While equities and fixed income will continue to play a critical role in investment portfolios, political and economic ambiguities mean investors need to look to non-traditional asset classes if they’re to achieve their objectives, according the latest latest research published by Russell Investments Canada.

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The research suggests broader diversification comes in three ways:

1) Improving the global macro focus by adding exposure to global and emerging markets equities.

2) Fixed income exposure should become considerably more global with the inclusion of emerging markets debt and global high yield bonds.

3) “Real assets” such as global infrastructure, global real estate and commodities provide additional sources of income, diversification and potential inflation protection.

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