Alternatives Decoded: Due Diligence and Deployment

If you’re still pretending 60/40 will solve everything, this episode is your wake-up call. I brought back the Queen of Alts, Shana Orczyk Sissel, to rip through the reality of alternatives: what works, what doesn’t, where the real yield is coming from, and the cost you actually pay for it—hint: liquidity, not magic. We get straight to it. No fluff. No sales pitch. Just the truth. 

We break down why alts are finally everywhere—regulatory changes, active ETFs, and the rise of interval funds—and why access is easier but the learning curve is still real. Shana explains the tradeoffs in plain English: higher income often means less liquidity, leverage multiplies both gains and pain, and “complex” doesn’t automatically mean “risky.” Complexity just means do the work. 

This is a masterclass in due diligence. We walk through what to ask a manager, how to sniff out conflicts, why structure and third-party vendors matter, and how to judge a product beyond marketing sheets. We also hit the advisor problem: most fear is just lack of information. Your job is to learn what your clients don’t have time to learn. Period. 

Who are alts for? Shana’s take: everyone, but not every alt is for everyone. There’s a spectrum—from Bitcoin and venture to sober, income-producing private credit. Your job is matching goals, risk, taxes, and liquidity. We close with a simple portfolio checklist so you can stop guessing and start allocating with intent. Watch the full conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/coZJKOUwaFs

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