CAIS
Advisor access to alternatives: 65,000+ independent advisors, 2,500+ firms, Mercer due diligence (CAIS-reported)
Rates verified October 14, 2026View platformThe Bottom Line
Key facts
- Reported return: Not published
- Liquidity: Depends on the underlying fund
Pros
- Fund due diligence via Mercer (CAIS-reported)
- 65,000+ independent financial advisors at 2,500+ wealth management firms (CAIS-reported)
- 230+ alternative asset managers and 600+ funds on the platform (CAIS-reported)
Cons
- Access is through a financial advisor, so individual investors cannot sign up directly
- CAIS and/or its affiliates are paid a fee on private fund sales, and no fee schedule or minimums are published on the pages read
At a glance
Rates verified October 14, 2026- Accreditation
- Varies by product
- Fees
- Marketplace access is described as free for financial advisors; CAIS and/or its affiliates are paid a fee for the sale of private funds and strategies facilitated through the platform (website disclaimer). No fee schedule appears on the homepage or advisor page
- Reported return
- Not published; CAIS is a conduit, not an issuer
- Liquidity
- Depends on the underlying fund
- Founded
- 2009
Sources: caisgroup.com, caisgroup.com/financial-advisor, read October 14, 2026
What is CAIS?
CAIS is an alternative investment platform for financial advisors, founded in 2009. CAIS reports 2,500+ wealth management firms and 65,000+ independent financial advisors with access, $8.5T of end-client assets (the total wealth management AUM of firms with access to CAIS, not assets invested through CAIS), and 230+ alternative asset managers and 600+ funds on the platform, with due diligence via Mercer. Access is through a financial advisor.
Minimums vary by fund and none are published on the pages read. CAIS says its products are available across a spectrum of accreditation levels, so eligibility depends on each product. The marketplace is described as free for financial advisors, and CAIS and/or its affiliates are paid a fee for the sale of private funds and strategies facilitated through the platform.
For an individual reader the takeaway is simple: this is infrastructure your advisor may use, not a platform you can join directly.
Key details
Fund due diligence reports via Mercer2,500+ wealth management firms and 65,000+ independent financial advisors (CAIS-reported)230+ alternative asset managers and 600+ funds on the platformProducts available across a spectrum of accreditation levels (CAIS-reported)
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CAIS FAQ
What is the minimum investment through CAIS?
Minimums vary by fund and CAIS publishes none on the pages read. Access is through a financial advisor.
Is accreditation required for CAIS funds?
It depends on the product. CAIS says its products are available across a spectrum of accreditation levels, and access is through a financial advisor.
What are the risks of investing through CAIS?
CAIS is infrastructure rather than an issuer: risks belong to the underlying funds. CAIS and/or its affiliates are paid a fee for the sale of private funds and strategies facilitated through the platform, per its website disclaimer, and no fee schedule is published on the pages read. Individual investors reach the platform through an advisor.
Source: caisgroup.com