Private Markets
Private markets play a vital and growing role in financing U.S. businesses and supporting economic growth.
Through private offerings, companies can raise capital efficiently, diversify funding sources, and access long-term investors — including pension funds, endowments, and other investors that rely on these markets to meet their
financial objectives.
SIFMA supports policies that promote capital formation and enhance investor access to private markets while maintaining critical protections and guardrails for investors and retirement savers.
Key Focus Areas
Strengthening Capital Formation
Private markets are a cornerstone of U.S. economic dynamism, allowing companies of all sizes to raise capital outside traditional public offerings. These markets have expanded significantly over the past decade, providing vital funding for companies that may not desire or yet be ready — or suited — for public listings.
SIFMA supports regulatory approaches that facilitate efficient access to capital, particularly for entrepreneurs, small and mid-sized businesses, and job creators. We encourage policymakers to recognize the important role private markets play in driving innovation and supporting economic resilience.
Supporting Investor Access and Education
Institutional investors — including pension plans, insurance companies, and endowments — have historically functioned as key participants in private markets, helping to finance innovation and growth across industries.
SIFMA supports efforts to increase investor access to private markets, providing individual investors and retirement savers enhanced opportunities to gain exposure to private markets while ensuring critical investor protections.
SIFMA also supports educational efforts to improve policymaker, plan sponsor, and investor understandings of the risks, product structures, and liquidity characteristics of private market investments.
Coordinating Regulatory Efforts
Recent proposals by regulators have sought to expand investor access to private market investments. SIFMA encourages coordination among the SEC, DOL, and other regulators to implement clear and consistent approaches that increase investor opportunities responsibly.
A coherent, harmonized approach will support both capital formation and investor protection.
The Bottom Line
Private markets are a critical source of financing for American businesses and a key driver of innovation, growth, and job creation. SIFMA supports a thoughtful regulatory framework that appropriately balances investor access and investor protection while preserving the flexibility and efficiency that make these markets thrive.
