45% of investors are interested in alternatives, survey finds — advisors say there's an easy way in

Amid growing consumer interest in alternative investments, financial advisors say it’s important to find the right way to invest.

Alternative investments are a broad category that covers many assets outside traditional holdings of cash, stock and bonds. Alts include private-market assets, real estate, commodities such as gold and oil, and cryptocurrencies, among others.

Investing in these products can entail added risks and complexities, advisors said. One smart way to get exposure to them is a more traditional vehicle: exchange-traded funds.

Here’s a look at other stories offering insight on ETFs for investors.

The strategy represents an intersection of investor interest. Investors have put more than $1 trillion into U.S.-based ETFs so far this year, on pace to set a new annual record, State Street Investment Management said earlier this month. Much of that inflow has gone to gold and crypto ETFs, other analysts recently told CNBC.