In this podcast episode, Steve Chen interviews Ryan Van Gorder from Opto Investments, discussing the rise and role of alternative investments. Ryan shares his journey from an accounting background to working in finance and technology, including his time at BlackRock. He explains how Opto Investments helps advisors confidently invest in private markets by providing advisor-aligned, efficient, and top-tier investment opportunities. The conversation covers the increasing accessibility and efficiency of private markets, the importance of diversification, and the evolving nature of liquidity. Ryan highlights Opto’s benefits from being part of the HC ecosystem and stresses the enduring value of human relationships in financial advice, enhanced by technology. The episode concludes with resources for further learning about private markets and a reminder to explore financial planning tools on NewRetirement.com.