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4 June 2026
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By Erik Knutzen
Private market investing has evolved dramatically during the past three decades, from small alternative allocations made by the most sophisticated investors into significant components of many programs’ strategic asset allocations. During this period, the number of publicly traded companies in developed markets has declined precipitously, accompanied by a substantial increase in the amount of economic activity taking place in private markets - financed by both equity and debt - and across corporate and real asset structures. This article surveys this evolution and describes its key drivers, including evolving investor behavior, disruptive innovations, financial disintermediation, and regulatory changes. It also looks to the future of private market investing, seeking to lay out the key trends likely to drive further growth: the pursuit of higher returns, continued innovation in the growing private markets ecosystem, and a blurring of the current public/private distinction as investors increasingly evaluate investments across a spectrum of liquidity.
This paper first appeared in The Journal of Investing's 30th anniversary edition, June 2022.
Here is a checklist of 28 important issues you should address before June 30 to ensure your SMSF or other super fund is in order and that you are making the most of the strategies available.
Marketed as a fix for inequality and housing affordability, the latest budget instead delivers a tangle of tax changes that leave everyday Australians worse off.
Australia may not levy formal death duties, but a growing web of tax measures is quietly shaping what wealth passes between generations. Now, the 2026 budget adds another layer.
The lithium rally mirrors the early-2010s tech stock surge, with demand set to double by 2030. Supply has been slow to respond, creating a market deficit for future tech like humanoid robotics and solid-state batteries.
The debate over the budget is increasingly shaped by frustration and perceptions of unfairness, rather than clear-eyed assessment of policy outcomes.
A retirement researcher's take on retirement and her focus on each of her six resource buckets to stay engaged during the transition and beyond.
New CGT rules promise fairness, but could young investors lose out? A practical scenario reveals how changes impact deposit goals, investment choices, and long-term wealth building for the next generation.
Inheritance tax implications in Australia may surprise some, as poor estate planning without proper wills or trusts can lead to costly tax bills and delays for beneficiaries.
Machine learning has been touted a game changer investment management. But a new study overturns claims that AI can generate positive alpha in mutual funds. Here are some practical takeaways for investors.
A 150-year view shows inflation's upward bias, driven by shifting monetary regimes and war stocks. This marks an end to the low-inflation boom that enriched boomers and ushers in a higher-inflation era for younger investors.
A shrinking adviser workforce and rising costs are squeezing access to financial advice, just as demand surges. Expanded tax deductibility offers a modest but meaningful boost to affordability.
A reflection on travel mishaps, smart decision-making, time pressures and rebuilding health habits. Three months in, here's how to navigate the surprising realities of life after work.
Amid a national productivity crisis, new economic analysis finds the tax changes in the 2026 Federal Budget create Australia’s first-ever by design 'Productivity Tax', where young people will pay the biggest price.