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Investing.com -- President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday allowing 401(k) investors to access alternative assets such as private equity, real estate, and digital assets.
The order directs the Secretary of Labor to review guidance on fiduciary duties regarding alternative asset investments in ERISA-governed 401(k) and other defined-contribution plans. It also instructs the Labor Department to clarify its position on alternative assets and the appropriate fiduciary process for offering asset allocation funds containing these investments.
Additionally, the order requires the Labor Secretary to consult with the Treasury Secretary, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and other federal regulators about potential parallel regulatory changes to support the order’s purpose.
More than 90 million Americans participate in employer-sponsored defined-contribution plans, with most currently restricted from investing in alternative assets that are available to wealthy investors and government workers’ retirement plans.
The White House stated that regulatory overreach and litigation risks have limited ERISA-governed plan fiduciaries from including alternative assets in investment portfolios, potentially hindering retirement growth for workers.
Trump’s Department of Labor has already rescinded guidance implemented by the Biden Administration regarding digital assets. The president has previously promised to make the United States the "crypto capital of the world" and emphasized embracing digital assets to drive economic growth and technological leadership.
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