Independent, plain-English guides to how alternative investments work — written for the people who invest in them, advise on them, and run the industry behind them. No product pitches; every guide cites its primary sources.
Start here: Alternative Investments: An Overview · Alternative Asset Class Guides · Guides for Industry Professionals
Asset Class Guides
For investors, advisers, and allocators.
- Private Markets & Getting Started
- Private Equity
- Private Credit
- Private Credit: How Fund-Based Lending Works — The complete guide
- Loan Covenants and Covenant-Lite Lending · Direct Lending: Private Credit’s Core Strategy · First Lien vs. Second Lien Debt, Explained · How to Invest in Private Credit · Mezzanine Debt: The Junior Layer, Explained · Private Credit Funds: Structures Compared · Private Credit Risks · Unitranche Loans: One Facility, Blended Risk · Private Credit vs. Bank Lending · Private Credit vs. High Yield Bonds
- Real Estate Syndication
- 1031 Exchanges & Delaware Statutory Trusts
- 1031 Exchange Rules: A Complete Guide — The complete guide
- Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs): A Complete Guide — The complete guide
- The 721 Exchange (UPREIT), Explained · DST 1031 Exchanges: How They Work · 1031 Identification Rules, Explained · 1031 Exchanges and Primary Residences · Qualified Intermediaries in a 1031 Exchange · Reverse 1031 Exchanges: How They Work · The 1031 Exchange Timeline: 45 and 180 Days · UPREITs: The Operating Partnership Structure · DST Fees and Risks: What to Weigh · Evaluating a DST Investment: What to Examine · DST Tax Treatment · DST vs. Direct Property Ownership
- Non-Traded REITs
- Business Development Companies
- Interval, Tender Offer & Evergreen Funds
- Infrastructure & Real Assets
- Opportunity Zones
- Qualified Opportunity Zones — The complete guide
- Opportunity Zone Funds
For Industry Professionals
For fund administrators, transfer agents, law firms, custodians, due diligence providers, and sponsor operations teams.
- Fund Administration
- Fund Administration for Alternative Investments — The complete guide
- Capital Calls: How They Work · How to Choose a Fund Administrator · Distribution Waterfalls, Explained · Fund Administration vs. Self-Administration · Fund Expense Allocation: Who Pays for What · NAV Calculation for Private Funds · Private Equity Fund Accounting, Explained · Private Fund Administration: What’s Different · Private Fund Audits: How to Prepare · What Does a Fund Administrator Do?
- Transfer Agency & Investor Services
- Transfer Agency for Alternative Investments — The complete guide
- Accredited Investor Verification Under 506(c) · Distribution and DRIP Processing · Investor Onboarding in Private Funds · Investor Reporting for Private Funds · Transfer Restrictions on Private Securities · Subscription Document Processing
- Private Placement Compliance
- Private Placement Compliance: A Guide — The complete guide
- Rule 506(b) vs. 506(c), Compared · AML and KYC for Private Funds · Blue Sky Filings for Private Offerings · FINRA Rule 2310 and DPP Offerings · Form D Filing: What, When, and How · Offering Escrow Requirements · Regulation D Offerings, Explained · Broker-Dealer Selling Agreements · Subscription Agreements, Explained
- Due Diligence
- Tax & Reporting
Looking for a definition? The SQX Alts Glossary covers 190+ alternative investment terms.
Looking for a provider? The SQX Alts Directory lists firms across the alternatives industry.
