June 9, 2026
Connect Money: Private Infrastructure Moves from Niche Diversifier to Core Allocation
Irina Zilbergleyt Discusses the Growing Role of Infrastructure in Wealth Portfolios with Connect Money
In this Connect Money feature, Irina Zilbergleyt, Global Head of Distribution and Product Strategy for ISQ OpenInfra, discusses findings from the inaugural ISQ OpenInfra Index, highlighting the growing role of private infrastructure in modern portfolio construction.
Read more about the ISQ OpenInfra Index >
The research highlights a notable shift in how advisors view the asset class. While infrastructure has historically been associated with income generation and diversification, advisors now most commonly identify capital appreciation as its primary role in portfolios. Nearly half of respondents reported that clients currently allocate between 6% and 10% of their private markets exposure to infrastructure, while 75% expect those allocations to increase by 2027.
According to Zilbergleyt, long-term structural trends are fundamentally reshaping how advisors view the asset class.
“We were encouraged to see that advisors now most commonly view private infrastructure as a growth allocation. Long-term themes like digitization, electrification, and rising energy demand are helping reposition infrastructure as a long-term capital appreciation story, not simply a defensive and yield-generating allocation.”
AI, Energy Demand, and the Expanding Infrastructure Opportunity
The survey found that digital infrastructure is generating the greatest client interest, with advisors citing data centers, connectivity infrastructure, and artificial intelligence as key drivers of demand. Half of respondents identified digital infrastructure and AI-related growth as among the most important themes influencing client conversations today.
However, the opportunity extends beyond the headline sectors.
“AI is creating ripple effects across the broader infrastructure ecosystem. The infrastructure required to support that growth, particularly across power generation, grid modernization, and energy systems, may become just as important as the data centers and connectivity assets themselves.”
As AI adoption accelerates, advisors are increasingly looking beyond individual assets and seeking exposure to the broader infrastructure systems that support long-term economic growth.
While digital infrastructure continues to attract significant attention, the survey findings also underscore the importance of maintaining diversified exposure across the asset class.
“Infrastructure is a much broader asset class than many investors realize. We believe that is where specialist managers can play an important role — understanding how different sectors interact, where long-term demand is developing, and how to build diversified exposure across the asset class.”
The survey found that advisors continue to see opportunities across power and utilities, transportation and logistics, environmental infrastructure, and social infrastructure, reflecting a growing recognition that many of today’s most important investment themes are deeply interconnected.
Barriers to Entry Persist
Despite growing demand, advisors identified several barriers to increased infrastructure allocations, including liquidity concerns, product availability, regulatory uncertainty, and limited understanding of the asset class.
These findings reinforce the importance of investor education and access as infrastructure continues its transition from a niche alternative allocation to a core component of portfolio construction.
“While advisors and their clients are increasingly interested in and allocating to private infrastructure, many are still looking for greater education, access, and guidance. We believe managers have an important responsibility to help advisors look beyond the headline themes and understand the broader infrastructure ecosystem driving long-term growth.”
As infrastructure demand continues to expand globally, the ISQ OpenInfra Index suggests that advisors are increasingly turning to specialist managers to help navigate a rapidly evolving opportunity set and build diversified exposure to the long-term trends reshaping the global economy.
Read the full article on Connect Money >
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