ForUsAll Features Cryptocurrency in New Alt 401(k) Platform

ForUsAll, a retirement investment platform for small businesses, has introduced the Alt 401(k).

The retirement investment platform allows employers to provide alternative investment options within 401(k) plans. The company is enabling employers to offer cryptocurrency as the plan’s first alternative investment by working with Coinbase Institutional, a leading cryptocurrency platform.

“For too long, too many Americans haven’t had the same access to alternative investments that wealthy and professional investors have had. Our mission is to provide every American with the tools necessary to build a brighter financial future, and making these alternatives more readily available is a key step toward that,” says Jeff Schulte, CEO of ForUsAll. “By introducing the Alt 401(k), we are democratizing access to what drives wealth for the wealthy—alternative investment options, combined with our original core offering of low-cost index funds and personalized help.”

With the Alt 401(k), employees can transfer up to 5% of their balances into a secure account that has exposure to certain cryptocurrencies; are able to buy, hold, and sell more than 50 different cryptocurrencies; and can receive ongoing portfolio monitoring and education. For employers, the platform offers a full turn-key automated 401(k), with both traditional and alternative investment options.

“When we created our institutional platform, our initial focus was making cryptocurrency accessible to institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals,” says Brett Tejpaul, head of institutional coverage at Coinbase. “The next evolution is to broaden our reach and we are thrilled to be working with ForUsAll, the leading 401(k) technology platform, to expand access to cryptocurrency through 401(k)s.”

ForUsAll argues that cryptocurrency may provide investors tangible advantages in tax efficiency, diversification, savings incentives, convenience and security. The investment platform’s feature gives employees access to owning cryptocurrencies that are stored using storage methods such as “cold” or offline storage. Employees can access their crypto holdings similarly to how they access other retirement investments, without having to manage digital wallets or private keys, ForUsAll says.

“Technologies such as blockchain and cryptocurrency have the potential to transform our economy. Small early investments in this space may make sense as part of a diversified portfolio,” adds David Ramirez, co-founder and chief investment officer (CIO) at ForUsAll. “Combining access to these assets with education and portfolio monitoring may allow more Americans to benefit from these emerging technologies.”