Executive Order

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Democratizing Access to Alternative Assets for 401(k) Investors

AI Summary: This is a policy document - specifically an Executive Order signed by the President on August 7, 2025, regarding access to alternative assets in 401(k) retirement plans. This regulation aims to expand investment opportunities for retirement plan participants by enabling broader access to alternative assets. The order defines "alternative assets" to include private market investments, real estate interests, digital asset investments, commodities, infrastructure projects, and lifetime income strategies. The Department of Labor is directed to review and potentially rescind existing guidance that limits alternative asset investments in retirement plans, and to develop new rules that help fiduciaries prudently incorporate these investments. The order specifically instructs the Labor Secretary to reexamine current restrictions, clarify fiduciary responsibilities, and propose regulations that balance potential higher expenses against opportunities for greater long-term returns and investment diversification. The Securities and Exchange Commission is also asked to consider ways to facilitate alternative asset access, potentially by revising regulations about investor qualifications. The overall goal is to give more retirement plan participants opportunities similar to those currently available to wealthy investors and institutional pension plans, while maintaining appropriate fiduciary protections.