Why Private Funds Make Ann Berry Nervous

Ann Berry, Threadneedle Ventures Founder, cautions that while private-market investing is becoming more accessible to ordinary investors through new publicly traded funds, accessibility should not be mistaken for transparency. She highlights that valuing private companies requires specialized expertise that most retail investors lack, making it difficult to properly assess the underlying businesses. Berry emphasizes that these funds demand extraordinary trust in their managers, a critical factor investors must carefully consider.