Employee Benefits Law Blog
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has taken a significant step toward reshaping the investment landscape for defined contribution plans. In March 2026, the DOL released a proposed rule addressing the inclusion of alternative investments, such as private equity, real estate, private credit, and digital assets, in participant-directed retirement plans.
While the proposal does not require plan sponsors to add these investments, it signals a meaningful shift in how fiduciaries may evaluate and incorporate them under ERISA.
1. The Safe Harbor Framework
Under the proposal, a ...
When most business owners start talking about “succession,” it sounds like a financial term. But if we’re honest, it rarely feels that way, it feels more personal.
It feels like sitting at the kitchen table late at night, staring at numbers, and realizing this thing you built, isn’t just a business anymore. It’s the crew who showed up when you only had a used van and a couple pieces of old equipment. It’s the office manager who’s been there 30 years and knows more about the place than you do. It’s the technician who bought his first house because this company gave him steady ...
