RIAs Allocating More To Alternative Assets in 2018 Survey Finds
Driver for AUM; Threat to Other Allocations
Private Equity Top Alternative, Followed by Real Estate, Private Credit
CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., Nov. 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A survey of the nation's top RIA's with assets under management of $500 million or more by alternative investment solutions provider PPB Capital Partners found that holdings of alternative investments in client portfolios are likely to increase over the next 12 months. The firm conducted the survey to gain clarity on the direction of alternatives among RIAs, and to provide insights to RIAs for whom alternative investments are an emerging part of their business.
On The Rise
Among survey respondents, 45% said they expect the alternative investment asset allocation in clients' portfolios to increase, and 47% said they expect the allocation to stay the same, with just 7% reporting alternative assets in client portfolios would decrease.
"These are significant numbers," said PPB founder Brendan Lake. "That 45% of clients have an appetite to place more of their assets in alternative investments, is notable. But with another 47% expecting the allocation to remain the same — not decrease — means that 92% of clients remain comfortable with their alternative assets allocations. This despite limited liquidity in many cases and a surging stock market."
He added that investor satisfaction was also boosted by investment selections. Specifically, the top three investments; private equity, real estate and private credit at 37%, 22% and 22% respectively, have performed well. Lake noted that, "Private company valuations, which have a strong correlation to public company valuations, have, over the past year, risen in lock step with the stock market at large. And as a result, private equity allocations have done quite well."
Big Numbers
"The expected increases in alternative asset allocations appear to be material rather than incremental," said Lake. Specifically, 72.5% of respondents said they expected their alternative asset allocations to increase by up to 25%. Another 19.9% said they expect their allocations to increase by more than 50%. As for contraction, 17.6% of RIAs said they expect the percentage change in alternative investments in client portfolios to contract.
The growth in alternative assets will, to some degree, cannibalize other parts of the portfolio, according to respondents. Specifically, 50% of respondents said alternative asset allocations are deliberate rebalancing of traditional assets or liquidation of other assets in the portfolio.
"This also means," said Lake, "that half the time alternative allocations are funded with new AUM, and this is significant."
He noted that, "When we asked RIAs what their primary objective was in offering alternative investments, not even one selected the options 'To fulfill practice goals,' which demonstrates a strong commitment to fiduciary duty. Nonetheless, these figures demonstrate that alternative investments are one of the surest ways to increase AUM, which is in fact, and understandably, a goal for almost any RIA."
The Coming Correction
In a 10% correction, 41.7% of respondents said they would expect their alternative investments to be down, but not as much as the market at large. Another 40% of respondents said their allocations would be neutral with a flexion of just 1% to 2%. Finally, 18.3% thought their alternative allocation would be positive.
About the Survey
Survey invitations were sent to 1,000 Registered Investment Advisors. Of those invited to participate, 247 completed the survey. The survey was sent on 10/26/17 and closed on 11/3/17. You can view complete results of the PPB Financial Advisory Survey here.
SOURCE PPB Capital Partners
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