According to the Schroders “2026 U.S. Retirement Survey,” more than half of investors participating in 401(k), 403(b) or 457 workplace retirement savings plans (52 percent) say they would invest in private equity and private debt investments if their plan provided access to these assets — up from 45 percent in 2025 and 36 percent in 2024. Among these retirement savers, 81 percent would increase their contribution rate if their plan offered access to private assets — up from 77 percent in 2025.
Notably, 42 percent of plan participants now expect private assets to be available in their retirement plan within the next five years, up from 30 percent in 2025.
“With regulators moving to expand access as new fund structures are developed to improve the liquidity and transparency of private assets, more employees may soon be able to combine the strengths of both public and private markets as they save for retirement,” said Deb Boyden, head of U.S. defined contribut
