On October 9 2025, Bernstein Private Wealth Management, a unit of AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. (NYSE: AB), announced the launch of the Bernstein PEP, a pooled employer plan designed to provide retirement benefit options for small to mid‑sized businesses and private‑equity firms. The plan is a joint effort with Empower, the record‑keeper, and the National Professional Planning Group, the pooled plan provider, and is intended to simplify plan administration while offering institutional‑quality investment options.
The Bernstein PEP combines institutional‑quality investments, intuitive participant‑engagement tools, and streamlined oversight, allowing multiple unrelated employers to participate in a single retirement plan. By reducing administrative complexity and fiduciary risk, the product aims to attract employers who currently lack a robust 401(k) offering, thereby expanding the DC market for AB’s wealth‑management services.
This launch represents a strategic expansion of AB’s defined‑contribution business, which managed $142.2 billion in DC assets as of August 31 2025 and $144 billion in total assets under management as of June 30 2025. The new plan is expected to generate additional fee income and broaden AB’s client base, positioning the firm to capture a growing segment of the retirement‑plan market.
The introduction of the Bernstein PEP aligns with AB’s broader focus on product innovation and client‑centric solutions, reinforcing its competitive edge in the active‑management and retirement‑solutions space. By adding a scalable, low‑complexity product, AB can deepen relationships with small and mid‑sized employers while leveraging its existing investment expertise.
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