Examples Of Alternative Investments And How They Operate

By James Collins


Most people thinking about investment have bonds, stocks, exchange traded funds, stocks and pre-packaged categories, among others in mind. These options are limited in their returns because of market volatility and risks involved. There are fantastic examples of alternative investments whose rate of returns is impressive without exposing you to major risks. These alternative investment options are becoming accessible to the public, unlike in the past.

Private equity firms, unlike listed companies are traded in boardrooms. They have diverse investments in different markets which they also use to raise funds for their projects. Private equity firms make their money through venture capital investment, growing other companies or investing in start-ups. They deduct management and performance fees before releasing the gains to investors. The money invested reverts back through IPOs or profits from the funded companies.

Another excellent example of alternate investment is direct investment in private companies. The investor provides seed capital to the firm through angel investing. Direct investment is similar to assisting start-ups to grow. The rate of return is not predictable. While some start-ups perform well, others fail leading to heavy losses. A small time investor is also capable of putting money directly into a company because not all start-ups require thousands of dollars.

Venture capital investment is the other example of alternate investment. This involves investing in the early stages of the growth of a company. Most of the target companies do not have access to public financing because their performance cannot support their credit demand. This class is very risky as well because most of the investment goes into planned activities other than existing operations. Some of these plans might fail leading to detrimental losses.

Real assets are another attractive investment option for those avoiding the common platforms. It is largely driven by prestige and the guaranteed security that comes with these assets. The options available in this category include prime agricultural land, rare coins, real estate and precious metals. Others are holding rare wine, art and baseball cards. The investment can be done directly or through a specialized trading company.

There are similarities between private equity and hedge funds. Their focus during investment differentiates these companies. Hedge funds target macro-trends, distressed assets, equity long-short and arbitrages, among others in similar categories. Hedge funds allow easier access to funds by investors through liquidity and a higher frequency of redemption. The firms are also used to raise money by other companies.

The returns emanating from debt investment are drawing more people towards this segment. These debts are not rated by credit agencies or traded publicly. Debt traders ensure that private firms have a steady cash flow to sustain their operations despite over supply or over acquisition. Debts are traded through promissory notes and mezzanine debts. The company will pay a commission over the amount forwarded once the debt has been settled.

Spreading the risk and investing in areas that provide better cover from losses is what makes alternative investment attractive. Caution should be exercised whenever you wish to invest directly and as an individual. Risk factors still remain, some of which are fatal. Real assets are attractive because of the prestige associated with these investments as opposed to the margins of returns.




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