“Family offices, as they’ve matured over the past two decades, are behaving more like institutional investors than ever before — seeking data-driven, operationally efficient ways to gain exposure to and track alternatives,” said Vince Calcagno, Ocorian’s head of U.S. growth, in a press release. Ocorian is a provider of trust, administration, and fiduciary services for companies, institutions, individuals, and funds.
“As the complexity of these investments increases, so too does the need for sophisticated solutions, especially outsourced [chief financial officers], that can offer the financial clarity and control families require. Whether it’s infrastructure, private credit, or real estate, the key is supporting families with the right technology and knowledge to evaluate performance, manage risk, and plan strategically across generations.”
Similar to sovereign wealth funds 15 years ago, global family offices are executing a pronounced strategic shift toward alternative asset classes, with infrastructure investments emerging as the primary beneficiary of this reallocation trend. Recent survey data from Ocorian reveals a systematic approach to portfolio diversification that prioritizes yield generation and inflation hedging capabilities. The analysis indicates that nearly two-thirds (64%) of family office investment managers anticipate increasing infrastructure allocations by 25-50% within a 24-month horizon. This positioning reflects infrastructure’s unique value proposition: predictable cash flows, inflation protection, and defensive characteristics that align with family offices’ long-term capital preservation mandates.
Diversified Alternative Asset Growth Strategy Family offices are implementing a multi-asset approach to alternative investments:
- Private Debt: 32% of Ocorian’s respondents target 25-50% allocation increases, with an additional 19% planning 50-75% expansion
- Real Estate: 22% expect moderate increases (25-50%), with 13% pursuing more aggressive growth (50-75%)
- Private Equity: 21% anticipate 25-50% allocation growth, with 10% targeting higher expansion rates
Strategic Rationale
Family office decision-makers cite four primary drivers for this alternative asset pivot:
- Portfolio Diversification: Reducing correlation with public market volatility
- Enhanced Transparency: Improved visibility into alternative asset performance metrics and risk profiles
- Income Generation: Accessing regular cash flow streams to meet family liquidity requirements
- Inflation Protection: Hedging against macroeconomic uncertainty through real assets
The unanimous commitment to alternative asset expansion—with zero respondents indicating static allocations across real estate, infrastructure, and private equity—signals a fundamental shift in family office investment philosophy. Family offices’ systematic approach to alternative asset allocation represents a structural evolution rather than cyclical adjustment.
