“Alternative” is a catch-all phrase used by financial advisors to mean virtually any type of investment that is not cash, fixed income, or public equities. It includes investment options as diverse as providing a loan to help someone start a business to purchasing rental property to putting your money in bitcoin. The possibilities within the category of alternatives are almost endless, and their risk/return profiles are all over the map.

Why consider alternatives? This article from the Aspen Fund gives six reasons why to put money into more than just cash,
stocks, and bonds.