This is one of the most popular options for our clients. More and more investors are shifting to alternatives to boost returns, generate income, provide diversification from traditional investments and achieve their goals. The alternative market may be utilized by large corporations, for example, to provide high limits of coverage over a large self-insured retention (SIR), or by smaller entities participating in a risk retention group (RRG) or group captive program. Note that the distinction between traditional and alternative markets tends to blur over time as many traditional insurers expand their offering of products to encompass alternative-type funding techniques and vice versa.
Alternative assets typically refer to investments that fall outside of the traditional asset classes commonly accessed by most investors, such as stocks, bonds, or cash investments. Due to their alternative nature, these investments may be less liquid than their traditional counterparts and may require a longer investment period before any material value is realized.
❖ Talk to one of our team members today.
❖ Our experts will help you choose the perfect strategy.
Traditional vs. Alternative Investments
Traditional investments are publicly traded investments in stocks, bonds, or cash. The traditional method of investing is via public markets, where companies sell shares to the general population via stocks exchanges, such as the FTSE, ASX, NYSE, and SSE. These types of investments are heavily regulated by financial authorities such as the SEC (Securities Exchange Commission) or the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority).
An alternative investment is a financial asset that does not fall into one of the three traditional investment categories. Alternative investments are complex and not heavily regulated. For this reason, most alternative asset investments are held by institutional investors or accredited, high-net-worth individuals.
Due to their lack of regulation, private markets are notoriously opaque compared to public markets. For example, private companies are under no obligation to reveal earnings or financial information, or report to shareholders, which means that information on these types of assets can be hard to find. This is why Preqin exists: to bring transparency and facilitate understanding across alternative assets with comprehensive data and best-in-class analytical tools.