Scott Thomas

More than 90% of survey respondents currently allocate client capital to private markets, with essentially all of them (99%) planning to allocate some portion of client portfolios to the asset class this year, according to a recent independent survey conducted by leading global private markets investment management firm Hamilton Lane (Nasdaq: HLNE).

Uptake continues

With more than half of advisors (52%) reporting that they plan to allocate 10%+ of clients’ portfolios to private markets, the survey affirmed the broader industry trend of strong, growing interest in the private markets among non-institutional investors.​

Seventy percent of advisors plan to increase clients’ allocation to the asset class compared to 2023.​

Advisors cited performance and diversification as the top reasons for the spike in interest in the private markets.

Knowledge gap

​In terms of their own knowledge of the private markets, 97% of advisors report either advanced (55%) or intermediate (42%) understanding. While advisors are knowledgeable, their clients may not be.

The survey found that advisors acknowledge that their clients believe alternatives may provide portfolio benefits but may not be educated enough on the asset class.​

For example, 50% of advisors rate their clients’ knowledge about private markets investments as beginner or having little to no knowledge of the asset class – requiring basic education, despite their strong interest in the asset class. Only 4% of advisors rated their clients’ knowledge about private markets as advanced, or well versed in the asset class and confident in talking about private market details, trends and products. In other words, there is an opportunity to increase end investors’ private markets knowledge.

“The punchline from this survey was an affirmation that as interest in private markets grows, there is a clear need for more education,” said Steve Brennan, Head of Private Wealth Solutions at Hamilton Lane. “We’ve found that a foundational understanding of the asset class affirms initial interest from new investors and contributes to a sustained investing appetite for those who are already allocated. We anticipate that, as private wealth investors become more knowledgeable about and familiar with the asset class, private markets allocations will likely also increase.”

When asked what private markets tools and information advisors would find helpful in their practice, advisors cited education, thought leadership and events as the top three ways to improve their clients’ knowledge of the asset class.

“Our survey shows that giving private wealth clients more opportunities to learn about private markets investing can help both advisors and clients achieve their goals,” said Scott Thomas, Hamilton Lane’s Head of Private Wealth, Australia.

“Resources like Hamilton Lane’s Knowledge Center, Chart of the Week and our ongoing podcast series, Private Markets Made Human, were created to help advisors and clients develop private markets acumen to further their unique investment objectives.”

Read the report.

Survey methodology ​

The online survey was conducted from November 27 – December 22, 2023. The 232 global respondents included private wealth firms, RIAs, family offices, and other advisor professionals from the U.S., Canada, LatAm, EMEA and APAC.

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