Alternative investments, which have been used by large institutions and endowments for quite some time, have become more mainstream in recent years. Not only are they more popular among individual investors, but there are also more products available, making investing in alternatives possible for a much broader universe of investors. Given their non-traditional approach and their ability to invest in areas and ways traditional investments cannot, they have the potential to improve the overall risk-return characteristics of a portfolio. As such, a modest allocation to alternatives may be prudent for more investors than previously was the case. However, the non-traditional approach and structure of these investments bring with them unique risks of which investors must be aware.