Alternative Investments Articles
An Individual Investor’s Intro to Stablecoins
June 2026 by Charles Rotblut, Laura Shin
Initially used for cryptocurrency trading, stablecoins are becoming an alternative for payment systems that could eventually supplant credit cards.
June 2026 by Charles Rotblut, Laura Shin
Initially used for cryptocurrency trading, stablecoins are becoming an alternative for payment systems that could eventually supplant credit cards.
Digital Assets Are Moving Into Mainstream Finance
June 2026 by Charles Rotblut
As the financial system evolves, you need to have the proper knowledge to make the best decisions for your portfolio.
June 2026 by Charles Rotblut
As the financial system evolves, you need to have the proper knowledge to make the best decisions for your portfolio.
Navigating the Rise of Prediction Markets
May 2026 by Tudor Pop, Sam Levine
Participating in prediction markets should be regarded as speculative due to their binary outcomes, novel nature, evolving regulation, relatively high costs and low liquidity.
May 2026 by Tudor Pop, Sam Levine
Participating in prediction markets should be regarded as speculative due to their binary outcomes, novel nature, evolving regulation, relatively high costs and low liquidity.
The Prediction Markets Are Too Big to Ignore
May 2026 by Charles Rotblut
Given the size and projected growth of prediction market platforms, it is important to understand what they are and how they operate.
May 2026 by Charles Rotblut
Given the size and projected growth of prediction market platforms, it is important to understand what they are and how they operate.
Bitcoin and Beyond: Your Options for Investing in Crypto
January 2026 by Steven Ehrlich
The world of cryptocurrency continues to evolve as it garners mainstream acceptance from governments, traditional financial institutions and investors.
January 2026 by Steven Ehrlich
The world of cryptocurrency continues to evolve as it garners mainstream acceptance from governments, traditional financial institutions and investors.
Decentralization: What It Is and Why It Matters in Crypto
January 2026 by Jenna Brashear
Join the conversation in AAII Community and share your thoughts on decentralization in digital assets and beyond.
January 2026 by Jenna Brashear
Join the conversation in AAII Community and share your thoughts on decentralization in digital assets and beyond.
Investing Off the Beaten Path
September 2025 by Jenna Brashear
Join the new Cryptocurrency & Alternative Assets Community to chat with other investors who have explored these types of investments.
September 2025 by Jenna Brashear
Join the new Cryptocurrency & Alternative Assets Community to chat with other investors who have explored these types of investments.
Are You Fully Covered? Not If Your Portfolio Is Wearing Buffer ETFs and Mutual Funds
June 2025 by Cynthia McLaughlin
These nontraditional equity funds use options contracts to offer downside protection, but potential gains are limited.
June 2025 by Cynthia McLaughlin
These nontraditional equity funds use options contracts to offer downside protection, but potential gains are limited.
Should You Consider a Weighting in Gold?
November 2024 by Thomas Winmill, Cynthia McLaughlin
Ideally, a gold allocation should change based on where gold equities are in the valuation cycle.
November 2024 by Thomas Winmill, Cynthia McLaughlin
Ideally, a gold allocation should change based on where gold equities are in the valuation cycle.
The Pros and Cons of Investing in BDCs to Access Private Equity
November 2023 by John Deysher
Business development companies offer the opportunity to invest in some attractive areas; however, there are significant risks.
November 2023 by John Deysher
Business development companies offer the opportunity to invest in some attractive areas; however, there are significant risks.
A Look at Five Leading Alternative Investment Platforms
March 2023 by Charles Rotblut, Sean Murphy, Eunice Kim, Pratham Shah, Grace Malone
A new set of investing platforms has emerged to expand individual investors’ access to asset types such as cryptocurrency, private debt, private real estate and fine art.
March 2023 by Charles Rotblut, Sean Murphy, Eunice Kim, Pratham Shah, Grace Malone
A new set of investing platforms has emerged to expand individual investors’ access to asset types such as cryptocurrency, private debt, private real estate and fine art.
Collectors Seek Lottery-Like Returns in NFTs
December 2022 by Jack Gilleland
The allure of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for many is the hope of a profitable investment, but a study found signs of the lottery effect at play.
December 2022 by Jack Gilleland
The allure of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for many is the hope of a profitable investment, but a study found signs of the lottery effect at play.
Key Ingredients of a Blue-Chip REIT
November 2022 by Brad Thomas
High-quality REITs can deliver consistent, rising growth in funds from operations, dividends and asset value over reasonably long periods of time.
November 2022 by Brad Thomas
High-quality REITs can deliver consistent, rising growth in funds from operations, dividends and asset value over reasonably long periods of time.
A New Home for Options Strategists
August 2022 by Jenna Brashear
If options investing is your cup of tea, check out the discussion threads in our brand-new Options Investing Strategies Community.
August 2022 by Jenna Brashear
If options investing is your cup of tea, check out the discussion threads in our brand-new Options Investing Strategies Community.
How to Buy, Sell and Store Cryptocurrency
August 2022 by Steven Ehrlich
A guide to the decision-making process when choosing a provider for trading cryptocurrency.
August 2022 by Steven Ehrlich
A guide to the decision-making process when choosing a provider for trading cryptocurrency.
Online Exclusive: How to Gain Access to Private Equity
January 2022 by Matthew Bajkowski
Although there are some methods for individual investors to gain access to private equity, these are either in the form of diluted exposure in open-end mutual funds or exchange-traded closed-end funds that are a very small part of the retail investment market.
January 2022 by Matthew Bajkowski
Although there are some methods for individual investors to gain access to private equity, these are either in the form of diluted exposure in open-end mutual funds or exchange-traded closed-end funds that are a very small part of the retail investment market.
Online Exclusive: What Is Cryptocurrency?
July 2021 by Matthew Bajkowski
Cryptocurrencies are exciting and the interest in them is not abating. However, what’s important to the individual investor is understanding the basics of the technology.
July 2021 by Matthew Bajkowski
Cryptocurrencies are exciting and the interest in them is not abating. However, what’s important to the individual investor is understanding the basics of the technology.
The Options for Investing in Cryptocurrency
July 2021 by Steven Ehrlich
The novel properties and unique intrinsic values of bitcoin and other digital assets are arguments for their inclusion within a modern diversified portfolio.
July 2021 by Steven Ehrlich
The novel properties and unique intrinsic values of bitcoin and other digital assets are arguments for their inclusion within a modern diversified portfolio.
Gold Price Neither Predicts Inflation Nor Protects Against It
January 2021 by Matthew Bajkowski
Over the past 45 years, real gold prices have risen when fears about high future inflation have been heightened, a study found. However, once gold prices peaked, returns were negative.
January 2021 by Matthew Bajkowski
Over the past 45 years, real gold prices have risen when fears about high future inflation have been heightened, a study found. However, once gold prices peaked, returns were negative.
Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) Explained
October 2020 by Derek J. Hageman
With a SPAC, an investment firm raises cash from public investors with the goal of acquiring a private company to bring it public.
October 2020 by Derek J. Hageman
With a SPAC, an investment firm raises cash from public investors with the goal of acquiring a private company to bring it public.
Mintage or Vintage: Coining Alternative Assets
February 2020 by Matthew Bajkowski
Collectable coins may offer benefits to a diversified portfolio as an alternative asset, according to a study,
February 2020 by Matthew Bajkowski
Collectable coins may offer benefits to a diversified portfolio as an alternative asset, according to a study,
Bitcoin, Blockchain and Initial Coin Offerings
April 2018 by Charles Rotblut
A primer on what cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology and ICOs are.
April 2018 by Charles Rotblut
A primer on what cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology and ICOs are.
Cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin: What Are They?
March 2018 by Robert Baran
An introduction to cryptocurrencies and how they work.
March 2018 by Robert Baran
An introduction to cryptocurrencies and how they work.
Beware of SAFE Offerings From Crowdfunded Companies
July 2017 by Lori J. Schock
Simple agreements for future equity may sound enticing, but they are not an actual equity stake in the company.
July 2017 by Lori J. Schock
Simple agreements for future equity may sound enticing, but they are not an actual equity stake in the company.
Gold Mines Aren't Perfect Substitutes for Gold
September 2015 by
A new study used exchange-traded funds to determine the diversification benefits of holding gold- mining stocks instead of gold.
September 2015 by
A new study used exchange-traded funds to determine the diversification benefits of holding gold- mining stocks instead of gold.
Crowdfund Investing: An Exciting Alternative for Individual Investors
April 2014 by Louis C. Gerken, Thomas C. Gray
The keys to analyzing crowdfunded platforms and investments.
April 2014 by Louis C. Gerken, Thomas C. Gray
The keys to analyzing crowdfunded platforms and investments.
The Alternative Portfolio: Diversifying Away From a Traditional Allocation
June 2012 by Charles Rotblut
This portfolio has different return characteristics than a portfolio of large-cap stocks and long-term Treasurys but was capable of beating inflation.
June 2012 by Charles Rotblut
This portfolio has different return characteristics than a portfolio of large-cap stocks and long-term Treasurys but was capable of beating inflation.
Be Wary of Crowd Funding Start-Ups
May 2012 by
Later this year, or early next year, you will have the chance to buy shares in privately held companies through a process known as crowd funding. If an offering seems interesting, tread carefully, do as much research as you can and only commit money you can afford to lose.
May 2012 by
Later this year, or early next year, you will have the chance to buy shares in privately held companies through a process known as crowd funding. If an offering seems interesting, tread carefully, do as much research as you can and only commit money you can afford to lose.
Using Currencies to Diversify Your Portfolio
April 2012 by Axel Merk
Investing in currencies can reduce the overall risk profile of your portfolio, as currencies have different and less volatile returns than stocks and bonds.
April 2012 by Axel Merk
Investing in currencies can reduce the overall risk profile of your portfolio, as currencies have different and less volatile returns than stocks and bonds.
Adding Alternative Investments to a Stock/Bond Portfolio
July 2011 by Charles Rotblut, Phil DeMuth
The risks of a traditional 60% stocks/40% bonds portfolio can be lowered by adding funds that invest in real estate, commodities and hedge-fund strategies.
July 2011 by Charles Rotblut, Phil DeMuth
The risks of a traditional 60% stocks/40% bonds portfolio can be lowered by adding funds that invest in real estate, commodities and hedge-fund strategies.
Gold's Investment Attributes
September 2010 by Charles Rotblut, Thomas Winmill
Thomas Winmill, manager of the Midas Fund, explains why gold provides protection against depreciating currencies and how to allocate your portfolio to the precious metal.
September 2010 by Charles Rotblut, Thomas Winmill
Thomas Winmill, manager of the Midas Fund, explains why gold provides protection against depreciating currencies and how to allocate your portfolio to the precious metal.
Investing in Gold
March 2010 by Charles Rotblut
There are several choices for investors who want to add an allocation to gold to their portfolios. What you need to know about the various options.
March 2010 by Charles Rotblut
There are several choices for investors who want to add an allocation to gold to their portfolios. What you need to know about the various options.
Offbeat Offerings: Investing in Gold
February 2008 by Cara Scatizzi
An investor reference for products that are not your typical offering. This issue's focus is on gold investing.
February 2008 by Cara Scatizzi
An investor reference for products that are not your typical offering. This issue's focus is on gold investing.