Join author and advisor Michael Ross to unpack the regulatory shifts, liquidity trade-offs, and implementation strategies reshaping today’s portfolios.
The wealth management landscape is undergoing a profound shift. Alternative investments—once reserved for institutions and ultra-high-net-worth investors—are rapidly migrating into retail portfolios. But what does this evolution really mean for advisors and investors?
Join CFA Society San Francisco for a luncheon featuring Michael Ross, financial advisor and author of The False Hope of Global Diversification. This session offers a deep dive into the practicalities of the "alts revolution," moving beyond the hype to examine how private markets actually fit into a modern diversified strategy.
Whether you are managing high-net-worth client accounts, refining your firm’s investment framework, or navigating your own investment strategy, this luncheon provides a clear view into where the market is heading. Connect with fellow investment professionals for an engaging discussion on the future of private market integration.


Financial Advisor, Just Build Wealth
Michael Ross is a veteran financial advisor with nearly four decades of experience in wealth management. He spent the first 34 years at a major global financial services firm before transitioning to independent advisory work, where he continues to serve clients with a flexible, solutions-oriented approach.
Ross began incorporating private equity and private debt into portfolios in the mid-2010s, initially for his own investments and later for clients. His experience with alternative investments informed Chapter 5 of his 2022 bestselling book, The False Hope of Global Diversification, which challenges traditional assumptions around portfolio construction. In addition to his advisory work, he is currently leading a research initiative with honors business students at San Jose State University to examine the evolving role of global diversification in modern portfolios.
Over the course of his career, Ross has worked with hundreds of clients, including trustees of both defined benefit and defined contribution plans, bringing a practical, experience-driven perspective shaped by decades of navigating evolving market environments.