AAA claims Alternatives becoming more Mainstream with Individuals

Dec. 8, 2012 - PRLog -- Boston, MA, USA -- There have been further reports about large brokerage firms investing more in alternative investments, and it is all in response to demand from their customers, Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) has claimed.

The alternative investment advocacy group has said that the days when only institutional investors looked towards alternatives are long gone and that average investors now call for less exposure to stocks and shares. Whether it be private equity, REITs, timberland investments or precious metals, alternatives are becoming increasingly 'the norm' for anyone that wants to reduce their exposure to risk by diversifying their portfolio.

As well as becoming more mainstream, alternative investments are also able to deliver some very high returns at a time when investing in traditional assets provides limited opportunity for a windfall. In fact, the volatility in the stock markets is what is attracting so many individuals to more left-field investments.

Investing in art, precious metals, wine and even antiques and whisky is growing in popularity. "People like to turn their hobby into an investment opportunity, particularly if they know the business," explained AAA's analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.

"Investors are also increasingly keen to see something in return for their investment, such as physical trees, a beautiful painting or a gold bar."

AAA supports alternative investments, but particularly backs ethical and ecologically-responsible options like sustainable forestry investments through firms like Greenwood Management. Greenwood runs plantations of non-native trees like acacia and teak, which grow fast and are managed in a cyclical way to ensure that new growth is always following when trees are cut and sold.

"The rise in popularity of these alternative investments is all based on demand for the products or the assets," explained Mr Johnson. "Much of this demand is coming from emerging economies like China and India, which are buying up huge amounts of raw materials to help with their urban developments."

About Alternative Asset Analysis:
The remit of Alternative Asset Analysis is to analyse and provide news on the global performance of a wide range of alternative asset classes including, but not restricted to, commodities, real estate, forestry, foreign exchange, hedge funds, private equity and venture capital.

Media Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
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