The private lending industry has transformed from a niche alternative into a global financial powerhouse, with assets under management surging from roughly $375 billion in 2008 to more than $2 trillion by 2023—and is projected to reach $3 trillion by 2025. This explosive growth is driven by two critical shifts:
Post-2008 regulations forced banks to pull back on traditional lending, opening the door for private lenders to fill funding gaps.
Investors seeking stable yield turned to private debt during prolonged periods of low interest rates, including the pandemic and periods of rate volatility.
Choosing a financial advisor today is about more than investment performance—it’s about securing the future stewardship of your family’s wealth. With a wave of advisor retirements ahead, families must consider who will manage their assets tomorrow, not just today. Up to 46% of U.S. financial advisors plan to retire by 2035, putting trillions of dollars at risk if succession planning isn’t handled properly. For clients, continuity can’t be taken for granted.
Amid the historic surge in S&P 500 valuations, reaching new highs in October 2025, investors face a complex landscape marked by both optimism and heightened risk. At Vistamark Investments, the current environment underscores the value of blending opportunities in public market equities with strategic allocations to private equity and private credit. These alternative assets enhance portfolio diversification, offer higher expected risk-adjusted returns, and provide income stability essential for navigating ongoing volatility and economic shifts. With central banks adapting monetary policy and fiscal challenges ongoing, adopting a multi-asset, globally diversified approach anchored by rigorous risk management remains key to building resilient portfolios and securing enduring wealth.
The landscape for 401(k) plan sponsors has become increasingly challenging. With over 200 ERISA class-action lawsuits filed since 2020, fiduciary litigation targeting 401(k) plans is surging, creating unprecedented legal exposure. High-profile cases, even against well-respected entities like NYU and Fidelity, highlight a stark reality: even the most well-intentioned fiduciaries can face devastating personal liability for participant losses.
But here’s the good news: you’re not powerless. By implementing these five evidence-backed strategies, you can significantly shield your plan from costly litigation while simultaneously strengthening outcomes for your participants.
The potential value that managed account providers bring—including personalized guidance, holistic planning, dynamic rebalancing, and tax-aware portfolio management—has rarely been in question. The primary critique has always been about their added expenses relative to target-date funds, which have offered a reasonable, if highly imperfect, solution at a much lower cost.
However, a combination of intense competition, technological advancements that improve the efficiency of delivery, and other market factors has driven these expenses down meaningfully over time, particularly for the very large plans. As the cost difference between managed accounts and target-date funds has become much more negligible, especially for mega plans, the value proposition for managed accounts has grown meaningfully.
This shift allows mega defined contribution plan sponsors with substantial assets to deliver institutional-quality investment management and financial advice to participants at significantly reduced costs. These large-scale plans—spanning 401(k), 403(b), and 457 platforms—leverage their substantial bargaining power to negotiate managed account fees that reframe the traditional cost-benefit equation for their participants.
As a 401(k) investment committee member, you hold a position of profound trust and critical responsibility. This isn’t merely an oversight role; you are a plan fiduciary, legally and ethically bound to act exclusively in the best interests of your plan participants and their beneficiaries. This article serves as a direct guide for every committee member to effectively fulfill these vital duties and navigate the complexities of plan governance.
When it comes to investing, the age-old debate of active management versus passive management isn’t just about personal preference; it’s deeply tied to the unique characteristics of different asset classes and how efficient their markets are. Understanding where each approach shines can be a game-changer for optimizing returns, managing risk, and keeping costs down.
Running a 401(k) plan comes with significant responsibility. As a fiduciary, you’re tasked with safeguarding your employees’ financial futures, a role that demands careful planning and unwavering diligence. While it might sound like another piece of corporate jargon, a well-crafted 401(k) Investment Policy Statement (IPS) isn’t just a document—it’s your strategic blueprint.
Think of the IPS as the compass guiding your plan’s investment journey. It helps you navigate fiduciary duties, maintain consistency, and, most importantly, demonstrate procedural prudence under ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act). And while it’s not legally mandated, it’s widely considered a best practice and often a key request during regulatory audits.
Ready to build your plan’s financial fortress? Here’s your step-by-step guide to writing an effective IPS:
