The Private Markets Playbook Your Advisor Doesn't Have
A plain-English guide to private REITs, MICs, LPs, flow-through shares, and alternative investments — written for Canadian accredited investors who want to understand what they're buying before they buy it.
You qualify as an accredited investor. But nobody taught you how to evaluate these deals.
You've worked hard to build wealth. Now exempt market opportunities are landing in your inbox — private REITs promising 8% yields, MICs offering "secured" monthly income, flow-through shares with massive tax benefits.
But something feels off.
The offering memorandums are 80 pages of legalese. Your accountant knows taxes, not deal structure. Your financial advisor may not even be licensed to discuss these products. And Google? It's a maze of American content that doesn't apply to Canadian regulations.
You're not looking for a sales pitch. You want a framework — a way to understand what you're looking at, what questions to ask, and what red flags to watch for.
The Canadian Private Markets Playbook
We created the guide we wish existed when we started exploring private investments.
30 pages. No fluff. Specifically written for Canadian accredited investors navigating exempt market securities under NI 45-106. This isn't a pitch for any specific investment. It's the foundation you need to evaluate any private deal with confidence.
The Exempt Market Landscape
What makes private markets different from public securities — and why the rules exist to protect you (even when they feel like barriers).
Qualification Pathways
The three ways to qualify as an accredited investor, plus the newer Self-Certified Investor exemption. Know exactly where you stand.
Product Deep Dives
Plain-English breakdowns of private REITs, MICs, limited partnerships, flow-through shares, and hedge funds — what they are, how they work, and what can go wrong.
The Due Diligence Framework
A repeatable process for evaluating any private investment. What to look for in an offering memorandum, what questions to ask, and how to spot red flags.
Working with Dealers
Your rights under Canada's Client Focused Reforms. What your Exempt Market Dealer is obligated to tell you — and what they're not.
Tax Considerations
How different structures are taxed, when to involve your accountant, and what changed in recent years (especially for flow-through shares).
Education, not sales
Alts Insider is an independent education platform — not a dealer, not a fund, not someone trying to sell you an investment. We've published 133 research pieces since 2019, covering every corner of Canadian private markets.
We exist because the gap between "you qualify" and "you understand" is where investors get hurt. Most content out there is either American (different regulations, different markets) or thinly disguised sales material from issuers.
If you eventually want to explore specific opportunities, you can connect with a registered Exempt Market Dealer — exclusively matched to you, not blasted to a dozen firms. But that's your choice, and only after you have the education to make it informed.
Built on 10+ years of experience in Canadian private markets, reviewed for accuracy against NI 45-106, NI 31-103, and provincial securities regulations.
The Playbook is just the starting point
Your Playbook arrives by email
30 pages of Canadian-specific private markets education — yours to keep.
A 21-part curriculum follows
Over the next 70 days, you'll receive an email series that goes deeper — from due diligence frameworks to tax optimization, one lesson at a time.
18 video modules on demand
Short, focused videos covering private credit, real estate, infrastructure, and more. Watch at your pace.
When you're ready — your choice
If you decide to explore specific opportunities, you can connect with a registered dealer. One exclusive match, on your terms. No pressure, no timeline.
Unsubscribe from any of it, anytime. We earn your attention — we don't assume it.
Get the Playbook
30 pages. Zero sales pressure. The foundation you need to evaluate private investments with confidence.