Key Considerations for Investing in the Private Markets

There are several factors to consider before incorporating private markets investments into your practice and your clients’ portfolios. Use this checklist to see if private markets investing could be a good fit for you and your clients.

Private Markets investments might be right for your practice if:

You’re looking to differentiate yourself. Competition is growing among financial advisors, as well as from other financial services providers. Clients have become more discerning—and they expect more from their advisor. You can make your practice stand out by offering clients access to solutions that other advisors may not be able to offer.
You want to appeal to the next generation. Over the next two decades, it is estimated that older Americans will transfer $84 trillion to their heirs and to charity. The younger generations who will benefit are looking for differentiated investment solutions, with 80% of younger investors saying¹ they want alternative investments such as private equity and real estate.
You want to deliver institutional investments to your clients. While private markets used to be available only to institutional investors and high-net-worth investors, a range of new structures and vehicles is increasing their accessibility. Incorporating private markets investing into your practice can help clients across a wider range of wealth levels reap the potential benefits of this important asset class.

Private Markets investments might be right for your clients if:

Your clients are investing for the long term. Human emotions and public market swings make it harder for clients to focus on goals that are years or decades away. The long-term focus and less frequent pricing of private markets investments make it easier for clients to avoid panic-driven decisions and stick to their plan.
Your clients are looking for a potentially smoother ride. During market downturns, even a well-diversified portfolio can suffer broad losses. That’s because public investments tend to be highly correlated with each other. Private markets offer less-correlated investments that can help offset the volatility found in public markets—and potentially deliver a better experience.
Your clients want an option that can offer a potentially broader opportunity set. To pursue their long-term goals, clients need access to a comprehensive range of investment options. By concentrating solely in the public markets, they are giving up investment options that can offer potentially attractive and differentiated returns. Adding private markets investments to your clients’ portfolios may provide the opportunity for enhanced risk-adjusted performance.

Cerulli Associates, U.S. High-Net-Worth and Ultra-High-Net-Worth Markets 2021.

AccessAres is the thought-leadership and educational division of Ares Wealth Management Solutions. The materials distributed by AccessAres are for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security, investment strategy or market sector. Ares Wealth Management Solutions is a global brand of Ares Management Corporation.

Important Information:

This material is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation to purchase any related securities. Investing in private markets investments involves a high degree of risk including, but not limited to:

Risk of substantial loss of principal - direct Investments in private companies and investments, involve a high degree of business and financial risk that can result in substantial losses
Illiquidity risk - investments are not listed on any securities exchange and may not be readily liquidated, therefore it may be impossible to get your money back
Valuation risks - the risk that the securities are valued at prices the seller is unable to obtain upon sale due to factors such as incomplete data, market instability, human error, or no readily available market quotations, and other factors
Risk related to private companies – these companies are generally not subject to SEC reporting requirements, are not required to maintain accounting records in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and are not required to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting. As a result, there is the risk that investors may invest based on incomplete or inaccurate information, which can adversely affect performance. Private companies may also have limited financial resources, shorter operating histories, more asset concentration risk, narrower product lines and smaller market shares that can make such private companies more vulnerable to competitors’ actions and market conditions

Financial advisors must carefully consider the risks and other suitability details in determining appropriate investments for their individual clients’ portfolios.

Disclosures:

These materials may contain “forward-looking” information that is not purely historical in nature, and such information may include, among other things, projections, forecasts or estimates of cash flows, yields or returns, scenario analyses and proposed or expected portfolio composition. The forward-looking information contained herein is based upon certain assumptions about future events or conditions and is intended only to illustrate hypothetical results under those assumptions (not all of which will be specified herein). Not all relevant events or conditions may have been considered in developing such assumptions.The success or achievement of various results and objectives is dependent upon a multitude of factors, many of which are beyond the control of Ares. No representations are made as to the accuracy of such estimates or projections or that such projections will be realized. Actual events or conditions are unlikely to be consistent with, and may differ materially from, those assumed. Prospective investors should not view the past performance of Ares as indicative of future results. Ares does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Benchmark (index) performance does not reflect the deduction of transaction costs, management fees, or other costs which would reduce returns. References to market or composite indexes, benchmarks or other measures of relative performance are for comparison purposes only. An investor cannot invest directly in an index.

This may contain information obtained from third parties, including ratings from credit ratings agencies such as Standard & Poor’s. Reproduction and distribution of third party content in any form is prohibited except with the prior written permission of the related third party. Third party content providers do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or availability of any information, including ratings, and are not responsible for any errors or omissions (negligent or otherwise), regardless of the cause, or for the results obtained from the use of such content. THIRD PARTY CONTENT PROVIDERS GIVE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. THIRD PARTY CONTENT PROVIDERS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY, COMPENSATORY, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, COSTS,EXPENSES, LEGAL FEES, OR LOSSES (INCLUDING LOST INCOME OR PROFITS AND OPPORTUNITY COSTS OR LOSSES CAUSED BY NEGLIGENCE) IN CONNECTION WITH ANY USE OF THEIR CONTENT, INCLUDING RATINGS. Credit ratings are statements of opinions and are not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold or sell securities. They do not address the suitability of securities or the suitability of securities for investment purposes, and should not be relied on as investment advice.

REF:AM-02347

Contact Us

Connect with our Wealth Management Solutions team that works with Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Managers to provide alternative solutions. For investors based in EMEA and APAC, please visit our Non-U.S. Investors Contact section.

Individual Investors

Reach out to your Financial Advisor.

Financial Advisor Inquiries

[email protected] (866) 324-7348

Actionable Advisor Ideas