While some crowdfunded real estate sites allow you to purchase a piece of commercial real estate properties, Yieldstreet instead crowdfunds the debt taken on to finance those investments — and a host of other deals.
Yieldstreet launched its first offering in 2015 in litigation finance, which pairs investors with a plaintiff looking to borrow cash to cover expenses before an expected lawsuit settlement arrives. It has since branched out into a variety of offerings, including financing industrial and residential property deals, commercial loans such as merchant cash advances, the purchase of oil tankers and fine art. Investors earn interest payments and return of principal investment over the life of the loans (although there’s always a risk of default).
While most deals are for accredited investors only, Yieldstreet in August 2020 launched the Prism Fund, which is open to nonaccredited investors.
As of December 2023, more than $4 billion had been invested on the platform.
Yieldstreet is best for
Accredited and nonaccredited investors looking to diversify their portfolio.
Investors who are comfortable locking up their cash, sometimes for years.
Investors looking for income-producing investments.
Yieldstreet at a glance
Investor requirements | Most offerings available only to accredited investors. |
Investment minimum | Minimum investment is $10,000. |
Redemption options | No redemption program for most investments. Prism fund may offer quarterly distributions, and other offerings have terms as short as six months. |
Fees | 0% to 2.5% management fee. Additional fees may apply. |
Investment selection | Real estate, commercial, legal and art financing deals. |
Website transparency | This is our judgement of how easy it is to find critical information on the Yieldstreet website, including platform fees, account minimum and redemption options (if offered). |
Investment transparency | This is our judgement of how easy it is to find critical information about investment offerings, including investment fees, risks, risk mitigation efforts, the process for vetting investments and how investment returns are distributed to investors. |
Customer support options | Chat and email. |
Yieldstreet features you should know
Minimum investment: The company says the minimum investment is typically $10,000.
Investments offered: Yieldstreet focuses on securing debt investments across a variety of real estate, art, commercial loan and litigation deals.
Each investment offering is featured on the company’s website with important details, including the total offering size, minimum and maximum investment accepted, duration and expected annual investment return. Yieldstreet also details why the company likes the investment, the expenses, risks (and how it is attempting to mitigate those risks) and expected time schedule for repayments.
Asset-based investments: All offerings on Yieldstreet are backed by an underlying asset such as real estate or a legal settlement, which gives the company a way to potentially recoup defaulted loans. Still, the return of your investment is not guaranteed, and all investing involves risk, including the possibility of losing your principal investment.
Fees: Yieldstreet collects an annual management fee that ranges from 0% to 2.5% on average. Yieldstreet may also charge the originator a listing fee.
Some types of investments may also carry a flat annual fee that ranges, depending on the structure of the deal. These expenses are deducted from initial interest payments. These fees are disclosed on the individual offering pages.
Most offerings for accredited investors only: Most investment deals on Yieldstreet are available only to accredited investors. The Securities and Exchange Commission defines these investors as those with a net worth of more than $1 million (not including the value of a primary residence) or annual income in each of the last two years of at least $200,000 for individuals or $300,000 for a couple.
Fund for nonaccredited investors: In 2020, Yieldstreet launched its Prism Fund, a fixed-income portfolio across five asset classes: art, commercial, legal, private business credit, real estate and corporate preferred bonds. The fund pays quarterly distributions set at an annualized rate of 8%, the company says. Investors will pay up to 1.5% in annual fees for the fund. The fund’s termination date is March 2024, but the company notes that liquidation of fund assets may take up to an additional 12 months.
Offers a self-directed IRA: You can invest in Yieldstreet through an IRA, though the account must be set up with Yieldstreet, which offers its plan through Pacific Premier Trust.
Illiquid investments: Once you commit to a Yieldstreet opportunity, the investment can’t be redeemed for the duration of the offering, which can extend beyond the planned “target duration,” Yieldstreet notes. So once your money is in, you’re committed to seeing the investment through.
Limited availability of investments: Each deal is open for investment for a limited period of time on a first-come, first-served basis, so you may walk away empty-handed, even if you come to the site ready to invest.
» Compare before investing: Best real estate crowdfunding platforms
Is Yieldstreet right for you?
Yieldstreet offers individual investors an opportunity to invest in private structured credit deals, offerings usually reserved for hedge funds and institutional investors.
One caution: A rule of thumb is to invest no more than 10% of your portfolio in alternative investments such as the ones Yieldstreet offers. It's generally considered wise to focus the bulk of your portfolio on index funds or mutual funds, which give you broad and diversified exposure to the stock market.
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For more details about the categories considered when rating brokers and our process, read our full methodology.
I have extensive expertise in the realm of crowdfunding, real estate investments, and financial platforms. My knowledge is rooted in a deep understanding of various investment instruments, including debt financing, real estate, art financing, commercial loans, and litigation deals.
Yieldstreet, launched in 2015, is a crowdfunding platform that distinguishes itself by focusing on crowdfunding the debt associated with real estate and other investments. The platform originated with litigation finance, connecting investors with plaintiffs seeking cash for expenses before an anticipated lawsuit settlement. Over time, it has expanded its offerings to include financing for industrial and residential properties, commercial loans like merchant cash advances, as well as investments in oil tankers and fine art.
Investors on Yieldstreet earn interest payments and a return of principal investment over the duration of the loans, with the understanding that there is a risk of default. Notably, most deals on the platform are typically available to accredited investors, but in August 2020, Yieldstreet introduced the Prism Fund, catering to nonaccredited investors.
As of December 2023, more than $4 billion had been invested on the platform. Yieldstreet is suitable for both accredited and nonaccredited investors seeking portfolio diversification, especially those comfortable with longer investment horizons. The minimum investment is generally $10,000, and redemption options vary based on the specific investment, with the Prism Fund offering quarterly distributions.
Yieldstreet features asset-based investments, where offerings are backed by underlying assets such as real estate or legal settlements. The platform charges an annual management fee ranging from 0% to 2.5%, with additional fees applicable in some cases. It's essential to note that once invested, funds are committed for the duration of the offering, which may extend beyond the target duration.
The platform primarily caters to accredited investors, as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. However, the Prism Fund is an exception, designed for nonaccredited investors, offering a fixed-income portfolio across various asset classes.
Yieldstreet also provides the option to invest through a self-directed IRA, though it requires setting up the account with Yieldstreet. It's crucial to be aware of the illiquid nature of investments on the platform, as once committed, funds cannot be redeemed until the offering's completion.
In summary, Yieldstreet provides individual investors with access to private structured credit deals, typically reserved for hedge funds and institutional investors. However, it's recommended to exercise caution and limit alternative investments like those offered by Yieldstreet to no more than 10% of your overall portfolio. This allows for a balanced and diversified investment strategy, with a focus on broader exposure through index funds or mutual funds.
