High Net Worth Women Are Embracing Alternatives More Than Men - US Survey

Stephen Little

19 August 2014

Despite the conservative reputation of female investors, the number of high net worth women investing in non-traditional and alternative assets is greater than men, according to a new survey of high net worth investors by , a subsidiary of New York Life Insurance.

The study revealed that women have a higher allocation to non-traditional investments (27 per cent) in their portfolios than men (20 per cent).

The study, conducted online from October 24 to November 11 last year, questioned 806 HNW investors about their interest and knowledge of alternative investments.

“This research suggests that high net worth women should be approached as goal-oriented, savvy investors with a long-term and growing interest in alternative investments,” said Matthew Leung, head of channel marketing strategies at MainStay Investments.

More than half of the women questioned (55 per cent) said that over the past year they had increased their allocations to alternative investments, while more than a quarter (27 per cent) of women said that they planned to add to their allocation within the next five years.

Additionally, more women (60 per cent) than men (47 per cent) see alternatives as a mainstream option and expect alternatives to become a core investment holding in their portfolios over the next five to ten years.

The survey also found that over two-thirds of women (68 per cent) believe that alternative investments may offer the best opportunity to diversify and meet their long-term objectives.

“There’s clearly a growing eagerness among high net worth women to explore the role of alternative investments in their portfolios, which translates into an opportunity for MainStay and the financial advisors we partner with,” said Leung.