BlackRock Launches First Unified Public-Private Model Portfolios

What's Happening:

BlackRock has launched the industry's first customizable model portfolio that combines both public and private market assets within a Unified Managed Account (UMA), according to a Business Wire press release. The platform is powered by GeoWealth's UMA technology and supported by iCapital.

Why It Matters:

• Innovation breakthrough enables advisors to access both public and private markets in a single, streamlined portfolio for the first time

• Growing demand from advisors seeking models-based solutions that provide more tailored products and diversified exposures

• Efficiency gains through simplified administration and custodial integration

The Key Moves:

• Strategic partnerships between BlackRock, GeoWealth, and iCapital combine expertise in portfolio management, UMA technology, and alternative investment platforms

• Technology integration creates streamlined workflows, reporting tools, and comprehensive investment management capabilities

• Market expansion supports BlackRock's goal to become a "whole portfolio partner" to advisors in the U.S. wealth market

By The Numbers:

• $300 billion in BlackRock model assets globally

• $50 billion in new assets from custom models over the past 5 years

• $5 trillion to $10 trillion expected growth in managed model portfolios over the next four years

  
  

Key Players:

• BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) - leading provider of models and developer of the public-private portfolios

• GeoWealth - supplies UMA technology and workflow solutions for RIAs

• iCapital - provides the underlying technology capabilities for alternative investments

Key Quotes:

• Strategic vision: "BlackRock's mission is to make investing easier and help more people access the full power of capital markets," said Jaime Magyera, Co-Head of BlackRock's U.S. Wealth Advisory Business

The Wrap:

This launch represents a significant advancement in portfolio management technology, potentially reshaping how advisors allocate to private markets. As BlackRock's U.S. Wealth Advisory business (which generated a quarter of the company's 2024 revenue) continues its expansion, this innovation addresses the growing demand for simplified access to alternative investments within traditional portfolios.