401(k) plans take on an institutional look and feel.(Comingled funds growing)(Brief Article)

Once of interest primarily to defined benefit sponsors such as unions, commingled investment funds are finding a steady increase in acceptance among 401(k) plans.

Marketers of commingled funds, in which several plans combine assets and share management fees, are targeting mid-size to large 401(k) plans that maintain a substantial asset portfolio but individually are too small to afford start-up costs. Together, however, the sponsors can meet the minimum $50 million needed to set up a fund with one money manager responsible for all pooled assets.

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