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Advisor Pulse – Summer 2026

The latest views from financial advisors surveyed globally [ 1 ]

More than half of surveyed advisors are increasing allocations to private markets

Surveyed advisors are actively leaning into private markets as they help clients navigate today’s market environment. The results point to growing interest in using private assets to enhance portfolio diversification [ 2 ] and access return opportunities that may complement traditional public market allocations.

Are you making any changes to client allocations between public and private markets in the current environment?

PWS Advisor Pulse 2026 Summer 01 Column Chart: Increasing Private Markets, 54%; No Change, 43%; Increasing Public Markets, 3%
PWS Advisor Pulse 2026 Summer 01 Column Chart: Increasing Private Markets, 54%; No Change, 43%; Increasing Public Markets, 3%

Hard asset allocations are increasing as advisors seek portfolio diversifiers

Surveyed advisors are increasingly allocating to private hard assets such as infrastructure and real estate as they look to build more durable portfolios. These assets sit at the center of powerful economic shifts — from AI-driven data demand and rising power needs to supply chain reconfiguration and real estate’s cyclical recovery [ 3 ] — while offering the potential for diversification, income, and inflation mitigation. [ 4 ]

Are you increasing allocations to private hard assets — such as infrastructure and real estate?

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More than half of surveyed advisors use AI every day

Surveyed advisors are making AI a regular part of their working week, with more than half using AI tools every day. The result points to rapid adoption across advisory practices, as AI becomes increasingly embedded in daily workflows to support productivity.

On how many days in a typical working week do you use AI tools in your practice?

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Workflow efficiency is emerging as AI’s leading advisor use case

Administration and workflow management are the top use case for AI — highlighting its potential to streamline routine tasks and improve practice efficiency. Advisors also cite client reporting and portfolio analysis, research and market insights, and client communication as areas where AI can support more scalable, higher-value engagement.

Where do you see AI adding the most value in your practice today?

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Education Resources

Essentials of Private Markets

Practice Management Resources

Based on surveys of financial professionals across the U.S., EMEA, and APAC participating in Blackstone programming over the period April 2026-June 2026. Average number of respondents per question: 204. Any views or opinions expressed herein reflect solely the views of the advisors who were surveyed in connection with this survey and/or Blackstone, and such views or opinions are subject to change without notice and may differ from opinions expressed by others. Blackstone has not independently verified the information received from the advisors surveyed and no representation is made as to the accuracy of such information. Any estimates, expectations or other forward-looking statements set forth herein are based on assumptions that are uncertain and are subject to many factors, changing market conditions and general economic conditions, and may vary materially from the themes set forth herein. Nothing herein constitutes investment advice or recommendations and this page should not be relied upon as a basis for making an investment decision.
Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against losses. Risk management seeks to mitigate risk, but does not reduce or eliminate risk and does not protect against losses.
Green Street Advisors, as of May 31, 2026. Reflects the Commercial Property Price Index for All Property, which captures the prices at which U.S. commercial real estate transactions are currently being negotiated and contracted. Real estate’s cyclical recovery refers to the 9% increase from November 30, 2023 trough.
Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against losses. Risk Management seeks to mitigate risk but does not reduce or eliminate risk and does not protect against losses. Private real estate’s returns are largely uncorrelated to that of equities, investment grade bonds, and public REITs. Source: Morningstar, as of December 31, 2025. Private real estate is represented by the NFI-ODCE. Public REITs are represented by the total return of the MSCI U.S. REIT Index. Equities are represented by the total return of the S&P 500 Index, including dividends. Investment grade bonds are represented by the total return of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.