Collective Investment Trusts (CITs) continue gaining momentum across the defined contribution marketplace as plan sponsors, advisors, and providers increasingly seek lower-cost investment solutions and more scalable fiduciary structures. Once primarily utilized by larger institutional plans, CIT adoption has rapidly expanded throughout the broader 401(k) market — and potentially soon into the 403(b) space as well.
As adoption accelerates, so do conversations surrounding operational efficiency, fiduciary oversight, standardization, and scalability. The recent acquisition of Leafhouse’s fiduciary services business by Mesirow has renewed industry focus on how technology, streamlined onboarding, and modernized workflows may help evolve a space many believe still operates with outdated processes and operational friction.
At the same time, questions remain around transparency, regulatory oversight, operational fragmentation, and conflicts tied to proprietary systems and distribution models. Still, despite these concerns, the continued migration toward CITs appears unlikely to slow as providers and advisors continue prioritizing lower fees and expanded access to institutional investment structures.
Read more in Fred Barstein’s latest WealthManagement.com article, “Unpacking the Leafhouse-Mesirow Deal.”
