Trending Now - New Rule Eases Access to Private Equity in 401(k) Plans
WHO:
CNN - Keith Sonderling, Deputy Secretary of Labor
Bloomberg Wealth - Companies like Blackstone Inc. and Apollo Global Management Inc.
WHAT:
CNN - The proposed rule allows plan sponsors to offer participants access to alternative investments such as crypto and commodities.
CNN - The DOL's new proposed rule may take months to finalize.
Bloomberg Wealth - The market for alternative assets in retirement savings plans is valued at $14 trillion.
CNN - The Department of Labor proposed a new rule for 401(k) plan sponsors to offer participants access to private equity and other alternative investments.
CNN - The proposed rule allows plan fiduciaries “maximum discretion and flexibility in selecting any particular investment as a designated investment alternative.”
Bloomberg Wealth - The proposal aims to provide more legal protection for companies offering alternative assets in retirement savings plans.
WHERE:
CNN - The rule pertains to 401(k) plans in the United States.
WHEN:
CNN - The proposed rule was unveiled on March 30th, 2026.
CNN - The proposal was issued at the behest of President Trump, who issued an executive order in August 2025.
WHY:
CNN - Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized the proposed rule, stating it could lead to insecurity in retirement savings for Americans.
CNN - The rule is intended to relieve regulatory burdens and litigation risks on 401(k) plan sponsors.
CNN - The private equity and credit industries have long sought access to the trillions of dollars invested in workplace retirement plans.
HOW:
CNN - The DOL's proposal emphasizes that managers must evaluate potential product offerings by following a prudent process, which includes considering performance, fees, liquidity, valuation, performance benchmarks, and complexity.
CNN - The proposed rule requires fiduciaries to evaluate potential product offerings by following a prudent process, considering factors such as performance, fees, liquidity, valuation, performance benchmarks, and complexity.
CNN - Employers are not required to offer alternative investments but must go through a careful process to determine if offerings meet fiduciary obligations.
(UPDATED March 30, 2026 23:10 UTC)
The Department of Labor has proposed a new rule that would allow retirement plan sponsors to offer participants access to alternative investments like cryptocurrency and commodities, a market valued at an impressive $14 trillion. However, Senator Elizabeth Warren has criticized this proposal, arguing that it could jeopardize the security of Americans' retirement savings. The DOL emphasizes that investment managers must carefully evaluate these offerings by considering factors such as performance, fees, and complexity, although the finalization of the rule may take several months.
--
(UPDATED March 30, 2026 19:21 UTC)
The Department of Labor has proposed a new rule that would allow 401(k) plan sponsors in the United States to offer participants access to private equity and other alternative investments, a move initiated by Trump following an executive order issued in August 20th25. This proposal aims to provide companies like Blackstone and Apollo Global Management with more legal protection while relieving regulatory burdens and litigation risks associated with retirement savings plans. Under the new rule, fiduciaries will need to carefully evaluate potential investment offerings, considering various factors such as performance and fees, although employers are not obligated to include alternative investments in their plans.