December 8, 2025
Tony Rifilato reports on the SEC’s evolving approach to retail alternative investments, as newly appointed Investment Management Director Brian Daly indicated that the agency does not plan to introduce a sweeping overhaul of private fund regulation. Rather than pursuing a single transformative “big bang” rule, Daly outlined an approach focused on listening to industry feedback and avoiding overly prescriptive frameworks. He emphasized that expanding retail access to alternatives will occur through a gradual and measured reconsideration of existing rules across access points, structures, and disclosures. His remarks come as recent SEC actions have broadened investor eligibility, simplified co-investment relief, and prompted a surge in new interval and tender offer fund filings.
XA Investments President Kimberly Flynn underscored the regulatory scrutiny facing new interval fund entrants. “If you’re a new issuer in the interval fund space, you should expect the SEC to knock on your door within 12 months,” she said, noting that the agency is likely focusing on boutique alternatives managers launching their first registered products. “Be ready – everything needs to be buttoned up from a legal and compliance perspective,” she added.
Flynn also noted that the SEC’s current posture creates room for continued product development within the existing regulatory framework. She said the SEC will likely allow managers to “innovate by launching a bunch of products using the existing rule set.”
In addition, XA Investments research highlights accelerating growth in evergreen fund structures. In an October report, Flynn wrote that retail 3(c)(7) funds are expected to double in size in 2026, driven by advisor demand and the operational challenges boutique managers face when considering interval fund launches.
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