The 2026 iCapital Global Advisor Survey reveals a surge in advisers expanding alternative allocations despite subdued economic confidence, signalling a shift towards integrating these assets into core portfolios and facing operational challenges.
Financial advisers are becoming more willing to add to alternative investments, even as their confidence in the wider economy has cooled, according to iCapital’s 2026 Global Advisor Survey.
The survey found that 39% of advisers expect to raise their alternatives exposure in 2026, nearly triple the 14% who said the same for 2025. In all, 89% said they intend either to maintain or expand allocations. That marks a notable shift in sentiment at a time when economic optimism has softened: 61% of respondents said they hold a positive view of the next 12 months, down from 74% in the previous year’s survey.
The pattern suggests advisers are treating alternatives less as a tactical response to market conditions and more as a permanent feature of portfolio design. iCapital said respondents pointed to stronger diversification, better risk-adjusted returns, lower correlation with listed markets and rising client appetite for differentiated income and growth as reasons for increasing exposure.
Client demand has remained resilient. iCapital said 84% of advisers reported that interest from clients had either increased or stayed unchanged over the past two years, although the proportion saying it had risen fell to 39% from 51% a year earlier. That points to continued engagement with the asset class, but perhaps with a less rapid acceleration in enthusiasm than before.
The bigger challenge, according to the report, is now less about persuasion and more about implementation. Fifty-nine per cent of advisers identified liquidity and risk-assessment issues as major obstacles, while 53% cited compliance and regulatory concerns, both higher than in the prior year. iCapital said this reflects a market in which the central debate is moving from whether alternatives belong in client portfolios to how advisers can deliver them consistently and operationally.
The survey covered 870 respondents in 15 countries, compared with 603 respondents across nine countries in 2025, giving the latest findings a broader international base. The expansion in scope also comes against a backdrop of wider industry confidence in alternatives. Mercer and CAIS said in a separate 2026 survey that 88% of advisers plan to increase allocations to alternatives over the next two years, while Natixis Investment Managers reported that U.S. advisers have seen average assets under management growth of 12.5% over the past year and expect that expansion to continue despite market volatility and geopolitical uncertainty.
iCapital has also been pushing deeper into the operational side of the market. AltsWire reported in May that the firm had partnered with Anthropic to integrate Claude AI models across its alternatives platform, with early uses focused on adviser workflows, client tools and engagement with product providers.
Taken together, the findings suggest alternatives are moving further into the mainstream of wealth management, even as the macroeconomic backdrop becomes less reassuring.
- https://altswire.com/icapital-advisers-grow-bullish-on-alternatives-even-as-economic-outlook-cools/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://icapital.com/global-advisor-survey/ – iCapital’s 2025 Global Advisor Survey reveals that 96% of advisors plan to maintain or increase their allocation to alternatives, highlighting the growing importance of alternative investments in portfolio diversification. ([icapital.com](https://icapital.com/global-advisor-survey/?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.mercer.com/en-us/insights/investments/financial-intermediaries/the-state-of-alternative-investments-in-wealth-management-2026/ – The 2026 CAIS and Mercer Alternative Investment Survey indicates that 88% of advisors plan to increase allocations to alternatives over the next two years, reflecting a strong commitment to diversifying client portfolios. ([mercer.com](https://www.mercer.com/en-us/insights/investments/financial-intermediaries/the-state-of-alternative-investments-in-wealth-management-2026/?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.im.natixis.com/en-us/about/newsroom/press-releases/2026/us-advisors-see-growth-outlook-holding-firm – A Natixis Investment Managers survey reveals that U.S. advisors report average AUM growth of 12.5% over the past year and expect continued growth, even amid market volatility and geopolitical uncertainty. ([im.natixis.com](https://www.im.natixis.com/en-us/about/newsroom/press-releases/2026/us-advisors-see-growth-outlook-holding-firm?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.icapital.es/sala_de_prensa/informe-de-tendencias-2026/ – iCapital’s 2026 Trends Report highlights a solid global growth outlook, contained inflation, and low short-term interest rates, with a focus on selective allocation strategies in the Eurozone and emerging markets. ([icapital.es](https://www.icapital.es/sala_de_prensa/informe-de-tendencias-2026/?utm_source=openai))
- https://icapital.com/insights/investment-market-strategy/alternatives-decoded-june-2026/ – iCapital’s ‘Alternatives Decoded – June 2026’ report discusses trends in private wealth clients shifting allocations towards private equity, infrastructure, and hedge funds, with evergreen funds representing 43% of platform assets. ([icapital.com](https://icapital.com/insights/investment-market-strategy/alternatives-decoded-june-2026/?utm_source=openai))
- https://icapital.com/insights/practice-management/u-s-advisor-survey-2025-navigating-the-shift-from-differentiation-to-integration-in-alternatives/ – The 2025 iCapital U.S. Advisor Survey explores the shift from differentiation to integration in alternatives, highlighting the evolving role of alternative investments in financial advisors’ portfolios. ([icapital.com](https://icapital.com/insights/practice-management/u-s-advisor-survey-2025-navigating-the-shift-from-differentiation-to-integration-in-alternatives/?utm_source=openai))
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article references iCapital’s 2026 Global Advisor Survey, which is recent and relevant. However, the AltsWire article itself was published on August 11, 2026, which is within the past 7 days, indicating freshness. The article also references a previous report from May 2026, suggesting that the content is not entirely new. Additionally, the article includes a link to the iCapital website, which may provide more up-to-date information.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from the iCapital survey, but these quotes cannot be independently verified through the provided sources. The AltsWire article does not provide direct links to the original survey data, making it difficult to confirm the accuracy of the quotes. Without access to the original survey, the quotes cannot be independently verified.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
AltsWire is a niche publication focused on alternative investments. While it may be reputable within its niche, it is not a major news organisation, which raises concerns about the independence and reliability of the source. The article does not provide direct links to the original iCapital survey data, making it difficult to assess the accuracy of the information presented.
Plausibility check
Score:
7
Notes:
The claims about increased allocations to alternative investments align with industry trends. However, the lack of direct links to the original iCapital survey data makes it difficult to verify the accuracy of the specific figures presented. The article also references a previous report from May 2026, suggesting that the content is not entirely new.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): REVIEW
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article presents information from iCapital’s 2026 Global Advisor Survey, but the lack of direct links to the original survey data raises concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the information presented. The AltsWire article itself was published on August 11, 2026, which is within the past 7 days, indicating freshness. However, the reliance on a niche publication and the inability to independently verify the quotes and data suggest that further editorial review is necessary before publishing.