Tired of your portfolio declining every time the market faces volatility?
J.P. Morgan’s data shows billionaire families put 45% of their wealth into alternative investments—not stocks.
Yet, while Wall Street keeps pushing expensive stocks, the historical data tells a different story.
As legendary investor Howard Marks noted in a recent memo, when the S&P 500’s forward P/E ratio reached 23x at the end of 2024, J.P. Morgan’s historical data showed something alarming: “if you bought the S&P 500 index at 23 times the coming year’s earnings per share… your average annual return over the subsequent ten years was between plus 2% and minus 2% every time.”
That’s exactly why wealthy families have quietly moved their money elsewhere—building cash flow that pays whether stocks go up or down.
Until recently, you needed millions to access what wealthy families use. But technology broke down the barriers.
Here are the three platforms we found most interesting:
1. Rental Income Potential Without Direct Ownership
Real estate represents 14% of wealthy family portfolios according to J.P. Morgan. The difference? At their scale, they have professional management teams handling tenant calls and repairs while they can just collect monthly income.
The challenge for regular investors? Accessing that same professional management without needing millions in capital.
Arrived solves this by pooling investments and providing the scale benefits wealthy families enjoy. Backed by Bezos Expeditions (the personal investment fund of Jeff Bezos), investors can buy $100 shares in single-family rental homes and vacation rentals across the U.S.
Arrived screens over 100,000 properties annually but selects fewer than 0.2% that meet their criteria. When you sign up for the platform, you’re essentially getting an insider look at which markets and neighborhoods their research team believes are positioned for growth.
Professional managers handle all tenant relations and maintenance—you can then collect monthly rental income and benefit from any property appreciation.
Over 846,000 investors have already joined the platform, which has deployed $304 million and paid out $17 million in dividends and interest.
Arrived was named to Investopedia’s shortlist of the best real estate investing platforms. In their words:
Arrived is best for investors seeking to invest in rental properties. Its minimum investment of just $100 and fractional ownership options make the platform significantly more accessible to the broader public.” — Investopedia
Preview current properties at Arrived.com with just your email – no long forms, no commitments. See what’s available and decide if any properties interest you.
2. Access Private Credit Deals
J.P. Morgan’s Global Family Office Report shows wealthy families allocate 4% of their portfolios to private credit within their 45% alternatives allocation.
Private credit involves lending directly to companies outside of traditional bank channels, typically offering higher interest rates than public bonds. These investments include asset-backed loans, equipment financing, and working capital secured by company assets or cash flows.
The platform that’s giving everyday investors access to private credit deals is Percent. Percent provides accredited investors with access to secured, short-duration loans to corporate borrowers.
Percent is for accredited investors only (individuals with $200,000+ annual income or $1M+ net worth excluding primary residence).
Thousands of accredited investors have trusted Percent since 2018, investing over $6 billion. Minimums start at $500 and you choose deals that match your target yield, risk, and term.
Browse current private credit deals at Percent.com – see yields, terms, and security details before making any commitment.
3. One Platform for Multiple Alternative Asset Classes
According to J.P. Morgan’s data, wealthy investors typically spread their 45% alternatives allocation across various uncorrelated assets, such as real estate, private credit, art, and specialty investments.
YieldStreet lets you build a diversified alternatives portfolio without opening multiple accounts. The platform offers access to asset classes like art, marine finance, legal funding, and real estate debt—investments that typically aren’t correlated with stock market movements.
Individual investments on YieldStreet require extensive due diligence and the ability to understand complex risks and lengthy legal documents. For investors who want exposure to alternative assets without that level of analysis, YieldStreet offers diversified funds like their Alternative Income Fund that spread investments across multiple asset classes and deals.
Over 500,000 members have invested more than $6 billion on the platform since 2015, with $3.3 billion returned to investors to date.
When you sign up, you gain access to opportunities across different risk profiles and time horizons, from 6 months to several years. Most investments are designed to provide regular distributions.
Browse current opportunities at YieldStreet.com to see both individual deals and diversified funds.
The Bottom Line
For decades, many alternative investments required millions in minimums and exclusive relationships. That barrier no longer exists.
Technology has opened doors that were previously locked. Whether you’re interested in rental real estate cash flow, diversified alternative income, or private credit yields, platforms now exist to participate with minimums starting as low as $10.
Ready to explore?
- Arrived.com – Rental real estate income starting at $100
- Percent.com – Private credit opportunities (accredited investors only)
- YieldStreet.com – Diversified alternative income across multiple asset classes
Remember that these investments carry risks and aren’t suitable for everyone. Consider how they fit within your overall financial strategy, and consult with a financial advisor if you need guidance on appropriate allocations for your situation.
Sources:
- https://privatebank.jpmorgan.com/nam/en/services/wealth-planning-and-advice/family-office-services/2024-global-family-office-report
- https://privatebank.jpmorgan.com/nam/en/insights/markets-and-investing/is-it-a-golden-era-for-gold
- https://www.oaktreecapital.com/insights/memo/the-calculus-of-value
Additional Disclosure: I am a paid partner of Arrived, YieldStreet, and Percent and may receive compensation for referrals. My views are my own and based on publicly available information, not personal investment experience. YieldStreet investments are speculative, involve substantial risk of loss, are typically illiquid with limited secondary markets and extended hold periods, and returns are not guaranteed. Investors may lose some or all of their investment, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Please carefully review YieldStreet’s Offering Circular and all investment documents before making any investment decision.
