Private Assets in Defined-Contribution Plans

A recent Schroders survey of 1,500 US investors explored plan participants' appetite for private assets in workplace retirement plans. Key findings include:

• 52% of investors participating in 401k, 403b or 457 workplace retirement savings plans say they would invest in private equity and private debt investments if their plan provided access to these assets – up from 45% in 2025 and 36% in 2024.

• Among these retirement savers, 81% would increase their contribution rate if their plan offered access to private assets – up from 77% in 2025.

• 78% of plan participants believe private assets can enhance 401k portfolios through diversification, and 77% say private assets provide an opportunity for greater investment return.

• Among those who would invest in private assets if their workplace plan offered them, intended allocations are measured:

- 49% would allocate less than 10% of workplace retirement assets to private assets

- 39% would allocate between 10-15%

- 7% would allocate more than 15%

- 5% are unsure how much they would allocate to private assets

Schroders Study Finds Nearly Half of Retirement Plan Participants Would Invest in Private Markets

Deb Boyden, Head of US Defined Contribution

Deb.Boyden@Schroders.com