William (Bill) katz's questions to Ares Management Corp (ARES) leadership • Q2 2025
Question
William Katz asked for an update on the potential inclusion of alternative investments in 401(k) plans, inquiring about Ares's conversations with potential partners and the perceived opportunity set.
Answer
Michael Arougheti, Co-Founder, CEO & Director, affirmed that Ares is a strong proponent of democratizing alternatives and feels closer than ever to 401(k) inclusion. However, he cautioned that the process will likely be gradual, pending regulatory rulemaking and adoption by plan sponsors. Arougheti confirmed that Ares has a product ready and is actively engaging with retirement services partners, while emphasizing a continued focus on quality deployment over simple AUM growth.