December 5, 2025
Tom Stabile reports on the continued expansion of semi-liquid alternative funds into the self-directed investor channel, as interval funds from Carlyle, Goldman Sachs Asset Management and StepStone become available to individual investors on the Willow Wealth platform (formerly Yieldstreet). The move emphasizes the growing effort by alternative managers and fintech platforms to broaden access beyond advisors and into direct-to-consumer distribution. The three strategies, Carlyle Tactical Private Credit Fund, StepStone Private Markets Fund, and Goldman Sachs Real Estate Diversified Income Fund can now be allocated to individually by certain investors on Willow Wealth’s platform.
These developments follow a broader pattern of distribution expansion across self-directed platforms, including new offerings from CrowdStreet, SoFi and Robinhood aimed at bringing private market access to individual investors. Despite this momentum, XA Investments President Kimberly Flynn cautioned that asset flows through the direct-to-consumer channel remain modest. “To date, the direct-to-consumer pathway has not amounted to significant flows for interval and tender offer funds,” she said, noting that major custodians such as Schwab and Fidelity do not yet allow retail investors to purchase these products, purchases must be made through a financial advisor.
Still, Flynn said the strategy makes sense for both platforms and managers. “To attract a larger customer base, it makes sense for these platforms to now add products by well-established managers with significant track records,” she said. “The name brand recognition alone will help increase awareness with the broader buyer base.” However, she emphasized that growth will take time and education remains critical. “Just because Carlyle or Goldman are in the mix does not necessarily mean fast adoption,” Flynn said. “Without a financial advisor involved in the sales process to address risks and help educate clients on the trade-offs of investing in private markets, the direct-to-investor programs will still need to make the equivalent educational resources available in an easily digestible manner.”
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