Three-Quarters of Family Offices Plan to Increase Alternatives Exposure, Ocorian Study Finds

A new global study published on 29 June 2026 by Ocorian, a specialist provider of services to high-net-worth individuals and family offices, finds that three-quarters of family offices plan to increase their investment risk appetite over the next 12 months. Of those, 13 per cent anticipate a dramatic increase.

The survey, conducted by independent research firm PureProfile in February 2026, covered 200 family members and senior executives at family offices with combined wealth of $119.37 billion. Respondents were based across 16 countries and territories, including the UK, Switzerland, the United States, the UAE, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Mauritius and Bahrain.

The Pull of Alternatives

Private equity stands out as the asset class most likely to benefit. Every family office surveyed expects to increase its private equity allocation over the next two years, with two-thirds planning a 25 to 50 per cent boost over that period. Private capital more broadly attracted similar intent, with 96 per cent of respondents planning higher allocations. The figures for private debt (93 per cent), infrastructure (88 per cent) and real estate (86 per cent) follow a consistent pattern.

What is driving this? The most commonly cited factor is greater transparency around alternative asset classes. Around 61 per cent of respondents selected this as their primary reason for increased risk appetite. Falling interest rates and the recent outperformance of artificial intelligence and technology stocks were cited by nearly half. Geopolitical instability was flagged by 46 per cent as a factor that is effectively forcing higher risk-taking, rather than inviting it.

“Family offices are increasingly willing to take on more risk and their growing interest in alternative assets is a major reason for that,” said Andy Bailey, Head of Private Client Guernsey and Isle of Man at Ocorian. “It is, however, striking that nearly half believe that rising geopolitical instability is leaving family offices with little choice but to increase their risk appetite.”

ESG Stays in the Frame

Despite the focus on return-seeking strategies, environmental, social and governance considerations retain strong prominence. Almost all family offices surveyed described ESG as a key factor in their investment decisions, and 79 per cent said their focus on ESG principles would increase over the next three years.

This runs counter to a narrative that has gained some traction in certain markets, particularly the United States, that institutional and family capital is retreating from sustainability criteria. The Ocorian data suggests that, at least among the family offices in this study, ESG integration is being reinforced rather than abandoned.

Context: Private Markets Are Maturing

The appetite comes at a moment of structural change in private markets. A separate study published earlier this year by MSCI, the index provider, described private markets as maturing, noting increased scrutiny of semi-liquid structures that offer periodic redemptions based on manager-reported valuations. The MSCI report also pointed to growing borrower strain among smaller funds.

Against that backdrop, the Ocorian findings raise a question worth watching: whether the confidence signalled by family offices reflects a well-informed assessment of improved market transparency, or whether it is partly a product of a long period of strong private equity returns that has suppressed caution. The survey does not answer this directly, but the data offers a useful baseline for tracking sentiment over the coming year.

The full Ocorian study is available at ocorian.com.

Source: WealthBriefing, 29 June 2026