Mainstream assets (stocks, bonds, real estate) tend to trade in efficient markets. It's hard to find an edge when others have the same access and information.
Alternative assets (tax deeds, sports cards, fine art) have access and information problems. They may be illiquid, volatile, hard to authenticate and value. But every problem presents an opportunity.
"You still haven't defined an alternative asset."
It's easier to define what it's not. An alt is not easily accessible (stocks), easily understandable (residential real estate) or mainstream (bonds). These tend to be hard to access (Birkin bags), understand (synthetics), illiquid (vintage cars) or new (NFTs).
"All of these assets are liquid."
Be careful with absolutes. Liquidity, to me, means that you can quickly buy and sell without taking a 30% haircut in fair market value. Sure, fire sales do happen.
"Non-cash-flowing assets can be a great store of value."
This implies stability. If that holds true, sure.
"It's against many terms and conditions to sell social media accounts."
Big and small players wrap an account in an entity and sell the business. Not the account.
"Facebook, Instagram and Spotify? What about platform risk?"
Factor platform risk into your price.
"Influencers affecting prices is immoral and illegal."
Maybe. Maybe not. It's also inevitable and hard to control. "Social investing" platforms like Public, Robinhood and Twitter put us in the age of shilling.
"Is this financial advice?"
No.
"Alternative asset classes are missing."
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How did you do this?!
As usual, very well articulated. Concise but sufficiently detailed while remaining interesting and thought provoking. I almost always share these posts/pieces/topics with someone in my network with whom I want to discuss the topic - using the content as a conversation starter. ๐ค๐ค
Thanks for the support Dante!
This is the big takeaway for me. The market keeps surprising me with how many different industries and behaviors can be democratized.