Retirement savers are getting a new window into private markets, but a fresh debate has begun brewing over whether the asset class belongs in everyday 401(k)s.
What Happened: BlackRock, in late June, said it plans to launch target-date funds that include private equity and private credit as soon as 2026, with allocations that scale from roughly 5% to 20% depending on investor age, a shift it says can improve outcomes in professionally managed portfolios. Empower, one of the largest 401(k) providers, announced in May that it will offer access to private investments in some workplace plans this year.
