Key Takeaways
- • Florida State University's College of Business has launched a new executive education program in West Palm Beach focused on alternative investments, including real estate, private equity, venture capital, private credit, and hedge funds, with enrollment capped at 50 participants per seminar.
- • The program strategically locates in West Palm Beach—branded as "Wall Street South"—due to the region's emergence as a major wealth hub and the influx of alternative investment firms since the pandemic; West Palm Beach and Palm Beach ranked second nationally for fastest-growing wealth centers in a May 2025 Henley and Partners report.
- • Seminars are structured as Thursday evening and full-day Friday sessions held at The Press office building (2751 S. Dixie Highway), with space costs underwritten by FSU alumnus and SROA Capital CEO Benjamin Macfarland.
- • Fall 2025 registration has closed, but spring seminars are being scheduled; the eight-week course combines in-person sessions in West Palm Beach with online modules.
- • The program targets wealth management professionals seeking to expand expertise in alternative asset classes and private market analysis as client portfolio diversification increasingly incorporates non-traditional investments.
Summary
Florida State University's College of Business is capitalizing on West Palm Beach's emergence as a premier financial hub by launching dedicated executive education in alternative investments. The initiative, which began in September 2025, reflects broader industry trends as wealth managers expand portfolios beyond traditional securities into private markets.
Assistant Chair of FSU's Finance Department Kelsey Syvrud emphasized the market demand driving the program: "As more wealth managers choose to diversify their clients' portfolios with alternative investments, they will need to expand their financial skills accordingly. They must learn new ways to assess risk, read alternative market trends and analyze private market product structures." The seminars directly address this skills gap by covering hedge funds, private equity, venture capital, private credit, and real estate investment structures.
West Palm Beach's selection as the primary location is strategic. The region has experienced significant migration of alternative investment professionals since the pandemic, with numerous hedge funds and private equity firms establishing South Florida offices. The city's positioning was validated in a May 2025 Henley and Partners wealth-hub ranking, where West Palm Beach and Palm Beach placed second nationally for fastest growth, surpassed only by Scottsdale, Arizona, and outpacing established centers including Miami, the Bay Area, and Washington, D.C.
The program accommodates 50 professionals per seminar cohort and operates on a hybrid schedule: Thursday evening sessions followed by full-day Friday instruction at The Press building, which also houses The Palm Beach Post. FSU alumnus Benjamin Macfarland, CEO of SROA Capital, underwrites the university's facility costs, underscoring alumni support for institutional presence in the region's growing wealth management sector. With fall enrollment closed, FSU is actively scheduling spring seminars to accommodate demand.
Assistant Chair of FSU's Finance Department Kelsey Syvrud emphasized the market demand driving the program: "As more wealth managers choose to diversify their clients' portfolios with alternative investments, they will need to expand their financial skills accordingly. They must learn new ways to assess risk, read alternative market trends and analyze private market product structures." The seminars directly address this skills gap by covering hedge funds, private equity, venture capital, private credit, and real estate investment structures.
West Palm Beach's selection as the primary location is strategic. The region has experienced significant migration of alternative investment professionals since the pandemic, with numerous hedge funds and private equity firms establishing South Florida offices. The city's positioning was validated in a May 2025 Henley and Partners wealth-hub ranking, where West Palm Beach and Palm Beach placed second nationally for fastest growth, surpassed only by Scottsdale, Arizona, and outpacing established centers including Miami, the Bay Area, and Washington, D.C.
The program accommodates 50 professionals per seminar cohort and operates on a hybrid schedule: Thursday evening sessions followed by full-day Friday instruction at The Press building, which also houses The Palm Beach Post. FSU alumnus Benjamin Macfarland, CEO of SROA Capital, underwrites the university's facility costs, underscoring alumni support for institutional presence in the region's growing wealth management sector. With fall enrollment closed, FSU is actively scheduling spring seminars to accommodate demand.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.