Moneywise

Tue, Jul 1, 2025, 6:03 AM6 min read

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What was meant to be a quick sale of a rare antique turned into a sobering reminder of the hidden risks of so-called alternative assets.

“Grande tête mince” — a bronze sculpture by Alberto Giacometti — failed to meet expectations at a recent Sotheby’s auction. Industry insiders and art experts estimated that the sculpture was worth $70 million, however the auction failed after the highest bid maxed out at $64.25 million, according to the New York Times.

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This high-profile flop highlights some of the risks of storing wealth in collectibles. On average, ultra-wealthy families across the world have roughly 13.4% of their assets in artwork and collectibles, according to Deloitte. However, the market is notoriously opaque and illiquid, which means many of these collectible items might not be worth as much as their owners believe.

Investors looking for an asset that isn’t exposed to the same market dynamics as stocks and bonds often have better options than art. Here are three alternative assets that could be more attractive than ancient sculptures or oil on canvas.

Gold has been on the planet much longer than any piece of ancient art, and its collectors include central banks and sovereign nations. The market for this precious metal also tends to be more transparent and robust.

Gold’s reputation as an uncorrelated safe haven was cemented during the see-sawing of the U.S. stock market in the opening months of 2025. As President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade war whipped up volatility in stocks, bonds and cryptocurrencies, the price of gold surged roughly 25% over six-months.

Adding some exposure to this hard asset could be a good idea if you’re worried about economic growth, inflation or interest rate volatility over the medium to long term.

One way to invest in gold to access tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with American Hartford Gold.

Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or related assets in a retirement account — combining the tax advantages of an IRA with the benefits of investing in gold. This can make it an attractive option for those looking to potentially hedge their retirement funds against increasing economic uncertainty.