President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order that will allow the inclusion of private-market investments and other alternatives in retirement accounts.
The White House said in a fact sheet that the executive order directs the Labor Department to reexamine its guidance on alternative asset investments in 401(k) and other defined-contribution retirement plans, and to clarify the fiduciary process for offering asset allocation funds that include such investments.
Under the order, the Labor Department would coordinate with the Treasury Department and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to determine whether regulatory changes at those and other agencies would be needed to carry out the purpose of the order. The SEC is also directed to take steps to enable access to alternative assets in participant-directed defined-contribution retirement plans through regulatory changes.
Private-market investments, also known as private assets, include private equity, venture capital, real estate and hedge funds that aren't traded on public exchanges.
Private assets are typically characterized by higher risk and potentially higher returns compared to traditional investments like stocks and bonds that are traded on public markets.