The $25 Trillion Challenge: Upskilling for the New Era of Investing

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – July 16, 2026 – In a financial world grappling with complexity, the ground is shifting. What was once the exclusive domain of institutional giants and the ultra-wealthy is now a core component of mainstream portfolio strategy. This is the reality of the alternative investments market—a sprawling, dynamic sector now estimated to be worth over $25 trillion. In response to this seismic shift, global education provider Kaplan and the CAIA (Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst) Association have announced a strategic partnership, a move that signals more than just a new curriculum; it marks a critical step in retooling the workforce that manages global capital.

The collaboration is designed to expand access to the CAIA Association's CAIA.nxt™ platform, which offers specialized certificates and microcredentials in alternative investments. By leveraging Kaplan's vast global network, the initiative aims to equip a broader cohort of financial professionals with the practical expertise needed to navigate this burgeoning and often opaque market. It is a direct answer to a growing problem: as capital flows into private equity, private credit, infrastructure, and hedge funds, the knowledge required to prudently advise on these assets has lagged behind.

From Niche to Necessity: The Mainstreaming of Alternatives

For decades, “alternatives” were just that—an alternative to the core public stocks and bonds that dominated portfolios. Today, that classification is becoming obsolete. Driven by a search for diversification, higher yields in a volatile environment, and access to growth in companies that are staying private longer, alternative assets are now a fundamental building block of modern investment strategy. Projections from industry analysts like Preqin suggest the market could exceed $23 trillion by the end of 2026, with some estimates putting the current value of private markets alone close to $20 trillion.

This growth is fueled by a powerful trend: the “retailization” of alternative investments. Regulatory shifts are beginning to open doors for alternatives within 401(k) plans, and technology platforms are making it easier for retail investors to access private market opportunities. A recent industry survey revealed that a staggering 95% of financial advisors are now incorporating alternatives into their clients' portfolios. This isn't a fringe movement; it's a systemic change in how wealth is managed.

The implications are profound. Financial advisors and wealth managers who once focused primarily on public markets are now expected to be fluent in the language of private credit, venture capital, real estate, and complex hedge fund strategies. This requires a completely different skillset, one that understands illiquidity, valuation methodologies for private companies, and the unique risk profiles associated with these assets. The gap between market demand and professional expertise has become a critical point of failure.

Forging a New Educational Pathway

The partnership between Kaplan and the CAIA Association is engineered to directly address this knowledge gap. It combines CAIA's authority as the leading credentialing body for alternatives with Kaplan's immense distribution and educational infrastructure. The goal is to make specialized, practical education accessible and scalable.

CAIA.nxt™ was specifically designed for working professionals, offering modular, online learning that can be completed alongside a full-time career. It focuses less on broad theory and more on the practical application needed to advise clients confidently. “As private markets and alternative investments continue to evolve, professionals need education that helps them apply new ideas with confidence,” said Steve Novakovic, CAIA, CFA, managing director of educational programs for CAIA. “CAIA.nxt™ was designed to meet that need through flexible, practitioner-led learning.”

Kaplan's role is to amplify this access. With a learner network spanning 40 countries, the education giant can introduce this critical curriculum to a massive audience of financial professionals who are already part of its ecosystem, many of whom are pursuing foundational certifications through its Kaplan Schweser division. The partnership includes a 10% enrollment discount for Kaplan students, lowering the barrier to entry.

“In an increasingly complex financial landscape, professionals need more than just foundational knowledge—they need agility and specialized expertise to remain competitive,” noted Derek Burkett, vice president of Kaplan Schweser. “This collaboration is a direct extension of our mission to ensure learners are not just prepared for today’s market, but are equipped with the high-impact credentials that will drive their success.”

A Strategic Blueprint for Professional Development

This alliance is more than a simple distribution agreement; it represents a modern blueprint for professional education in an era of rapid change. For years, the model for financial credentialing has been dominated by comprehensive, multi-year programs like the CFA Charter. While immensely valuable, these monolithic programs are not always agile enough to address fast-emerging, specialized skill gaps.

The Kaplan-CAIA model offers a more adaptable alternative. By focusing on microcredentials, professionals can acquire targeted knowledge in specific areas—such as private debt or digital assets—without committing to a years-long program. This modular approach aligns with the modern need for continuous, lifelong learning and upskilling.

It also highlights a powerful new dynamic in the education industry: the fusion of specialized content authorities with large-scale education platforms. CAIA provides the deep, niche expertise that is difficult to replicate, while Kaplan provides the technology, marketing, and global reach to deliver it efficiently. This symbiotic relationship allows both organizations to meet market needs faster and more effectively than they could alone, creating a competitive advantage over both traditional university executive programs and generalized online course marketplaces.

This model is a pragmatic recognition that the shelf life of professional skills is shrinking. As new asset classes emerge and market structures evolve—driven by forces like the massive capital cycle in AI infrastructure and the explosive growth of private credit from $250 billion in 2007 to nearly $2.5 trillion today—the ability to quickly acquire relevant, trusted knowledge becomes paramount.

Ultimately, this partnership reflects the maturation of the alternative investment industry itself. As these assets become integral to the financial system, the ad-hoc learning of the past is no longer sufficient. The collaboration between Kaplan and the CAIA Association is building the educational infrastructure required for this new reality, ensuring that the professionals guiding investors through this complex landscape are as sophisticated as the markets they navigate.