September 11, 2012
--- Nontraditional investment opportunities are attracting more
investors looking to protect wealth, achieve returns and generate income,
according to a recent poll. ---
Nearly half of respondents (48%) of the Aequitas Capital
poll of attendees at a recent Opal Financial Group private wealth conference
said they now consider alternative investments as a primary part of their portfolio—meaning
more than 30% of their portfolio is in alternatives. Approximately 78% expect
to increase their allocation to alternatives over the next three years even though these investments often have less liquidity, transparency and an inferior track
record.
Respondents indicated that the investing environment has
become strained by the European debt crisis (24%); global economic slowdown
(21%); U.S. presidential elections (19%); and the possibility of a U.S.
recession (11%), causing investors to expand their search for private
investment alternatives.
Twenty-nine percent of respondents cited “other alternatives”
as demonstrating the greatest potential in the near future, compared with those
who named real estate (23%), stocks (16%), venture capital (14%), commodities
(12%), bonds (5%) and Treasuries (1%).
The poll included respondents from 73 private wealth
managers, and was administered by Aequitas Capital and Opal Financial Group.
PLANADVISER staff