Groundfloor has officially launched Beyond the Stock Market, a new podcast hosted by CEO Brian Dally. The podcast focuses on private market investing, alternative investments, and strategies that go beyond traditional stocks and bonds.
In the first episode, Dally speaks with Robert Varghese, Head of Investments at Groundfloor. They discuss how private markets work, why more investors are exploring them, and how investors can build more diversified portfolios with fractional real estate, private credit, and more.
Left: Robert Varghese, Head of Investments at Groundfloor. Right: Brian Dally, CEO of Groundfloor.
A New Podcast on Private Market Investing
Groundfloor launched Beyond the Stock Market to help investors better understand how the investment landscape is changing. Investors now have more access to financial products, data, and technology than ever before.
Varghese explains, “There has been no other time in history where people have had more access to information, to technology, and to financial products.”
This increased access creates new opportunities, but it also creates complexity. The podcast explains private market investing in clear terms so investors can make informed decisions and diversify their portfolios.
Groundfloor also built its platform to align with how investors search for opportunities today. Investors often begin with different goals such as fixed income alternatives, passive real estate investing, or private credit investing. Groundfloor connects these entry points to a unified set of private market investment options.
What Is Private Market Investing?
Private market investing includes asset classes outside of publicly traded stocks and bonds. These asset classes include private credit, private equity, real estate, and infrastructure.
Varghese describes these as “four broad categories… within private market investing.”
Investors use private market investments to diversify portfolios, access income-generating assets, and gain exposure to opportunities that public markets do not offer.
Key Takeaways from Episode 1
Investors Should Look Beyond Stocks and Bonds
Stocks have delivered strong returns over time, but they also introduce volatility. Market gains do not follow a straight path, and many investors find that volatility difficult to manage.
Varghese explains that investors should not choose between public and private markets. He states, “It’s not an either or… it’s an ‘and.’ You should have elements of both in a good portfolio.”
Investors can use private market investments to complement equities and build more balanced portfolios.
All Investments Carry Risk
Investors often assume that alternative investments carry more risk than traditional assets. In reality, every investment involves risk.
Varghese states, “All investing involves risk… you cannot have return without risk.”
Investors should evaluate how each asset class manages risk and whether the expected return compensates for that risk.
Diversification Drives Investor Behavior
Many investors look for ways to reduce exposure to market volatility. Private market investing offers additional ways to diversify across asset classes.
Varghese explains that investors now recognize that stocks and bonds represent only part of the investment landscape and that other assets can help broaden a portfolio.
Diversification remains a central reason why investors explore private credit, real estate, and other alternatives.
Access to Private Markets Continues to Expand
Private market investing has become more accessible. Platforms and technology now allow individual investors to participate in asset classes that were previously limited to institutions.
Varghese highlights this shift by noting that this is a period of expanded access and innovation across financial products.
This trend continues to shape how investors build portfolios and evaluate new opportunities.
Groundfloor’s Approach to Private Market Investments
Groundfloor structures its platform to support multiple investor entry points. An investor searching for fixed income alternatives may explore products positioned against savings accounts or CDs. Another investor interested in real estate may discover the same products through a real estate investing lens.
This approach increases access to private market investments while supporting different investor goals and search behaviors.
Groundfloor continues to expand its product categories across fixed income, real estate, private credit, private equity, and specialty finance. These categories reflect the broader private market investment landscape and support portfolio diversification.
Listen to the Beyond the Stock Market Podcast
Beyond the Stock Market provides insights into private market investing, alternative investments, and portfolio diversification strategies. The podcast features conversations with experienced investors and industry leaders.
The first episode with Brian Dally and Robert Varghese is now available.
Visit Groundfloor.com/podcast to listen to the episode and explore how private market investing can support a diversified investment strategy.
Listen to the full conversation with Robert: groundfloor.com/podcast or
watch the episode on YouTube
