An alternative investment is an asset that is not one of the conventional investment types, such as stocks, bonds, and cash. Most alternative investment assets are held by institutional investors or accredited, high-net-worth individuals because of the complex natures of the investments. Alternative investments include private equity, hedge fund, managed futures, real estate, commodities, and derivatives contracts.
Alternative investments increasingly have become an important component of many investors' portfolios. Alternatives can be useful in a portfolio to provide some balance. Often (but not always) during times of market volatility, alternative investments may not be subject to market fluctuations in the way stocks and bonds are. Some types of alternative investments we have made are: