Exploring Alternative Investments

Alternative investments are an emerging field that go beyond stocks, bonds and cash investments. They offer potentially higher returns with lower correlation to traditional markets while simultaneously improving portfolio diversification.

Investment options that fall outside the Securities and Exchange Commission’s purview tend to be less regulated and can be more illiquid; however, with careful planning they can form part of your overall portfolio strategy.

Real Estate

Real estate has long been considered an essential building block of wealth accumulation; now more accessible to retail investors than ever, real estate offers investors another viable investment avenue.

Real estate can provide steady income and inflation protection as well as high return potential, making it an essential component of a diversified portfolio. However, investing in alternative real estate cash flow investments may require significant learning curve and active involvement from you as an investor.

Infra-lite real estate, such as data centers and self-storage facilities, as well as life sciences and clean energy facilities are some of the fastest-growing segments of alternative property investments. They typically require less public usage and regulatory oversight compared with more public facilities; their assets tend to be illiquid; therefore making buying/selling at optimal times more challenging than liquid assets such as stocks. Speak to your financial advisor about incorporating these investments into your portfolio as many offer tax-deferred or tax-free investing solutions to maximize returns while optimizing returns while potentially increasing returns while simultaneously increasing returns.

Private Equity

Private equity is a field that spans from venture capital – which finances startups with the hopes that they may one day become the next Facebook – to growth equity – providing money to expand established private businesses often through taking minority stakes – to large buyouts (leveraged buyouts or LBOs), purchasing entire public companies back into private hands for further privatization. According to advocates of this industry, LBOs play an essential role in providing companies with new capital and expertise; saving them from bankruptcy or even helping preserve jobs.

However, healthcare is often accused of exploiting its workers – whether that’s nurses forced to operate with less essential supplies, tenants in underfunded apartment complexes or fishermen seeing their earnings reduced through cost-cutting measures.

Oil & Gas

Recently, interest in alternative investments has skyrocketed as investors seek ways to diversify their portfolios and reduce stock market volatility. Unfortunately, many of these strategies carry greater risk than traditional stocks and bonds.

Alternative investments tend to be less regulated than their traditional counterparts and may even be considered illiquid (meaning that they cannot easily be converted to cash). They tend to exhibit low correlations with traditional asset classes so as not to follow stock market movements exactly.

Alternative assets offer diversification and income that isn’t tied to public markets, but should only be part of an overall investment strategy. Learn about what opportunities exist and find an adviser who can evaluate your specific investment goals; with proper assistance and planning in place, alternative asset investments offer exciting new investment possibilities!

Art & Collectibles

Art is an emerging asset class that has quickly gained in popularity with investors seeking to diversify their portfolios. Art provides both cultural enrichment and financial reward if invested wisely with the appropriate knowledge and insight.

Art and collectibles offer low correlations with traditional investments like stocks and bonds, helping to reduce portfolio volatility. Unfortunately, however, they’re illiquid assets that may be difficult to sell; their market is subject to fluctuating tastes and fashion changes; furthermore they’re susceptible to fraud and theft.

Understanding alternative investments is essential for anyone looking to build a more robust portfolio. But it is also crucial that investors carefully consider any risks involved when using alternative assets and consult a professional financial advisor in order to develop an investment plan that fits within their goals and risk tolerance.