Alternative Investments - Going Mainstream
Alternative investments are going mainstream for accredited investors. It’s critical to sort through the complexity.
Recent years have witnessed the mainstreaming of alternative investments for certain accredited investors. In fact, alternative investments are expected to grow from $12.9 trillion in 2022 to $17.2 trillion in 2025.
The impetus behind this projected growth is the belief that alternative investments offer the potential to enhance the risk/reward characteristics of a traditionally diversified portfolio.3
"Alternative investments" is an umbrella term for a disparate range of investment strategies and assets that might be best defined as investments that use a different approach from traditional instruments.
While today's portfolios may benefit from some diversification to alternative investments, it should be emphasized that the risk, return, and market correlations will vary widely among them.3 Consequently, individuals need to consider what their objective is for adding alternative investments and select the appropriate strategy to pursue their needs.
Types of Alternative Investments
Private Equity — Seeks to participate in the growth of private companies. Private equity is an illiquid asset class that seeks long-term appreciation away from public markets.
Hedge Funds — Investments that have broad flexibility in the types of strategies they can employ to follow their stated investment objectives.
Commodity Pools — Enterprises that attract funds from people who are looking for pool managers to engage in commodity-related trades.
Alternative investments are geared to "accredited" or "qualified" investors who are considered high-net-worth individuals with investment experience, and these investments usually have high minimum investment requirements. Some investment companies have structured mutual funds after alternative investments, providing individuals with access to the investment strategy while offering daily liquidity at lower minimum investment requirements.
Mutual funds are sold by prospectus. Please consider the charges, risks, expenses, and investment objectives carefully before investing. A prospectus containing this and other information about the investment company can be obtained from your financial professional. Read it carefully before you invest or send money.
1. VisualCapitalist.com, December 1, 2021
2. Alternative investments include direct participation program securities (partnerships, liability companies, and real estate investment trusts which are not listed on any exchange), commodity pools, private equity, private debt, and hedge funds. These programs may offer high-net-worth accredited investors tax benefits, but they have significant risks associated with them. Typically, alternative investments are illiquid investments and their current values may fluctuate from the purchase price. Statements for such investments represent their estimate of the value of the investor's participation in the program. The estimated values may not necessarily reflect actual market values or be realized upon liquidation.
3. Diversification is an approach to help manage investment risk. It does not eliminate the risk of loss if security prices decline.
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