(Bloomberg) — Private equity funds are probably too complicated for the average investor's retirement account, according to Principal Financial Group Inc., which provides the plans to 3.8 million people.
"When people start talking about ETFs and liquid alts and private equity and all of that stuff, I too chuckle a little bit," Principal Chief Executive Officer Larry Zimpleman said on a conference call today in response to a question about including exchange-traded funds and other options in 401(k) plans. "It's really hard to see how that is something that can be easily explained."
Carlyle Group LP, Blackstone Group LP and KKR & Co. are among private-equity firms that have sought to increase their appeal to ordinary investors with an eye to managing a piece of the $4.2 trillion Americans held in 401(k) retirement plans. KKR this year closed two funds that targeted individuals in a setback to the push.
Zimpleman, 62, said it's possible that private-equity and liquid alternative funds could find a place in target-date investment options. Those funds provide an asset allocation that's selected by the fund manager and typically becomes less risky over time.
"Our role is to construct very solid, but also easy-to- understand" investment options, Zimpleman said. The average 401(k) investor is "focused on their job and their family," he said. "They know they need to save, but they're clearly not an investment expert."
Locked up
Private-equity investments are typically only available to clients with at least $5 million to commit. The money is usually locked up for about a decade, and the firms have a mandate to buy companies, improve their value, and sell them with a profit.
