A. Emerging markets are an alternative asset that is competing with technology stocks for risk capital.

Even limiting the choice to alternative financial assets still opens up many opportunities.

Firstly, as yields fall on these alternative assets, the attraction of money rises relative to them.

Much of these returns can be credited to alternative assets, in fields requiring expertise, connections or both.

In making these decisions, people will have to weigh up the relative advantages and disadvantages of the various alternative assets.

Other alternative assets, such as investments in infrastructure-related projects, may take decades to gain significant value.

Therefore, investors considering alternative assets are generally investing far into the future.

The main advantage of alternative assets is that they help diversify an investor's portfolio.

Due to its non-traditional nature, alternative assets are more difficult to add to a portfolio.

PEI is a financial media group that focuses on global alternative assets.