Private Wealth Investors Increasingly Turn to Private Markets to Enhance Client Portfolios in 2026
In a significant shift within the investment landscape, the Hamilton Lane 2026 Global Private Wealth Survey reveals that private wealth investors are planning to significantly increase their allocations to private market investments this year. The findings, which compiled insights from 390 financial advisors across various regions including the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, underscore a strategic pivot towards optimizing client portfolios through diversified investments.
The survey results indicate a strong inclination among private wealth professionals to enhance their investments in private markets, with a staggering 86% expressing intentions to allocate more resources to this segment. At present, 97% of the surveyed professionals channel between 1-20% of their portfolios into private markets, and many anticipate further growth in these allocations as we progress through 2026. Specific allocations are distributed among various private market strategies; Private Equity leads at 19%, closely followed by Private Real Estate at 18%, and Private Credit at 16%. Notably, both Venture Capital Growth and Private Infrastructure strategies contribute equally at 16% and 15% respectively.
Advisors have pinpointed two principal motivations behind this increasing client interest: performance and diversification. The ability of private markets to offer significant returns and serve as a hedge against market volatility is drawing more attention and confidence from private wealth clients. Interestingly, the survey dispels the notion that private market investments inherently carry higher risks compared to traditional public market options. An impressive 83% of respondents reported that they perceive the risk-reward profile of private markets to be either comparable to or superior to public markets, thereby reinforcing investor confidence in these alternatives.
Among the diverse strategies available, Venture Capital Growth has emerged as a favored choice for 2026, with 47% of advisors indicating plans to increase their allocations to this category. The enthusiasm surrounding this strategy is particularly evident among new, engaged investors, with over half of the respondents highlighting Venture Capital Growth as resonating well with this demographic. This trend points to a broader interest in innovative, high-growth private companies, which are often harder to access through public markets.
The survey also emphasizes the importance of education in fostering client interest in private markets, with 81% of wealth professionals affirming that enhanced client education significantly boosts the likelihood of investing in these assets. This recognition suggests a critical need to address knowledge gaps, specifically at the product level, for potential investors. Common entry points into private markets generally begin with Private Equity and the burgeoning Venture Capital Growth sector, paving the way for clients to explore the wider landscape of alternatives available.
Additional insights reveal that 46% of advisors plan to direct increased allocations towards Infrastructure investments in 2026, following closely behind Venture Capital Growth. James Martin, Head of Global Client Solutions at Hamilton Lane, remarked that these findings highlight the evolving role that private markets are playing within wealth management portfolios today. He noted that investors are becoming more astute about assessing the intertwined risk/reward dynamics and recognizing the crucial relationship between education and interest in private market investments. This mirrors a larger trend where financial advisors and institutions are re-evaluating their strategies to build more resilient portfolios.
Beth Nardi, Head of U.S. Private Wealth at Hamilton Lane, added that the industry is witnessing a metaphoric shift among private wealth investors and their advisors; they are increasingly focusing on securing robust portfolios that can withstand market fluctuations. As Venture Capital Growth continues to distinguish itself as a favored avenue for wealth growth, it signals a larger transformation in how private investors are approaching their asset management strategies.
As Hamilton Lane’s Evergreen Platform continues to provide valuable resources to thousands of advisors, managing an impressive $15 billion in assets, the insights gained from this survey further affirm the importance of private market investments in modern wealth management. It is evident that as more wealth professionals begin to navigate these waters, investors will likely see an expanded focus on alternative investments that promise growth and stability in their portfolios. The full range of survey findings and the implications for future investment strategies can be explored further on Hamilton Lane’s platform.
Rise in Private Market Investments
The survey results indicate a strong inclination among private wealth professionals to enhance their investments in private markets, with a staggering 86% expressing intentions to allocate more resources to this segment. At present, 97% of the surveyed professionals channel between 1-20% of their portfolios into private markets, and many anticipate further growth in these allocations as we progress through 2026. Specific allocations are distributed among various private market strategies; Private Equity leads at 19%, closely followed by Private Real Estate at 18%, and Private Credit at 16%. Notably, both Venture Capital Growth and Private Infrastructure strategies contribute equally at 16% and 15% respectively.
Factors Driving Client Interest
Advisors have pinpointed two principal motivations behind this increasing client interest: performance and diversification. The ability of private markets to offer significant returns and serve as a hedge against market volatility is drawing more attention and confidence from private wealth clients. Interestingly, the survey dispels the notion that private market investments inherently carry higher risks compared to traditional public market options. An impressive 83% of respondents reported that they perceive the risk-reward profile of private markets to be either comparable to or superior to public markets, thereby reinforcing investor confidence in these alternatives.
Focusing on Venture Capital
Among the diverse strategies available, Venture Capital Growth has emerged as a favored choice for 2026, with 47% of advisors indicating plans to increase their allocations to this category. The enthusiasm surrounding this strategy is particularly evident among new, engaged investors, with over half of the respondents highlighting Venture Capital Growth as resonating well with this demographic. This trend points to a broader interest in innovative, high-growth private companies, which are often harder to access through public markets.
Educational Initiatives and Entry Points
The survey also emphasizes the importance of education in fostering client interest in private markets, with 81% of wealth professionals affirming that enhanced client education significantly boosts the likelihood of investing in these assets. This recognition suggests a critical need to address knowledge gaps, specifically at the product level, for potential investors. Common entry points into private markets generally begin with Private Equity and the burgeoning Venture Capital Growth sector, paving the way for clients to explore the wider landscape of alternatives available.
Looking Ahead
Additional insights reveal that 46% of advisors plan to direct increased allocations towards Infrastructure investments in 2026, following closely behind Venture Capital Growth. James Martin, Head of Global Client Solutions at Hamilton Lane, remarked that these findings highlight the evolving role that private markets are playing within wealth management portfolios today. He noted that investors are becoming more astute about assessing the intertwined risk/reward dynamics and recognizing the crucial relationship between education and interest in private market investments. This mirrors a larger trend where financial advisors and institutions are re-evaluating their strategies to build more resilient portfolios.
Beth Nardi, Head of U.S. Private Wealth at Hamilton Lane, added that the industry is witnessing a metaphoric shift among private wealth investors and their advisors; they are increasingly focusing on securing robust portfolios that can withstand market fluctuations. As Venture Capital Growth continues to distinguish itself as a favored avenue for wealth growth, it signals a larger transformation in how private investors are approaching their asset management strategies.
Conclusion
As Hamilton Lane’s Evergreen Platform continues to provide valuable resources to thousands of advisors, managing an impressive $15 billion in assets, the insights gained from this survey further affirm the importance of private market investments in modern wealth management. It is evident that as more wealth professionals begin to navigate these waters, investors will likely see an expanded focus on alternative investments that promise growth and stability in their portfolios. The full range of survey findings and the implications for future investment strategies can be explored further on Hamilton Lane’s platform.
Topics Financial Services & Investing）
【About Using Articles】
You can freely use the title and article content by linking to the page where the article is posted.
※ Images cannot be used.
【About Links】
Links are free to use.