Breaking Barriers: The FT Wilshire Private Markets Infrastructure Index and the Future of Accessible Investing

The rise of passive investing has democratized access to public markets, but private infrastructure—a $3 trillion asset class with steady cash flows and low correlation to traditional equities—has long been a fortress, reserved for institutions and ultra-high-net-worth investors. That changes now. The newly launched FT Wilshire Private Markets Infrastructure Index, developed by Wilshire Indexes and GCM Grosvenor, could rewrite the rules of accessibility, offering a transparent benchmark for what was once an opaque corner of finance.

A New Benchmark for an Inaccessible Asset Class

Private infrastructure investments—think toll roads, energy grids, or data centers—are prized for their stability. Unlike stocks or bonds, they often operate under long-term contracts or regulated monopolies, shielding them from market volatility. Yet, until now, accessing these assets required navigating complex due diligence, lengthy lock-up periods, and minimum investment thresholds often exceeding $1 million.

The FT Wilshire Private Markets Infrastructure Index breaks this mold. Designed to track the performance of leading open-ended infrastructure funds, it aggregates investments into a single, rules-based benchmark. For the first time, investors can gauge the returns of this asset class without having to pick individual projects. The index's launch also paves the way for passive investment vehicles—such as ETFs or mutual funds—that could lower barriers to entry, potentially making infrastructure exposure accessible to retail investors.

How It Works: Transparency Meets Scalability

The index's structure is as innovative as its purpose. Developed with input from top infrastructure funds, it employs advanced analytics to ensure liquidity and diversification. Key features include:
- Diversified Exposure: Investments span sectors like renewable energy, transportation, and utilities, reducing reliance on single projects or geographies.
- Volatility Management: By targeting funds with stable cash flows, the index aims to deliver returns with lower volatility than public equities.
- Semi-Annual Reviews: Regular rebalancing ensures the index evolves with market conditions.

The partnership with GCM Grosvenor—a firm managing $82 billion in alternatives—adds credibility. Their planned “tracking vehicles,” set to launch later this year, will simplify access further, potentially offering a one-stop investment in global infrastructure.

Why Diversification Needs This Tool

For portfolios, the stakes are high. Over the past decade, listed infrastructure indices like the FT Wilshire GLIO series have outperformed broad equity benchmarks in down markets. Take the FTW GLIO Dev Infra index, which delivered a 10.1% annualized return over 20 years as of 2024, despite short-term volatility like a -6.9% monthly drop in Q2 2025.

Private infrastructure could offer even stronger insulation. With inflation-sensitive assets like utilities and energy storage in its mix, the FT Wilshire Private Markets Index might thrive in environments where traditional bonds struggle. For instance, the energy transport and storage sub-sector within listed infrastructure surged 45.2% monthly in 2024—a sign of the resilience of infrastructure in commodity cycles.

Risks and Considerations

The index isn't without challenges. Private markets are inherently less liquid, and the index's performance hinges on the underlying funds' ability to manage projects through economic downturns. Investors must also weigh fees: passive vehicles tracking the index may carry higher expense ratios than traditional ETFs.

Still, the potential benefits outweigh these hurdles. For a portfolio skewed toward volatile equities, even a 5–10% allocation to infrastructure could reduce overall risk. The FT Wilshire Private Markets Index lowers the complexity barrier, allowing investors to tap into a historically exclusive asset class.

Final Take: A New Era of Inclusive Investing

The FT Wilshire Private Markets Infrastructure Index isn't just a benchmark—it's a catalyst. By standardizing performance measurement and enabling passive access, it opens private infrastructure to a broader audience. For advisors and individual investors, this tool could redefine diversification, offering a shield against market turbulence while capitalizing on the global shift toward sustainable, essential infrastructure projects.

Investment Implication: Consider allocating to infrastructure through this index once the tracking vehicles launch. Pair it with core holdings in equities and bonds to balance growth and stability. As with any new product, start small and monitor liquidity conditions closely.

The future of investing is less about exclusivity and more about access. This index is a bold step toward that future.