Private Pension Plans Allowing Greater Flexibility.

• Position: Brief Article

A small but growing number of private-sector retirement plans now are offering "self-directed brokerage," which enables employees in a 401(k) plan to invest in individual stocks. One firm found that of the 250 companies it surveyed, 5 percent offered the option in 1998, 8 percent in 1999, and 14 percent in 2000. So far, only a small number of employees at these companies appear to be exercising this investment option, and oftentimes, employees are limited in how much they can invest to a...