Alternative investments — historically the domain of high-net-worth and institutional investors — are quickly garnering attention in the defined contribution (DC) retirement plan market. Research from Escalent shows 44 percent of DC plan sponsors are interested in learning more about incorporating alternatives into their 401(k) lineups. Large ($100 million to less than $500 million) and mega ($500 million or more) plans voiced the highest levels of enthusiasm, at 62 percent and 50 percent, respectively.
These are among the latest findings from 2026 Retirement Planscape, a Cogent Syndicated report from Escalent. This annual study surveys more than 1,000 401(k) plan sponsors to uncover the most important trends in the retirement plan market. It also benchmark
