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Private Wealth

Create liquidity from illiquid assets

Learn how to potentially create liquidity from illiquid assets and help reach your financial goals through cash flow planning, diversification, estate planning strategies, and gifting.5 min read

Key takeaways

  • Unlock liquidity from illiquid assets — such as private equity, concentrated stock, or fine art — without sacrificing ownership.
  • Strategic credit solutions backed by illiquid holdings can support cash flow, diversification, and estate planning.
  • Work with your advisor to integrate illiquid assets into a comprehensive wealth strategy that aligns with your legacy goals.

When was the last time you reviewed your illiquid asset portfolio with your advisor and discussed the impact those assets may have on your short- and long-term financial goals?

Illiquid assets are those you own where the ability to sell them is limited or restricted compared to liquid assets that can be easily converted to cash. Examples you may be familiar with include a business, limited partner interests in private equity or hedge funds, or restricted or concentrated stock. Others may be a surprise, such as REIT Operating Units, private stock, or fine art. This is not an exhaustive list of illiquid asset types. Your advisor can help you identify others that may not be listed here.

call out You may not realize you can potentially have the best of both worlds: you may be able to access a portion of the capital tied up in an illiquid asset while still enjoying the benefits of ownership. end call out

The reasons these assets are illiquid are varied, but in many instances tax consequences, investment restrictions, and at times a personal or emotional connection are contributing factors. But you may not realize you can potentially have the best of both worlds: you may be able to access a portion of the capital tied up in an illiquid asset while still enjoying the benefits of ownership.

Illiquid assets carry the same risks as any other investment, and those risks are important for you to consider as you develop your financial goals.

As you work with your advisor to develop a plan for your illiquid asset portfolio, you should consider that a portion of the capital tied up in these assets can potentially be unlocked to provide the liquidity needed to facilitate your strategic financial goals.

Working in partnership with a Custom Lending Specialist, your advisor can introduce you to the possibility of a multi-year line of credit based on the fair market value of some of the illiquid assets in your portfolio. Not every asset will qualify, but there are custom loans available secured by limited partner interests in private equity, private, restricted, or concentrated stock investments, and at times fine art. Please note the value of your investments can change over time, and if the value declines, you may be required to pledge additional collateral or pay down the loan.

Consider the flexibility a line of credit secured by an illiquid asset may provide as you develop your goals and include the following topics in your discussions with your advisor.

Whether you are seeking to generate cash flow, diversify your wealth, or thinking about estate planning strategies and your philanthropic goals, your illiquid assets may play a greater role in helping you to achieve your financial goals than you may have realized. Contact your advisor to learn more about unlocking the potential of your illiquid assets.

For additional support, contact your advisor.

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Wells Fargo & Company and its affiliates do not provide tax or legal advice. This communication cannot be relied upon to avoid tax penalties. Please consult your tax and legal advisors to determine how this information may apply to your own situation. Whether any planned tax result is realized by you depends on the specific facts of your own situation at the time your tax return is filed.