Alternative Assets

Alternative Assets

Highly valuable assets that are not usually found in a portfolio. Examples include rare coins and stamps, artwork, a Babe Ruth rookie card, and so forth. Alternative assets are usually less liquid than other assets because they are more difficult to sell and are often highly expensive. However, one may add alternative assets to a portfolio because they tend to maintain their values when the rest of the market is performing poorly. An alternative asset may aid in portfolio diversification. Some banks charge an additional fee to store alternative assets because of their sensitive nature. See also: Christie's.