Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. If you have been managing your own 401(k) for years, you have probably noticed something frustrating. Your investment menu looks almost identical to what it did a decade ago: stock funds, bond funds, target-date funds, maybe a money market option. Meanwhile, the pension funds, endowments and family offices have access to a completely different playbook. They invest in private equity, venture capital, real estate deals and infrastructure projects that most of us never see. That gap is starting to close. In August 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing regulators to clear the path for alternative investments in 401(k) plans. Within days, the Department of Labor rescinded guidance that had discouraged these options. This matters for entrepreneurs. But before you start reallocating your retirement savings, you need to understand what you are actually getting into.…