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2026 Report

The State of Alternative Investments in Wealth Management

Alternatives Show Continued Momentum Among Advisors 

Discover findings from the fourth annual CAIS and Mercer Alternative Investment Survey, where nearly 800 financial advisors shared their perspectives on allocating to alternative investments.  

Want to learn more about what’s behind the momentum in alternatives among financial advisors?

Download the report.

Download the Report

The State of Alternative Investments in Wealth Management

Now in its fourth year, our annual CAIS and Mercer Alternative Investment Survey serves as an industry benchmark, capturing advisor sentiment and behavior, along with the trends shaping alternative investing within the independent wealth ecosystem. 

What Advisors Shared With Us
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Alts Are Now a Common
Allocation

Nine in 10 advisors already allocate to alternatives, and 88% plan to increase those allocations over the next two years. This marks four straight years of consistent growth intent. 

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The 10% Threshold Is Becoming a Baseline

Roughly half of advisors now put more than 10% of portfolios in alternatives, a sign that alts are firmly part of diversified wealth strategies.

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Access Is Expanding Beyond Accredited Investors

Among advisors serving non-accredited clients, 80% already allocate to alts, evidence that alts adoption is expanding into new segments.

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Demand Continues for Evergreen Vehicles

82% of advisors use evergreen funds, either exclusively or alongside drawdown vehicles, favoring added flexibility and accessibility for clients.

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Technology Still a Growth Driver

Analytics, integrations, and digitization now top advisor priorities, marking a shift from “why alts” to how to scale them thoughtfully and efficiently.

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AI Tops Private Markets Investment Themes for 2026

Artificial intelligence (70%), tax-advantaged strategies (58%), and energy transition (36%) emerged as leading private markets themes advisors plan to introduce to clients.

How Access to Alternative Investments Potentially Helps Advisors’ Businesses

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Results are based on 789 responses. Respondents could select all that apply. 

For more information, read the press release from CAIS and Mercer.

Any questions? Connect with our survey team.

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