What are private markets vs. public markets?

Private markets refer to an investment ecosystem in which investors buy and sell assets that are not traded on public exchanges. These investments typically involve direct transactions between private parties.

Some other examples of private markets investments include:

• Private equity
• Venture capital
• Hedge funds
• Private debt
• Commodities
• Real assets
  • Infrastructure
  • Art
  • Collectibles
  • Real estate (including farmland)

Public markets, on the other hand, are financial markets where investments are traded on public exchanges that are easily accessible to the public. This is where companies with IPO status (initial public offering) can access capital from a wide pool of investors who can own shares.

Examples of assets traded on public markets include:

• Stocks 
• ETFs
• Bonds
• Mutual funds

Examples of public exchanges:

• The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
• Nasdaq Stock Market (NASDAQ)
• NYSE Chicago
• Philadelphia Stock Exchange
• Boston Stock Exchange
• Euronext
• Shanghai Stock Exchange
• Tokyo Stock Exchange
• London Stock Exchange
• National Stock Exchange of India

Invest in venture capital and similar alternative assets using tax-advantaged retirement funds.