--- title: The Promise (and Peril) of Private Markets description: Alternative investments are having a moment... but is the hype justified? In this candid conversation, Chris Ryon (co-founder of City Different Investments and half of our fixed income desk) sits down with Joel Van Essen, our Director of Private Investments, to break down what’s really going on in the world of private equity and private credit. image: https://blog.citydifferentinvestments.com/hubfs/promise%20and%20peril%20of%20private%20markets.png --- [![City Different Investments](https://blog.citydifferentinvestments.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Custom%20Coded/images/CDI-Logo.svg "City Different Investments")](https://citydifferentinvestments.com/) Menu - [Home](https://citydifferentinvestments.com) - About - [Our Story](https://citydifferentinvestments.com/our-story/) - [People](https://citydifferentinvestments.com/people/) - [Our Commitment](https://citydifferentinvestments.com/community-commitment/) - [Careers](https://citydifferentinvestments.com/community-commitment/) - [Strategies](https://citydifferentinvestments.com/strategies/) - [Fixed Income](https://citydifferentinvestments.com/strategies/fixed-income/) - 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In this candid conversation, Chris Ryon (co-founder of City Different Investments and half of our fixed income desk) sits down with Joel Van Essen, our Director of Private Investments, to break down what’s *really* going on in the world of private equity and private credit. If you know Chris at all, you won't be surprised that he comes in with a healthy dose of skepticism, questioning the growing push to “democratize” private markets for retail investors. Joel lays out how CDI is approaching the space differently, with a hyper-regional focus, disciplined pricing, and investor-aligned incentives. They cover a lot of ground: - Why private markets can be riskier than public ones - Why we believe so many alt funds are misaligned with investor interests - How valuation games can mislead - What we think makes small business acquisitions in the Southwest uniquely compelling right now  If you're trying to make sense of the alt investment craze (and wondering if it actually belongs in your portfolio), this is worth your time. Give it a watch.     For more information on our Private Investments, reach out to [Joel Van Essen.](mailto:jve@citydifferentinvestments.com) *The information contained in this communication has been designed for general informational, illustrative, and educational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Moreover, the information provided is not intended to provide any investment advice whatsoever. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product, or any non-investment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly in this communication will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation or prove successful. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. No discussion or information contained herein serves as the provision of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice. To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability above to his/her individual situation of any specific issue discussed, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing. 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