By now you may have heard that crypto and other alternative assets could be coming to 401(k)s.

And if you’re one of the millions of Americans who have a workplace retirement plan, you may have questions — and mixed emotions. The idea of putting your retirement savings into funds invested in digital assets like bitcoin — or purchasing stakes in private companies, buildings, or even an airport — may be both intriguing and unsettling.

Nothing is happening right away, or for certain. But here’s what you’ll want to consider if and when the mainstream options expand.

What’s Happened So Far

Today, most workplace retirement plans stick to offering the so-called “public markets” — publicly-traded stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds — because of regulatory restrictions, fiduciary concerns, and how easy they are to trade.

Last month, President Trump signed an executive order directing regulators to re-examine the rules for 401(k) plan sponsors and potentially minimize at least the regulatory barrier. The goal: to give retirement savers the same higher-growth (but also higher risk) options currently available to big institutional investors, public pension funds, and the ultra-wealthy.

These would include actively-managed funds that invest in digital assets like cryptocurrencies, as well as interests in private equity and debt, commercial and residential real estate, commodities, and infrastructure projects like airports or energy grids.

Any changes hinge on the outcome of these regulatory reviews and how the big retirement plan sponsors respond. (Some are already working on private investment offerings.)

But if these types of assets become available to you, you’ll need to decide whether they fit with your risk tolerance, timeline and strategy. Here are some of the most important considerations, according to financial advisors and analysts:

Pros

•  Potential for higher returns: Traditional stocks and bonds may not deliver enough growth for everyone’s retirement goals. These days there are fewer and fewer high-growth public companies to invest in, thanks to an abundance of private equity encouraging later-stage IPOs.

•  Diversification: Stocks and bonds don’t always hedge each other. Alternative assets often move independently of public markets and follow different timelines, spreading out risk.

•  Access: A more level playing field could help retirement savers keep pace with financial markets. Pension funds and VC firms have long used private equity to diversify and boost returns, but retail investors and 401(k) savers have largely been left out. (You need $5 million to invest in private equity at some brokerages, for example.)

Cons

•  Higher risk: Alternative assets are less regulated and often more volatile, which can expose investors to significant losses. Investors will have to weigh whether stability and long-term security are more important to them than the potential for higher returns.

•  More work: Higher risks means more due diligence. Private investments can be opaque, potentially making it difficult for you to understand and monitor on your own – and to evaluate good managers. (There may not be daily prices to check, for instance.)

•  Lower liquidity: Private equity can lock up your money for years – and there’s no market for quick exits.

•  Higher fees than traditional mutual funds: Private investments often come with higher management fees as well as performance-based fees.

So What?

The landscape for retirement savings may be shifting — and being prepared to make informed decisions is key. That starts with understanding your comfort level with risk and staying informed.

Related Reading

What Happens When Private Equity Meets 401(k)s? (Finance Centers at the Wharton School)

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

Don’t Buy Into This Easy Fix for Stock-Market Craziness (The Wall Street Journal via MSN)

Please understand that this information provided is general in nature and shouldn’t be construed as a recommendation or solicitation of any products offered by SoFi’s affiliates and subsidiaries. In addition, this information is by no means meant to provide investment or financial advice, nor is it intended to serve as the basis for any investment decision or recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Keep in mind that investing involves risk, and past performance of an asset never guarantees future results or returns. It’s important for investors to consider their specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile before making an investment decision.

The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. These links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement. No brands or products mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this content.

SoFi isn't recommending and is not affiliated with the brands or companies displayed. Brands displayed neither endorse or sponsor this article. Third party trademarks and service marks referenced are property of their respective owners.

OTM20250922SW

Compared to the high drama of last week’s Federal Reserve meeting, this week may look like a big ol’ nothingburger. But a more measured pace will return our focus to corporate developments and shifting fundamentals, and even a quiet week has the potential to shake things up in the markets.

In the wake of the Fed’s interest rate cut, a variety of data on business conditions, construction, and consumer spending can help investors analyze the macro backdrop.

And now that the central banks’s communication blackout period is over, we will also have commentary from Fed officials to look forward to. Any info on how they view the economy and balance of risks will be of particular interest.

Economic and Earnings Calendar

Monday

•  August Chicago Fed National Activity Index: This is a monthly index put together that incorporates 85 indicators from four categories: production and income; employment, unemployment, and hours; personal consumption and housing; and sales, orders, and inventories.

•  Fedspeak: New York Fed President John Williams will speak in a panel hosted by The European Money and Finance Forum. St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem will discuss the economic and monetary policy outlook, followed by moderated Q&A. Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack will host an event at the Cleveland Fed. Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin will speak at a Howard County Chamber event.

Tuesday

•  September Philadelphia Fed Non-Manufacturing Activity: The Philadelphia Fed’s survey of services executives in the region on business conditions and their outlook.

•  September S&P Global US PMIs: These indexes track how purchasing managers across different industries feel about the business environment.

•  September Richmond Fed Manufacturing Activity: The Richmond Fed’s survey of manufacturing executives in the region on business conditions and their outlook.

•  September Richmond Fed Non-Manufacturing Activity: The Richmond Fed’s survey of services executives in the region on business conditions and their outlook.

•  Fedspeak: Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic will discuss the economic outlook on the Macro Musings podcast.

•  Earnings: AutoZone (AZO), Micron Technology (MU)

Wednesday

•  August New Home Sales: While only a minority of home transactions in any given month come from new constructions, these home prices tend to be more cyclical and give insight into developing trends.

•  Weekly Mortgage Applications: Mortgage activity gives insight on demand conditions in the housing market.

•  Fedspeak: San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly will deliver a speech on the economic outlook, followed by a moderated discussion and Q&A.

•  Earnings: Cintas (CTAS)

Thursday

•  August Wholesale Inventories and Sales: Wholesalers often operate as an intermediary between manufacturers and retailers, serving as a key part of the goods supply chain.

•  August Wholesale and Retail Inventories: Wholesalers and retailers often operate as intermediaries for the sale of manufactured products, serving as a key part of the goods supply chain.

•  2Q GDP Third Estimate: The primary measure of economic activity in the United States, which is measured as total expenditure on a country’s goods and services.

•  August Factory and Durable Goods Orders: These metrics give insight into underlying trends for leading cyclical indicators.

•  August Existing Home Sales: Most home transactions in any given month tend to come from the existing market, and as a result set the tone for the broader housing market.

•  September Kansas City Fed Manufacturing Activity: The Kansas City Fed’s survey of manufacturing executives in the region on business conditions and their outlook

•  Weekly Jobless Claims: This high frequency labor market data gives insight into filings for unemployment benefits.

•  Fedspeak: Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee will participate in a moderated discussion on the economy and central bank at Crain’s Power Breakfast. Williams will give welcoming remarks at the fourth annual International Roles of the U.S. Dollar conference. Fed Governor Michael Barr will discuss bank stress testing and possible reforms at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, followed by Q&A. Daly will discuss the economic outlook and other topics at the 2025 Western Bankers forum.

•  Earnings: Accenture (ACN), Costco (COST), Jabil (JBL), CarMax (KMX)

Friday

•  August Personal Income and Spending: These numbers give insight into how Americans are doing, which is important since consumer spending accounts for about two-thirds of economic growth in the United States.

•  August Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index: The Fed targets this inflation measure for its price stability mandate and believes PCE to be the best measure of consumers’ spending habits.

•  September University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment: How consumers feel about economic conditions affect their spending habits. This survey places a particular focus on inflation and its trajectory.

•  September Kansas City Fed Non-Manufacturing Activity: The Kansas City Fed’s survey of services executives in the region on business conditions and their outlook.

•  Fedspeak: Barkin will discuss the economic outlook in a fireside chat, followed by moderated Q&A. Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman will participate in a moderated discussion at the Financial Markets Quality Conference.

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Please understand that this information provided is general in nature and shouldn’t be construed as a recommendation or solicitation of any products offered by SoFi’s affiliates and subsidiaries. In addition, this information is by no means meant to provide investment or financial advice, nor is it intended to serve as the basis for any investment decision or recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Keep in mind that investing involves risk, and past performance of an asset never guarantees future results or returns. It’s important for investors to consider their specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile before making an investment decision.

The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. These links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement. No brands or products mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this content.

SoFi isn't recommending and is not affiliated with the brands or companies displayed. Brands displayed neither endorse or sponsor this article. Third party trademarks and service marks referenced are property of their respective owners.