Investing in alternatives has become easier for individual investors to implement in their portfolios due to rapid growth in private markets over the past 20 years and the development of more accessible, innovative fund structures. One such structure is the interval fund, which has continued to gain popularity, with assets increasing more than 16x from $6.5B in 2014 to $115.7B in 2025.1
An interval fund is a type of closed-end investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 that continuously offers shares to investors (typically on a daily basis) and limits liquidity to periodic (typically quarterly) intervals. The fund will offer to repurchase a portion of outstanding shares at the fund’s net asset value (NAV) at each interval.
Daily, ticker-based purchasing
Typically quarterly repurchases3
1099 tax reporting
NAV-based pricing
Mutual funds are prohibited from investing more than 15% of their net assets in illiquid investments in order to ensure that they can meet daily redemption requests4 – limiting the ability to pursue certain asset classes and investment opportunities, often less liquid. This creates a trade-off for investors: prioritizing daily liquidity provides flexibility and immediate access to funds, while accepting less frequent liquidity may allow for investment in a broader range of asset classes, including those with higher potential returns.
Interval funds are not subject to the same liquidity rule as mutual funds and therefore have greater flexibility in how and what they invest in.5 This opens the opportunity to alternative investments like private credit, real estate, and infrastructure that are often less-liquid than publicly traded investments but provide the potential for return premiums relative to certain publicly traded investments – implementing more dynamic and potentially higher-yielding investment strategies.
Interval funds can play a strategic role in a financial advisor’s broader portfolio construction framework by serving as a bridge between traditional public-market investments and private-market alternatives – further diversifying client portfolios and adding potential investment alpha.
Here are a few potential benefits:
Allocating to less liquid, private market investments provides investors with the opportunity to take advantage of complexity and illiquidity premiums over the long term. Illiquidity premium is the notion that there is a higher expected return for investing in less liquid assets. Complexity premium can be viewed as additional return generated from managing the intricacies, illiquidity, and information inefficiencies associated with private asset investments.
Unlike exchange-traded funds or listed closed-end funds, interval funds are not traded on secondary market exchanges and, therefore, shares are not subject to intra-day market movements. Interval fund shares are purchased and repurchased at NAV that are driven by changes to the underlying value of investments, not secondary market price fluctuations.
Interval funds allow investors to access alternative asset classes, which are generally less correlated with traditional stocks and bonds. This can help reduce overall portfolio volatility and improve risk-adjusted returns, especially during periods of public market stress.
Interval funds provide private-market exposure without the need for large capital commitments typical of private funds and without a complex subscription agreement process. Interval funds also generally issue 1099 tax forms, which can simplify tax reporting for many investors.6
| Mutual funds | Interval funds | GP/LP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cell label Structure | Cell label Open-end | Cell label Closed-end | Cell label Closed-end |
| Cell label Fund life | Cell label Typically indefinite | Cell label Typically indefinite | Cell label Typically, 7 or more years |
| Cell label Investor eligibility | Cell label No requirement | Cell label Typically no requirement7 | Cell label Qualified purchaser |
| Cell label Investment minimum | Cell label Varies, ranging from $1,000 to $100,000 | Cell label Varies, typically starting at $2,500 | Cell label Varies, typically starting at $5 million |
| Cell label Valuation | Cell label Daily | Cell label Typically Daily | Cell label Quarterly |
| Cell label Maximum illiquid assets allowed | Cell label 15% | Cell label Unlimited4 | Cell label Typically unlimited |
| Cell label Capital deployment / funding | Cell label Immediate upon investment | Cell label Typically immediate upon investment | Cell label Multi-year commitment |
| Cell label Liquidity | Cell label Daily | Cell label Periodic, typically quarterly | Cell label Very limited to none |
| Cell label Tax reporting | Cell label Form 1099 | Cell label Form 1099 | Cell label Schedule K-1 |
Table elements reflect typical characteristics; exceptions may exist. Investors should consult each fund’s offering documents for specific terms.
Interval funds may be a powerful tool in the investor toolbox for incorporating private market investments. Alongside BDCs and other innovative vehicles, they are part of a broader trend of enhancing access to alternative investments for individual investors. For clients seeking exposure to private credit, real estate, infrastructure, or other illiquid assets, interval funds may offer an optimal solution.
As private markets continue to grow in importance for diversified portfolios, understanding structures like interval funds will be important for investors to develop a well-rounded portfolio. Interval funds can help investors tap into the potential of higher returns, reduced correlation, and lower volatility on terms that align with their liquidity needs and financial goals.
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Endnotes
Investing in interval funds involves unique risks, including limited liquidity, potential valuation uncertainties, and the possibility of loss of principal. While interval funds may offer access to alternative investments and diversification benefits, they are not suitable for all investors. It is important to carefully review each fund’s offering documents and consult with a financial professional to ensure that interval funds align with your investment objectives, risk tolerance, and liquidity needs.
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Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
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