Growing Retail Demand For Private Markets With 67% Of Millennials Invested Vs Just 11% Of Boomers: FTSE Russell Survey

FTSE Russell today released its 2026 U.S. Wealth Pulse Survey showing private markets are moving further into the mainstream of affluent investor portfolios, particularly among Millennials. The findings also suggest advisors are emerging as the primary gateway for adoption, while standardized benchmarks are becoming increasingly important confidence builders for retail investors entering the category (see release here).

Key survey findings include:

Adoption timeframe – One in three affluent investors (32%) already allocate to private markets, with 61% doing so for the first time within the past five years, with 74% allocating 10% or more of their portfolios.

Led by the young – Over two thirds (67%) of Millennials own private markets investments, in comparison with 30% of Gen X and...