Pershing has launched its Alternative Investment Center, the latest addition to an expanding suite of alternative investment solutions, at its INSITE 2014 conference in Hollywood, Florida.
Pershing's Alternative Investment Center, which can be accessed through NetX360, the firm's technology platform, provides advisors access to the educational resources, research and tools required to provide solutions for their clients seeking alternative investment strategies.
Pershing has also added new alternative investment asset classess to FundVest 200, the firm's research-driven list of no-transaction fee mutual funds, including domestic and international real estate, credit/event-driven, managed futures, absolute return and multi-strategy funds.
Investor appetite for alternative investments as a way to diversify holdings and create durable income continues to grow. A recent industry survey indicated that 72 per cent of investors would consider alternative investments if their advisors recommended them and 85 per cent of respondents said they would invest in alternatives if they understood them. Not surprisingly, advisors face significant challenges educating clients on alternative investments, integrating them into existing portfolios, finding appropriate investments at the right cost, and managing liquid and illiquid positions.
"Education remains one of the toughest obstacles when it comes to alternative investments," says Sandra Bolton, managing director, financial solutions at Pershing. "Our Alternative Investment Center will address the most pressing issues by helping advisors not only understand the available products, but also by providing information on the vast array of alternative investments available through Pershing and thought leadership from leading investment management experts."
Advisors are now able to access the Alternative Investment Center's research from companies such as Morningstar and Blue Vault Partners, as well as comparison and screening tools, real-time market announcements and whitepapers and commentary from leading alternative investment providers. The ability to access these resources in one centralised location streamlines the process of evaluating multiple alternative investment strategies, ultimately benefiting the end investor. Alternatives may provide greater portfolio diversification, and the timely and secure reporting, access to no-fee trading options and enhanced overall investment experience supports the growth of an advisor's business.
"In an increasingly complex investment environment advisors need access to quality resources in order to focus on investor needs as they grow their business, especially as their business model shifts toward advisory," says Bolton. "The Alternative Investment Center will provide advisors with the array of alternative investment strategies available to their clients through Pershing's platform."
Through the Alternative Investment Center, Pershing currently makes available investment details on more than 2,300 alternative investment products for advisors to choose from, including over 280 investments on the Alternative Investment Network, and the growing no-fee platform, as well as access to liquid mutual fund alternative investments through FundVest.
