DJIA54036.93 151.83
S&P 5007757.64 47.68
NASDAQ26690.62 342.27
Russell 20003041.60 33.80
German DAX26319.45 179.32
FTSE 10010901.09 33.20
CAC 408714.93 15.22
EuroStoxx 506526.65 14.40
Nikkei 22565606.71 -76.55
Hang Seng25668.03 137.75
Shanghai Comp3940.04 39.69
KOSPI6258.77 -37.61
Bloomberg Comm IDX131.72 1.78
WTI Crude-fut79.99 -3.34
Brent Crude-fut78.18 0.07
Natural Gas2.66 0.03
Gasoline-fut2.99 0.03
Gold-fut4399.70 101.20
Silver-fut63.50 1.71
Platinum-fut1759.60 24.70
Palladium-fut1378.30 2.80
Copper-fut659.10 -12.95
Aluminum-spot3195.00 0.00
Coffee-fut315.90 9.80
Soybeans-fut1176.25 -1.50
Wheat-fut639.75 8.50
Bitcoin64852.21 551.35
Ethereum USD1913.94 10.30
Litecoin45.45 0.01
Dogecoin0.07 0.00
EUR/USD1.1528 -0.0012
USD/JPY158.59 0.99
GBP/USD1.3442 -0.0026
USD/CHF0.8133 0.0057
USD IDX99.54 -0.39
US 10-Yr TR4.647 -0.023
GER 10-Yr TR3.1261 -0.0036
UK 10-Yr TR4.9086 -0.0152
JAP 10-Yr TR2.791 -0.009
Fed Funds3.75 0
SOFR3.65 0.01
High-rise commercial buildings

Sub Markets

Topics

Latest News  + Alternative Assets  | 
MFA Issues 401(k) Principles in Response to Trump’s Executive Order on Alternatives 

MFA Issues 401(k) Principles in Response to Trump’s Executive Order on Alternatives 

Managed Funds Association (MFA) has released a set of five guiding principles for 401(k) plans in response to President Donald Trump’s recent executive order aimed at expanding access to alternative assets in defined contribution retirement plans. The framework is designed to broaden investment choices for retirement savers, provide clarity to plan sponsors, and improve long-term outcomes for participants. 

“Retirement savers are best served by having access to a broad range of investment options that meet their long-term horizons,” said Bryan Corbett, MFA president and CEO. “These principles offer a roadmap to help policymakers empower fiduciaries and reduce legal uncertainty to improve retirement security for America’s workers.” 

The MFA highlighted that alternative strategies can play a constructive role when incorporated into diversified options such as target-date funds, particularly for participants with longer investment horizons. The group stressed that regulatory guidance should be strategy-neutral and process-based, allowing fiduciaries to select the most suitable investment mix without undue restrictions. 

On the question of fees, the principles caution against making cost the sole determining factor in investment decisions. Instead, fees should reflect the complexity of the strategy, the services provided, and the demographics of the plan’s participants. The MFA reminded policymakers that ERISA does not require plans to always select the lowest-cost option. 

The document also addresses the growing wave of litigation against plan sponsors, warning that “overzealous” lawsuits have discouraged innovation and pushed sponsors toward commoditized products, often at the expense of long-term returns. The MFA urged policymakers to pursue reforms that reduce litigation risks and restore fiduciaries’ flexibility to exercise sound judgment in offering investment options. 

Connect

Inside The Story

MFA

About Joe Palmisano

Joe Palmisano is Editorial Director for Connect Money, where he brings nearly three decades experience of market insights as a financial journalist, analyst and senior portfolio manager for leading financial publications, advisory firms, and hedge funds. In his role as Editorial Director, Joe is responsible for the selection of content and creation of daily business news covering the financial markets, including Alternative Assets, Direct Investment and Financial Advisory services. Before joining Connect Money, Joe was a financial journalist for the Wall Street Journal, regularly publishing feature stories and trend pieces on the foreign exchange, global fixed income and equity markets. Joe parlayed his experience as a financial journalist into roles as a Senior Research Analyst and Portfolio Manager, writing daily and weekly market analysis and managing a FX and US equity portfolio. Joe was also a contributing writer for industry magazines and publications, including SFO Magazine and the CMT Association. Joe earned a B.S.B.A. in Finance from The American University. He holds the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) designation and is a member of the CFA Institute.

New call-to-action
New call-to-action
New call-to-action