How to Choose the Best Alternative Investment? Make Smart Choices

Jeremy BiberdorfBy: Jeremy Biberdorf

November 3, 2023November 3, 2023

Two primary categories often stand out in the vast realm of investment: traditional and alternative investments. Traditional investments, like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, have been the backbone of many portfolios for decades. They’re well-understood, accessible, and offer a relatively predictable growth form. Alternatively, alternative investments cover a broader spectrum. They offer unique avenues for potential growth and diversification, from art to real estate to farmland.

Diversifying one’s investment portfolio safeguards against market volatility. By spreading investments across various assets, investors can reduce the risk of a significant loss in any area. Moreover, alternative investments have become increasingly mainstream, proving to be more than just fleeting trends.

Platforms such as Masterworks, Yieldstreet, and FarmTogether are at the forefront of this shift. They present intriguing alternative investment opportunities and embody modern investors’ quest for diversification and growth beyond the traditional stock market. Their rise underscores the investment world’s evolving dynamics, championing innovation and accessibility.

What are Alternative Investments?

At its core, alternative investments represent assets that don’t fit the conventional investment categories of stocks, bonds, and cash. These unique investment avenues allow investors to venture beyond the familiar horizons of the traditional stock market.

They include real estate, commodities, hedge funds, private equity, and tangible assets such as art or vintage wines. The allure of these investments often lies in their potential to provide returns that are uncorrelated with the broader stock or bond markets. They thereby offer a layer of protection during market downturns.

Alternative investments, however, may not always be as liquid as traditional investment channels. This means they can’t be quickly sold for cash. They also might have different levels of regulatory oversight, which can introduce a different risk profile.

Yet, despite these differences, alternative investments have gained traction in recent years. They offer the potential for higher returns and the ability to diversify a portfolio in ways that traditional assets might not allow. This blend of potential reward and diversification has many investors exploring these non-traditional avenues.

Key Factors to Consider While Choosing an Alternative Investment

Navigating the world of alternative investments requires a strategic approach. Only some opportunities will align with an individual’s financial goals or risk tolerance. Here are some crucial factors to weigh when venturing into this unique investment realm:

  • Risk vs. Return: Every investment carries a certain degree of risk, but the potential for higher returns often comes with increased risk. Evaluating this balance is essential. For example, while platforms like Masterworks offer the chance to invest in high-value art, the market’s unpredictability might pose risks. Conversely, the returns can be impressive if the chosen artwork appreciates.
  • Liquidity: It refers to how quickly you can convert an asset into cash. Some alternative investments, like real estate ventures or artwork, might not be as liquid as traditional stocks. This means they might take longer to sell and not fetch the desired price when sold.
  • Minimum Deposits: Different platforms and investments have varying entry points. Yieldstreet, for instance, requires a $10,000 minimum deposit, whereas Masterworks allows entry at $20. Assessing whether the initial deposit aligns with one’s budget and investment strategy is vital.
  • Platform Features: The platform’s features can greatly influence the investment experience. Tools that offer detailed overviews, like FarmTogether’s property insights or automated investment options, as seen with Yieldstreet’s Prism Fund, can be invaluable for both seasoned and novice investors.

In conclusion, while the allure of alternative investments is undeniable, a thoughtful and informed approach is paramount. Considering these key factors ensures a better understanding and more strategic decision-making in this diverse investment landscape.

Exploring Top Alternative Investment Platforms

Masterworks: Invest in Fine Art

 Masterworks Logo

Delving into alternative investments brings to light intriguing platforms like Masterworks. This innovative platform revolutionizes how investments in art are perceived. It makes it accessible and appealing to a broader audience.

At the heart of Masterworks lies the opportunity to own fractional shares in iconic artworks. This means that individuals can hold a piece of high-value art without shouldering the full cost. It opens doors for many to a previously elite market.

Benefits:

  • Hedge Against Inflation: One of the standout features of art is its potential to act as a buffer against inflation. As traditional currencies fluctuate, tangible assets like art often retain or even increase in value. This offers stability in volatile times.
  • Accessibility for All: One of the platform’s significant feats is opening the art world to non-accredited investors. This democratization ensures that more people can diversify their portfolios with fine art investments.
  • Secondary Market for Liquidity: Investments need not be static. Masterworks offers a secondary market where investors can trade their shares. It adds liquidity to a traditionally illiquid asset class.

In a world where alternative investments are gaining traction, Masterworks shines as a beacon for art enthusiasts and savvy investors. It merges passion with profitability.
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Yieldstreet: Diverse Asset Opportunities

 Yieldstreet Logo

In the expansive world of alternative investments, Yieldstreet is a standout platform, offering many asset opportunities beyond the traditional.

A singular investment type does not bind Yieldstreet. Instead, it offers a range encompassing real estate, litigation finance, marine finance, and more. This diverse offering allows investors to tailor their portfolios to their interests and risk tolerances, moving away from conventional channels.

Benefits:

  • Diverse Opportunities Beyond Traditional Markets: Yieldstreet’s strength lies in its versatility. Offering investments from marine finance to real estate provides choices one would need help finding in mainstream markets.
  • Open to a Wider Audience: In an age where investment opportunities are rare, Yieldstreet breaks the mold. It welcomes both accredited and non-accredited investors. This inclusivity ensures that more individuals can tap into high-potential alternative investments.
  • Comprehensive Investment Overviews: Knowledge is power in the investment world. Yieldstreet understands this and offers detailed overviews for every opportunity. These overviews outline potential returns, associated risks, and other crucial information. They ensure investors make well-informed decisions.

Yieldstreet exemplifies the modern age of investing, where diversity, inclusivity, and transparency take center stage. It allows more people to explore and benefit from the vast world of alternative investments.
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FarmTogether: Dive into the Agricultural Sector

 FarmTogether Logo

Amid the rise of diverse investment platforms, FarmTogether offers a refreshing focus on agriculture, one rooted in sustainability and growth.

FarmTogether is unique. It allows individuals to venture into direct farm ownership or fractional ownership. This versatility ensures investors find an entry point that aligns with their financial capacities and investment goals.

Benefits:

  • Sustainable and Organic Farming: FarmTogether prioritizes the planet while generating profits. By focusing on sustainable and organic farms, investors see potential returns and support environmentally responsible farming practices.
  • Robust Hedge Against Inflation: With economic uncertainties ever-present, investments in farmland provide a steady hedge. Historically, agriculture has shown resilience against inflation, making it a wise inclusion in diversified portfolios.
  • Opportunity for Passive Income: Farmland investments aren’t just about the long-term. Investors can enjoy regular harvest income with the right farm and crop choices. This turns their investment into a source of recurring revenue.

FarmTogether’s platform bridges the gap between modern investors and the age-old agricultural sector. It ensures the land and the investors reap fruitful returns.
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Conclusion: How to Choose the Best Alternative Investment?

In the ever-evolving financial landscape, alternative investments have become important. They offer avenues beyond traditional stock and bond markets. Their rise to prominence isn’t by chance. They tap into sectors often overlooked by mainstream channels, providing potential for diversification and profit.

While platforms like Masterworks, FarmTogether, and Yieldstreet have revolutionized how one approaches alternative investments, it’s crucial to tread cautiously. Every investment, be it traditional or alternative, requires due diligence. The emphasis should always be on thorough research, understanding the nuances of each platform, and gauging how they fit into an individual’s financial goals.

Whether you’re interested in investing in art pieces with Masterworks, real estate with YieldStreet, or farmland with FarmTogether, you can dive deep here:

The world of alternative investments holds promise. But as with all promises, one should ensure they’re grounded in reality. Dive in, but do so with open eyes and an informed mind.

Get Started with Yieldstreet

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Get Started with FarmTogether

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Jeremy Biberdorf
Jeremy Biberdorf

About the Author:

Jeremy Biberdorf is the founder of Modest Money. He's a father of 2 beautiful girls, a dog owner, a long-time online entrepreneur and an investing enthusiast.

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