08/13/2025
What’s in your 401(k)? That answer might look a little different soon.
A new executive order directs the Department of Labor to reexamine rules regarding the inclusion of alternative assets—like private equity, real estate, and cryptocurrencies—in 401(k) programs.
While these assets have typically been excluded from defined contribution plans, industry interest has grown, and some firms are already exploring investment products incorporating private markets.
It’s a development worth watching, especially as Americans hold over $8 trillion in 401(k)s.
The executive order directs the U.S. Secretary of Labor to review fiduciary guidance on private market investments in 401(k) and other defined-contribution plans that are governed by ERISA.