The Next Phase of Alternatives Growth
The 2026 Global Advisor Survey found that advisor demand, client interest, and alternatives exposure continue to grow. As growth accelerates and client needs become more sophisticated, advisors are increasingly focused on implementation, technology, visibility, and scale.
Advisor demand, client interest, and alternatives exposure continue to grow.
Alternatives continue to gain momentum across wealth management. In 2026, 89% of advisors plan to maintain or increase allocations, while 84% report client interest has increased or remained stable. As alternatives become more embedded in portfolios, firms are increasingly focused on how to implement, manage, and scale alternatives across advisors, clients, and portfolios.
The findings suggest the industry’s next challenge may be less about creating demand and more about supporting broader and more consistent adoption through technology, education, visibility, and operational support.
KEY FINDINGS
The Biggest Challenges Begin After Adoption
Many advisors have moved beyond the question of whether alternatives belong in portfolios and are increasingly focused on portfolio construction, risk assessment, compliance, reporting, and implementation. The industry’s biggest challenges increasingly emerge after the investment decision has been made.
Technology Is Becoming a Capability Enabler
Risk and performance analytics emerged as the leading technology priority as advisors seek to implement and manage alternatives more effectively. Technology is increasingly supporting implementation, oversight, and scale.
Visibility Is Becoming Essential
Risk analytics, reconciliation, reporting, and portfolio visibility are becoming increasingly important as firms expand alternatives across a broader set of clients and portfolios.
Education Is Evolving
Education remains foundational, but advisor interests are increasingly shifting toward technology-enabled implementation, advanced alternatives topics, and practical application across client portfolios.
What This Means for Wealth Management Firms
The next phase of growth may depend less on creating new demand and more on helping advisors deliver alternatives more broadly, consistently, and at scale.
As alternatives become a more established part of portfolio construction, advisor needs are extending beyond access and education to implementation, oversight, technology, visibility, and operational support. Firms that can help advisors navigate these growing demands may be best positioned to support the next phase of alternatives growth.
METHODOLOGY
About the Research
The 2026 Global Advisor Survey is iCapital’s second annual global study of advisor behavior and the evolving needs of wealth management firms.
The research was conducted during the first half of 2026 by an independent third-party research firm. The survey included 870 respondents across 15 countries spanning the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. Participants represented a range of wealth management channels and firm sizes and were actively engaged in alternative investing. This report provides an aggregate global view of advisor sentiment, adoption trends, and the evolving demands shaping the next phase of alternatives growth. Regional reports will follow.
Access the Full Research
Download the complete 2026 Global Advisor Survey for detailed findings, analysis, and insights from advisors across global wealth management markets.
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Survey Methodology
The 2026 Global Advisor Survey is iCapital’s second annual global study of advisor behavior and the evolving needs of wealth management firms. Building on our inaugural survey, this year’s research explores not only allocation trends and client demand, but also the operational, technology, and implementation challenges shaping the next phase of alternatives adoption.
The study was conducted during the first half of 2026 by an independent third-party research firm using telephone interviews with online follow-up. Respondents included financial professionals across wealth management channels—including private wealth firms, national and regional broker-dealers, independent broker-dealers, and RIAs—representing a range of firm sizes and actively engaged in alternative investing.
The survey included 870 respondents across 15 countries spanning the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. This report provides an aggregate global view of advisor sentiment and behavior. Regional reports will follow, offering deeper perspectives on market-specific trends and opportunities.
The 2025 iCapital Global Advisor Survey captured a global view of Advisor behavior while diving deeper into the operational and technology needs of firms. The survey was conducted in the first quarter of 2025 by a third-party research firm using telephone interviews with online follow-up. Respondents included financial professionals across channels—private wealth, national and regional broker-dealers, independent BDs, and RIAs—spanning a range of AUM levels of those actively engaged in alternative investing. The survey engaged 603 respondents across nine countries in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and APAC.
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ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS ARE CONSIDERED COMPLEX PRODUCTS AND MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL INVESTORS. Prospective investors should be aware that an investment in an alternative investment is speculative and involves a high degree of risk. Alternative Investments often engage in leveraging and other speculative investment practices that may increase the risk of investment loss; can be highly illiquid; may not be required to provide periodic pricing or valuation information to investors; may involve complex tax structures and delays in distributing important tax information; are not subject to the same regulatory requirements as mutual funds; and often charge high fees. There is no guarantee that an alternative investment will implement its investment strategy and/or achieve its objectives, generate profits, or avoid loss. An investment should only be considered by sophisticated investors who can afford to lose all or a substantial amount of their investment.
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