Global investing on the rise among "mass" affluent and millionaires in U.S.. The affluent are looking abroad for investment gains, with 40% of affluent households either now investing internationally likely to do so in the near future, according to a new "Perspective" report by the Spectrem Group, entitled Meeting the Affluent Investors' Needs through International Investing.

Nearly one-third (31%) of the 507 affluent U.S. households polled by Spectrem, a Chicago-based market-research firm that specializes in the affluent and high-net-worth markets, say they are investing more internationally now than in the past.

More popular than alts

"Many affluent investors today are looking to add international investments to their portfolios, far exceeding the number who invest in hedge funds, venture capital or private placements," says Spectrem's managing director Catherine McBreen. "The affluent view international investing as an 'alternative' approach, and in many cases are seeking more than just mutual funds to satisfy their global investment ambitions. For financial advisors, this suggests a need to provide affluent clients with a sense for how to invest internationally as well as where the best opportunities might be found."

International investing is significantly more popular among the affluent than some other well-known alternative investments. Just 8% of affluent households -- those with more than $500,000 in investable assets -- have money in hedge funds. 14% invest in venture capital, 15% in private placements and 27% in real estate investment trusts.

In terms of geography, China, Europe, Japan and India emerged as the top four regions for international investing among well-to-do Americans. -FWR

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