Skip to content
Monday, October 26, 2026 · Today’s edition, 6:30 a.m. ETMon, Oct 26 · 6:30 a.m. editionSign inMy Desk 0EditionsSign in

Carta launches 401(k) with Morgan Stanley and Vestwell

Private companies get Morgan Stanley's investment menu and Vestwell recordkeeping; pricing is not disclosed.

At a glance

  1. Vestwell's platform connects to more than 200 payroll systems and automates contributions, while Morgan Stanley curates and manages the investment menu.
  2. Advisors and sponsors comparing 401(k) quotes for private-company clients will need to obtain the fee and SECURE 2.0 credit terms separately before making a recommendation.
  3. The Daily Network reported in October that Morgan Stanley's poll of employers found 93% rank 401(k)s among employees' top five.

Carta launched the Carta 401(k) on Feb. 25, a retirement plan for private companies pairing investment portfolios and fiduciary support from Morgan Stanley's Institutional Consulting business with Vestwell recordkeeping.

Vestwell's platform connects to more than 200 payroll systems and automates contributions, while Morgan Stanley curates and manages the investment menu. Carta also lists SECURE 2.0 tax-credit work as part of the package, but the announcement does not give a fee, a fund lineup or a list of companies that have signed.

Advisors and sponsors comparing 401(k) quotes for private-company clients will need to obtain the fee and SECURE 2.0 credit terms separately before making a recommendation.

The 401(k) follows two earlier Carta agreements with Morgan Stanley: exclusive equity compensation provider for late-stage private companies going public, and preferred wealth manager for founders, executives and employees preparing for liquidity events.

The Daily Network reported in October that Morgan Stanley's poll of employers found 93% rank 401(k)s among employees' top five. A Vestwell survey from the same month found 85% of employees expect employer to offer retirement benefits.

Reported by the Plans & Sponsors desk from NAPA Net, Retirement Capital Daily archive and Retirement Capital Daily archive. Published . Corrections

Related

Retirement

Vestwell survey: 85% of employees expect employer to offer retirement benefits

62% say they should defer 10% or more of salary; Vestwell's own 401(k) and 403(b) holders averaged a 6.4% deferral in 2023.

Retirement

Vestwell staffs for disclosure; CITs get a distribution specialist

Two finance seats on a retirement platform's board and a one-woman CIT consultancy point at the same shift: the 401(k) business is spending on org charts and files, with the product decisions already made.

Retirement

Capital Group publishes 4%–5.5% range; Vanguard plans CITs

The framework models a 30-year retirement; Vanguard's planned trust series holds more equity through the glide path.

Retirement

EBRI and PensionBee find 68% of automatic rollover IRAs lose value in a year

The whitepaper estimates up to 13 million such accounts holding as much as $43 billion, with opening fees as high as $100 and $5 monthly maintenance.

Retirement

Vanguard to launch Target Retirement Growth Trusts with higher equity allocations

The collective investment trust series is built on Vanguard's existing Target Retirement foundation and holds more equity throughout the glide path.

Retirement Capital Dailyfrom Private Wealth Daily

Plan menus, in-plan income, rollovers and recordkeepers. Daily at 7:00 a.m. ET.

Free. Every morning. Unsubscribe from any edition in one click.

From other sections

Carta launches 401(k) with Morgan Stanley and Vestwell