The opportunity everyone is pitching may be the one no one has checked
Successful founders and executives see a steady flow of private deals: a friend’s new venture, a real estate fund, a private credit offering. Large firms will gladly manage your investments on their own platform, but they rarely evaluate an opportunity they don’t distribute.
And when a firm does offer a private placement, it may be acting as the sponsor’s distribution arm. That arrangement is common, but the fees behind it aren’t always easy to find.
So the question isn’t only whether an opportunity looks attractive. It’s who has looked at it on your behalf, and whether it belongs next to everything else you own.
What it costs you
- Deals no one independently checksBig-box firms rarely evaluate opportunities they don’t distribute.
- Fees buried in the fine printDistribution arrangements between firms and fund sponsors aren’t always easy to find.
- Illiquidity you didn’t plan forPrivate investments can lock up capital for years.
- A deal that doesn’t fit the rest of your portfolioA good opportunity can still be the wrong one for your plan.
Three ways we help with alternatives
Alternative investments at Different Investments™ means independent research on opportunities outside traditional stocks and bonds, and judgment about whether they fit your plan.
Evaluate an opportunity you bring us
Found a “one-off” deal? We research the investment, the firm behind it, its thesis and its risk and return parameters, then give you a written response.
Billed hourlyAlternatives inside your managed portfolio
Liquid alternative strategies alongside traditional asset classes to help manage volatility across your portfolio.
Part of Investment ManagementPrivate markets access
For accredited investors who want private equity, private debt, real estate, hedge fund or energy exposure, researched before it’s presented.
Accredited investors onlyWhat we evaluate
Private equity
Ownership stakes in private businesses and new ventures, evaluated before you invest.
Private debt
Lending to private companies, including convertible structures, when equity isn’t the right fit.
Hedge funds
Complex strategies with broader rules than mutual funds or ETFs, and risks to match.
Real estate
Commercial and residential projects, judged on cash flow, costs and timing.
Energy
A volatile sector where reputable partners and current technology matter.
Liquid alternatives
Managed futures, long/short and other public strategies that can sit inside a managed portfolio.
Alternatives aren’t right for everyone
Alternative investments can carry risks that traditional investments don’t, including:
- Limited liquidity, sometimes for many years
- Complex strategies and less transparency
- Higher fees and expenses
- Eligibility limits: many private offerings are open only to accredited investors
How an independent evaluation works
Tell us about the opportunity
Share the offering documents and what drew you to it.
Independent research
We research the investment itself, the firm providing it, the investment thesis and the opportunity’s risk and return parameters.
Written response
You receive our findings in writing, including how the opportunity would fit the rest of your portfolio. Then we walk you through it.
Questions before you decide
Who qualifies as an accredited investor?
Under SEC rules, individuals generally qualify with income over $200,000 ($300,000 with a spouse or partner) in each of the last two years, a net worth over $1 million excluding their primary residence, or certain professional licenses such as the Series 65. We’ll confirm your status before discussing any private offering.
How illiquid are these investments?
It varies widely. Liquid alternatives trade daily like other public funds; private equity and private debt can tie up capital for years. We’ll show you the terms and how they fit your timeline before you decide.
How are evaluations priced?
Independent evaluations are billed at an hourly rate. The time involved depends on the opportunity: we research the investment, the firm providing it, the investment thesis and its risk and return parameters before providing a written response.
Will you tell me not to invest?
Yes, if that’s what the analysis shows. The purpose of an independent evaluation is to help you decide, not to sell you the deal.
Bring us the deal you’re weighing
In a complimentary 90-minute Discovery Meeting, we’ll talk through the opportunity, how it fits the rest of your portfolio, and whether an independent evaluation makes sense. It’s a fit check that runs both ways, with no obligation.