Building Bridges: Understanding and Navigating the Structural Divide Between Private and Public Markets

​The lifecycle of many private, high-growth companies has shifted from the more typical "hand-off" between private and public markets to a "private-for-longer" model where companies are increasingly capturing vast appreciation while they remain private. This shift has created a dual-sided pressure: while companies stay private longer, institutional investors are running into allocation limits. Combined with a significant slowdown in the return of cash (distributions) due to the lack of IPO and strategic exits, managers are now pivoting towards retail investors to tap into an estimated $80 trillion pool of individual investor assets that have historically been under-allocated to private markets.

In this paper from Syntax Data, it shows that advisors are largely supportive of this shift. An Adams Street 2026 Advisor Outlook report showed that 89% of financial advisors surveyed expect private markets to outperform public ones long term, with 70% planning to increase client exposure. For advisors, this transition requires moving beyond simple access to actively educating clients on the nuances and structural differences of private assets.

Originally published by Syntax Data on May 27, 2026. Read the full article here.

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