Three Takeaways from Our Interview with Skyler Steinke
In our latest Invest Well, Be Well episode, Robyn Murray and I sat down with Skyler Steinke, Managing Director of the Digital Assets Group and co-host of the Alt Funds Network podcast. Skyler is one of the most thoughtful voices in alternatives today—an area that’s becoming increasingly vital for long-term investors. We explored three key themes: alternatives, tokenization, and functional health—each connected by the pursuit of building stronger portfolios and stronger lives.
Alternatives: Expanding the Investment Toolkit
Skyler defines alternatives as investments that fall outside traditional stocks and bonds such as things like private credit, real estate, infrastructure, and hedge fund strategies. The key attraction is diversification. Alternatives behave differently from traditional asset classes such as stocks and bonds, offering the potential to smooth returns and improve resilience through economic cycles.
For Skyler, alternatives are about giving investors access to a broader opportunity set once reserved for institutions. Through his Alt Funds Network platform, he’s helping advisors and investors understand how to use these tools thoughtfully, balancing opportunity with considerations like liquidity, transparency, and alignment with long-term goals. As he noted, “alternatives can help investors stay the course when markets get choppy, but only if they understand what they own and why they own it.”
2. Tokenization: The Next Frontier of Investing
If alternatives represent a broader toolkit, tokenization represents a new frontier entirely. In simple terms, tokenization converts real-world assets such like real estate, art, or private funds into digital tokens recorded on a blockchain. These tokens make it easier to divide, trade, and transfer ownership.
Skyler believes tokenization could fundamentally reshape access and efficiency in capital markets. “It’s about unlocking liquidity and democratizing access to high-quality assets,” he said. Tokenization could reduce costs, speed up transactions, and open once-exclusive investments to a wider audience.
For financial advisors, it’s not just a tech trend—it’s a structural shift worth understanding now. As Skyler put it, “The advisors who learn this early will be best positioned for the future.” His team’s work at Digital Assets Group is focused on bridging that gap, connecting traditional investment frameworks with the innovation of blockchain technology.
Functional Health: Investing in Yourself
Beyond markets, Skyler’s passion for functional health and biohacking reflects the “Be Well” half of our mission. Functional health focuses on root causes (nutrition, sleep, movement, and recovery) as the foundation for better energy and clearer thinking. Skyler experiments with wearables, supplements, and data-driven feedback to optimize performance.
One practical takeaway: sleep is a superpower. Skyler shared that improving his sleep routine—through consistent bedtimes, reduced evening screen time, and better nutrition—has had a measurable impact on his daily focus and long-term stamina. For leaders and investors alike, that kind of self-awareness and discipline translates directly into better decision-making.
Final Spark
Skyler reminds us that investing wisely isn’t just about asset allocation, but it’s also about energy allocation. The best portfolios are built with discipline and clarity, and both depend on the health and focus of the person making the decisions.
Invest Well, Be Well.