New to Alternative Investments? Here’s Where to Start
- Thomas Young
- May 9
- 2 min read
If you’ve been watching the markets lately, you’ve probably noticed more investors looking beyond stocks and bonds. From real estate and startups to farmland and art, alternative investments are gaining serious traction—and not just with institutional investors. More and more everyday investors are getting in the game.
But where do you even begin?
At AltsVesting, we’ve spent hundreds of hours researching the platforms, strategies, and risks involved. And we’ve put it all together in one place:
Why Alternative Investments?
The traditional 60/40 stock-and-bond portfolio isn’t cutting it for a lot of investors anymore. With inflation, rising interest rates, and volatile markets, people are looking for more resilient, diversified ways to grow their wealth.
That’s where alternative investments come in.
These are asset classes outside of the public stock and bond markets—things like private real estate, venture capital, farmland, private credit, collectibles, and even crypto. Historically, these types of investments were only available to institutions and the ultra-wealthy. But that’s changing fast.
Here’s why alts are worth considering:
Diversification benefitsMany alternatives behave differently than stocks or bonds. That means they can reduce overall portfolio volatility and help protect against market swings.
Passive income opportunitiesReal estate platforms, private credit funds, and income-generating assets can provide steady cash flow—without relying on the public markets.
Potential for higher returnsWhile riskier, some alternatives offer outsized returns not typically available through public equities or mutual funds.
Access to unique opportunitiesYou can now invest in startup funding rounds, farmland, fine wine, and more—often with as little as a few hundred dollars.
Inflation hedgingCertain alts—like real estate, commodities, and infrastructure—can help preserve purchasing power when inflation rises.
At the same time, alternative investments come with tradeoffs: many are illiquid, complex, and lightly regulated. That’s why doing your homework—and picking the right platforms—is essential.
We break all of this down (and more) in our Ultimate Guide to Alternative Investments.
What You’ll Learn in the Guide
Our Ultimate Guide is built for curious investors, whether you’re just starting out or already exploring platforms. Inside, we cover:
✅ The main types of alternative assets
✅ The pros and cons of each category
✅ How to evaluate platforms like Fundrise, AcreTrader, and others
✅ What to watch out for (fees, lockups, deal quality)
✅ How to build a portfolio that includes alternatives
It’s the guide we wish we had when we started investing in alts.
Ready to Start?
If you’re thinking about dipping your toes into alternative investments, start with knowledge.
Read the full guide here—and subscribe to our newsletter for monthly deep dives into vetted platforms.
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