šŸ“£ Securitize App for iOS: Manage your holdings & receive portfolio updates on the go

Securitize Logo

Alternative Assets Explained

by Christie Olsen, Michael Penfield
May 27, 2021

Thinking about diversifying your portfolio? When most people think about investing, they typically consider traditional investments. But Investments are not just limited to stocks and bonds. Alternative assets are becoming increasingly more available and are a unique way to diversify your portfolio. They offer a variety of advantages and interesting opportunities for investors.

What are alternative investments?

Alternative assets, also known as alternative investments or alts, are less traditional and becoming known as one of the most dynamic asset classes. They cover a wide range of assets that fall outside of traditional investments.

Unlike traditional assets, which are publicly traded stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or ETFs, alternative assets include a broad range of opportunities. They include:

  • Real estate, including limited partnerships, development corporations, investment trusts (REITs), and directly owned property;
  • Private Equity, including venture capital, growth capital, and buyouts;
  • Private Debt, such as investments that are not financed by banks or traded on an open market;
  • Intellectual Property, such as patents, song rights, copyrights, and trademarks;
  • Commodities, including precious metals, oil and gas, and other resources;
  • Art and collectibles;
  • Hedge Funds;
  • Annuities;
  • Derivatives.

Alternative assets can also come in different forms of investment vehicles. They may include direct exposure, with the ability to invest directly into an asset, or as a fund, where you can indirectly invest in one or many alternative investments.

How alternative investments have changed

Alternative investments are becoming one of the fastest-growing asset classes, and the air of exclusivity is fading. Historically, little was known about alternative investments, and they were difficult to invest in. Due to the accessibility to private markets, the barriers were high for an individual investor, and in some cases they were not even available to individual investors.

But things are significantly changing. With emerging global economies, investors are now looking for opportunities that are not tied to the correlation of the market. And with the success of these emerging markets, investors are hungry to invest. New platforms are enabling the ability for trading alternative assets, and while investors may not find liquidity of a particular asset through these platforms, they are giving way to the potential of active marketplaces where liquidity could be found.

With new SEC regulations and advent companies like Securitize, alternative assets are becoming more accessible for individual investors to invest and trade.

Reasons to consider alternative investments

When it comes to asset allocation, diversification is considered a key to managing a portfolio. Alternative investments offer more exposure to a broad range of assets and provide opportunities to create a balanced portfolio.

Some types of alternative assets are also viewed by many as a method to generate passive income, such as REITs, which can offer passive income generated in the form of rental payments and capital appreciation potential. REITs are a way for investors to own equity in real estate without taking on the management of properties. The benefit of alternative investments opposed to the physical form of an asset, such as a piece of real estate is that not everyone wants the administration and management burdens that come with owning real estate. And since REITs must pay 90% of income to investors, they offer investors a solid way to generate cash flow.

As with any investment, you should be fastidious in your due diligence and carefully research the potential risk before making a decision.

How do I start investing in alternative investments?

Securitize Markets currently provides the opportunity and access for all investors to buy into alternative investment, the ability to sell your alternative investments to other investors through the Securitize Secondary Marketplace. To learn more, visit the Invest section on our website.

Contributing Writers: Michael Penfield, Christie Olsen

Ā© 2022 Securitize, LLC
All rights reserved
info@securitizemarkets.io
Check the background of Securitize Markets on Finra BrokerCheck.

Securities are offered through Securitize Markets, LLC, (ā€œSecuritize Marketsā€) a registered broker-dealer and member FINRA/SIPC. Neither Securitize Markets, nor any of its affiliates provide any investment advice or make any investment recommendations to any persons, ever, and no communication through herein or in any other medium should be construed as such. Securities offered on the Securitize Markets ATS have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. Assets listed herein, such as digital assets or tokens using blockchain, are speculative, involve a high degree of risk, are generally illiquid, may have no value, have limited regulatory certainty, are subject to potential market manipulation risks and may expose investors to loss of principal. Investments in private placements, start-up investments in particular, are also speculative and involve a high degree of risk. Investors must be able to afford the loss of their entire investment. Eligibility to buy and sell securities on the Securitize Markets ATS is determined by Securitize Markets in its sole discretion. Offers to sell, or the solicitations of offers to buy any security can only be made through official offering documents that contain important information about risks, fees and expenses associated with the applicable securities available for trading on the Securitize Markets ATS. Investors should conduct their own due diligence, not rely on the financial assumptions or estimates displayed herein, and are encouraged to consult with a financial advisor, attorney, accountant, tax advisors, and any other professional that can help you to understand and assess the risks associated with any investment opportunity. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority has recommended or approved any investment or the accuracy or completeness of any of the information or materials provided herein or through any references/links herein. Any financial projections or returns shown herein are provided by the issuer of the relevant security and Securitize Markets has not verified the accuracy. Further, there can be no assurance that any valuations provided by issuers are accurate or in agreement with market or industry valuations. Securitize Markets and its affiliates make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy of such information. Securitize Markets may collect certain information about you that helps us comply with various securities regulations and rules and the USA PATRIOT Act, a Federal law that requires all securities firms to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each applicant. The information also helps us more fully understand your investment profile and identify what types of investments or strategies may be suitable for you. The term ā€œInvestorsā€ used on this website, typically refers to accredited investors where applicable. Please note: if we cannot verify the information you provide, we may be required to restrict or deny your account. Trading during Extended Hours Trading Sessions carries unique risks, such as greater price volatility, lower liquidity, wider bid/ask spreads, and less market visibility, and may not be appropriate for all investors. There is no guarantee that a diversified portfolio will enhance overall returns, outperform a non-diversified portfolio, or prevent against loss. By accessing this site and any pages thereof, you agree to be bound by our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.