In a move set to rattle the foundations of traditional retirement investing, President Donald Trump is issuing a new executive order aimed at unlocking 401(k) accounts for exposure to crypto, private equity, and other alternative assets.
The order, expected to be signed Thursday, pushes U.S. regulators to reconsider long-standing restrictions on what retirement savers can invest in. For decades, 401(k) plans have mostly stuck to public stocks and bonds, partly due to legal risk and the reluctance of plan administrators to touch complex or illiquid products. That cautious era may now be ending.
Trump’s directive instructs the Department of Labor to revisit its guidance under ERISA and coordinate with the Treasury and SEC on potential rule changes. The goal? Make room for assets once considered too risky or obscure for everyday savers.
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