CONSHOHOCKEN, PA — Private wealth investors are preparing to push more money into private markets in 2026, signaling a growing appetite for alternatives as advisors seek stronger diversification and portfolio resilience beyond traditional stocks and bonds.
A new survey from Hamilton Lane, a global private markets firm, found that 86% of private wealth professionals plan to increase allocations to private market investments this year. The findings are based on responses from 390 advisors worldwide and point to a broad shift in how high-net-worth portfolios are being constructed.
Nearly all respondents said they already allocate between 1% and 20% of their book of business to private markets, with most expecting those allocations to rise in 2026. Current exposure is spread relatively evenly across strategies, including private equity, private real estate, private credit, venture capital and growth, and private infrastructure.
Performance and diversification ranked as the top drivers of client interest, according to the survey, as advisors look to balance portfolios amid economic uncertainty and uneven public market returns.
The survey also challenges long-held assumptions about risk. More than four out of five respondents said private markets offer a similar or more attractive risk-reward profile compared with public markets, suggesting growing confidence in alternative strategies as a core portfolio component rather than a niche allocation.
Venture capital and growth investing emerged as a standout area of interest for the year ahead. Nearly half of advisors said they plan to increase allocations to venture and growth strategies in 2026, making it the most favored category. More than half also said these strategies resonate most with new and highly engaged investors seeking exposure to innovative, high-growth companies not available in public markets.
Infrastructure investing also gained momentum, with 46% of respondents planning to boost allocations, closely trailing venture capital and growth.
Education remains a critical factor in expanding private market participation. The survey found that 81% of wealth professionals said client education significantly increases interest in private investments, particularly when addressing product-level knowledge gaps. Advisors reported that many clients begin their private market exposure with private equity or venture and growth strategies before expanding into other asset classes.
James Martin, head of global client solutions at Hamilton Lane, said the results point to a more sophisticated approach among advisors and investors as they evaluate diversification benefits and assess risk and return more carefully.
Beth Nardi, head of U.S. private wealth at Hamilton Lane, said the findings align with what the firm is seeing across its client base, describing a shift toward building portfolios designed to withstand a wider range of market conditions. She said venture and growth strategies are drawing attention as investors look for access to private companies driving innovation outside public markets.
Hamilton Lane’s Evergreen Platform currently serves thousands of advisors, offers 11 evergreen funds, and manages $15 billion in assets under management, calculated as of late 2025.
The survey was conducted online in partnership with Wakefield Research between October 23 and November 4, 2025. Respondents included private wealth firms, registered investment advisors, family offices, and other professionals across the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Hamilton Lane’s involvement was not disclosed to participants.
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