President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order that could make it easier for 401(k)s and other workplace retirement plans to offer employees the option of investing some of their savings in alternative investments including private equity, long the domain of institutional and “accredited” high-net-worth investors.

The order seeks to “relieve the regulatory burdens and litigation risk” to allow employers that sponsor retirement plans to “apply their best judgment in offering investment opportunities to relevant plan participants.”

It calls for the Labor Department to “reexamine” its “past and present guidance regarding a fiduciary’s duties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.” The DOL must “clarify” its position on alternative assets – which also includ

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