Non-Traditional Investment Strategies
Whitwell & Co. provides access to private market opportunities, including real estate, private equity, and alternative assets, that are typically reserved for institutional investors.
What Is Non-Traditional Investing?
Non-traditional investments include assets outside of publicly traded stocks and bonds. These can include private real estate, private equity, venture capital, private credit, and other alternative asset classes. They often offer different return profiles, lower correlation to public markets, and the potential for higher income.
Past Non-Traditional Investments
Our clients have participated in a range of non-traditional opportunities, from multifamily real estate developments to private credit funds and early-stage technology investments. Each opportunity is evaluated through a rigorous due diligence process before we present it to clients.
Want specifics? We have prepared a walk-through of representative non-traditional opportunities we have evaluated, from distressed real estate and collateralized lending to direct energy interests and early-stage venture, with what made each one interesting.
See specific examplesIs This Right for You?
Non-traditional investments are not suitable for everyone. They typically require longer holding periods and higher minimum investments. We help you determine whether these opportunities fit within your overall plan. Let's explore your options.
Who This Is For
- Accredited investors who want exposure to private markets beyond public stocks and bonds
- Investors comfortable trading liquidity for the return and diversification private assets can offer
- Clients who want each opportunity vetted through due diligence before it reaches them
- Those seeking lower correlation to public markets and additional income streams
- Investors who need liquidity, or may need the money in the near term
- Anyone uncomfortable with the illiquidity and complexity of private assets
- Those seeking guaranteed returns or fully liquid, publicly traded holdings
Risks, Costs, and What to Weigh
- Private investments are typically illiquid and often require longer holding periods than public markets.
- Minimums are usually higher, and access is generally limited to accredited or qualified investors.
- Every opportunity carries its own risks; we evaluate each through due diligence, but no diligence removes the risk of loss.
- These fit only when they belong inside your broader plan and liquidity picture, not as a standalone bet.
Private-Market Asset Classes at a Glance
Common private-market asset classes Whitwell & Co. helps accredited clients evaluate.
| Asset class | What it is | Primary role in a portfolio | Liquidity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private equity | Ownership stakes in established private companies | Long-term capital appreciation | Low, multi-year holds |
| Venture capital | Early-stage investments in young, high-growth companies | Higher-risk growth potential | Low, multi-year holds |
| Private credit | Direct or fund-based lending outside public bond markets | Income and lower correlation to public markets | Low, term-based |
| Private real estate | Direct or fund ownership of property, such as multifamily | Varies widely by fund and strategy, from income and diversification to growth-oriented, for example value-add or opportunistic | Low, multi-year holds |
Private investments are typically illiquid, carry the risk of loss, and fit only inside a broader plan.
Written by: Stefan Whitwell, CFA®, CIPM
Reviewed by: Rosemary Wright, CFP®
Last updated:
Sources (verified):
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Accredited Investor