HNW Asset Allocation: 2026 Study

In today’s special edition, we share insights from Long Angle’s fifth annual High-Net-Worth Asset Allocation Study. Get access to the full report here.

Have you ever wondered how your portfolio compares to your peers? Understanding how other investors allocate between stocks, bonds, private markets, and cash can provide a useful benchmark for your own strategy.

We surveyed 233 high-net-worth investors to deconstruct how they allocate their wealth. The data reveals a strategic preference for growth: 

The average investor holds half of their net worth in public equities and over a quarter in private and alternative assets.

The average HNW portfolio is structured for long-term growth, with U.S. stock funds alone representing one-third of total net worth. 

This growth-first approach is further evidenced by a minimal combined allocation to cash and bonds, a figure outweighed by private company equity holdings (PE, VC, angel investments, founder / employee shares). 

The combined stake in investment real estate and home equity accounts for one-fifth of total wealth, indicating that tangible property remains a core pillar of the HNW balance sheet.

Average primary home values in our study rise steadily alongside wealth, increasing predictably from roughly $1M to $2M to $3M at each net worth bracket. 

The average home price of an ultra-high-net-worth household with more than $25M in net worth stands at $3.3 million. 

The Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratio, which measures a mortgage balance compared to the property's total market value, averages just 28% across all respondents. This aligns with a major theme of the report: most HNW families have a strong aversion to debt.

This lack of leverage accelerates as wealth increases, with the LTV ratio falling roughly 10% at each net worth bracket: from 37% among the $2M–$10M group to below 20% at the $25M+ bracket.

Our study reveals that more than half of high-net-worth investors (57%) choose to self-manage their portfolios, compared to 43% who have an advisor.

This preference for independence is even more pronounced than the initial split suggests: only 14% of respondents have an advisor managing most or all of their assets. 

Half of all respondents stated they have no interest at all in using an advisor, often citing desires to avoid fees and maintain direct control over their investment strategy.

Among those who do use a financial advisor, assets under management (AUM)-based fees remain the industry standard. However, there is a growing preference for flat-fee or retainer models.

Read the full High-Net-Worth Asset Allocation Report to uncover deeper insights on asset allocation, private and alternative investments, strategic use of debt, wealth management, estate planning, and more.

We’ll be featuring more targeted insights from this study in the newsletter over the coming weeks. In the meantime, you can download the complete data set to see exactly how your strategy aligns with the broader Long Angle community.

Chris Bendtsen

Insights Lead, Long Angle

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