Aksia, Alternatives & the Wealth Channel | Chris Schelling on Private Markets Today

In this episode of the Dakota Live! Podcast, host Robert Morier welcomes back Chris Schelling for his second appearance on the show—and his first since joining Aksia.

Aksia is one of the world’s leading alternatives research and portfolio advisory firms, advising on approximately $400+ billion across private equity, private credit, real assets, and hedge funds. 

With deep institutional roots and a global footprint, Aksia is known for its rigorous manager research, operational due diligence, and portfolio construction expertise—capabilities that have made it a trusted partner to pensions, endowments, sovereign wealth funds, and increasingly, the private wealth channel.

Chris brings a rare perspective to this conversation. Having served as a senior institutional allocator, a multi-family office CIO, and now a Managing Director at Aksia focused on the wealth channel, he sits at the intersection of institutional-grade alternatives and advisor-led portfolio construction.

This conversation goes beyond headlines. Topics include:

• Why Aksia’s institutional research engine matters as alternatives move into private wealth
• How private credit, hedge funds, and private equity are evolving post-2025
• The role of portfolio construction, liquidity management, and governance in alternatives
• Where Chris sees real opportunity—and real risk—across private markets
• What wealth advisors often misunderstand about alternatives (and how Aksia is addressing it)

This episode offers a first look at how Aksia is translating decades of institutional expertise into the wealth channel, and how Chris is helping advisors think more clearly about alternatives—not as products, but as portfolio tools.

If you’re an allocator, advisor, GP, or investment professional navigating the next phase of private markets, this is a conversation worth your time.