking better outcomes for the end client.
“The FAI certificate remains highly sought after among asset management professionals, wealth managers, financial planners, and others who understand the importance of separating education from advice, for the benefit of the client,” continued Filbeck. “By updating this program, we reiterate our commitment to providing an important and foundational program to the industry. Through a combination of short and focused microcredentials and a broad-base foundation, we’re confident we’ll fulfill different educational pathways yielding better long-term outcomes for the end investor.”
More information on UniFi by CAIA™ can be found here: https://caia.org/programs/unifi
About the CAIA Association
The CAIA Association is a global professional body dedicated to creating greater alignment, transparency, and knowledge for all investors, with a specific emphasis on alternative investments. A Member-driven organization representing nearly 13,000 professionals in 100 countries, CAIA Association advocates for the highest ethical standards. The organization provides unbiased insight on a broad range of investment strategies and industry issues, key among them being efforts to bring greater diversification to portfolio construction decisions to achieve better long-term investor outcomes. To learn more about the CAIA Association and how to become part of the organization’s mission, please visit https://caia.org.
Ares Wealth Management Solutions
Ares Wealth Management Solutions (AWMS) oversees the product development, distribution, marketing, and client management activities of investment offerings for the global wealth management channel. With a team of approximately 115 professionals and backed by the power and scale of the Ares Management platform, AWMS represents one of the most resourced wealth distribution and client service teams in the alternatives industry. AWMS’ mission is to provide advisors and their clients access to innovative, solutions-oriented investment opportunities, across the Ares platform of industry leading credit, private equity, real asset, and secondaries strategies. Through our range of institutional and retail structures, coupled with excellent client service and educational resources, we help investors diversify their portfolios with private market solutions that seek to deliver consistent, long-term growth. For more information, please visit www.areswms.com.
About Briarcliffe Credit Partners
Briarcliffe Credit Partners is a placement agency dedicated exclusively to private credit. Headquartered in New York, Briarcliffe seeks to capitalize on the increasing complexity and continuing growth of the $1.5 trillion private credit market. The firm provides fundraising services to investment firms focusing on niche private credit strategies outside direct lending, with fund sizes between $500 million and $2 billion. Just 18 months after its founding, in March 2023, Briarcliffe was recognized by the industry through its selection as the Private Debt Investor 2022 Advisory & Placement Agent of the Year (Americas). Briarcliffe securities services are offered through Briarcliffe Credit Partners, LLC or Kingswood Capital Partners, LLC, members FINRA/SIPC. For more information, please visit www.briarcliffepartners.com.
