Invesco Broadens DC Access to Private Real Estate with New CIT
Invesco Ltd. today revealed the next step in the firm’s commitment to expanding access to private markets for retirement plan participants, announcing the launch of the Invesco Core Plus Real Estate Trust, a collective investment trust (CIT) exclusively designed to provide defined contribution (DC) plans access to private real estate through a daily valued structure purpose-built for retirement portfolios.
“Private market strategies have gained attention among retirement plan sponsors and participants in recent years,” said Greg Jenkins, Managing Director of DC Solutions, Invesco. “Historically, these strategies in DC plans have been limited. The Invesco Core Plus Real Estate Trust offers sponsors and asset allocators a scalable way to incorporate core plus real estate into DC plans in alignment with long-term retirement objectives.”
The Invesco Core Plus Real Estate Trust is designed to provide exposure to core plus private real estate managed by Invesco Real Estate, complemented by an allocation to passive U.S. REITs to support daily liquidity. The Trust is structured as a daily valued CIT, enabling efficient implementation within defined contribution plans while supporting long-term strategic allocations within retirement portfolios.
Expanding DC access
Invesco pointed out in a press release today that private markets, including real estate, have long been used in defined benefit plans, yet DC plans allocate less than 1% to the category, according to industry surveys including the Callan Index. Private real estate can offer several potential benefits for retirement portfolios. A core plus real estate approach further expands the opportunity set through broader geographic and sector diversification.
“As one of the first dedicated core plus private real estate CITs, the Trust introduces institutional real estate capabilities that support the long-term needs of defined contribution investors.”
Invesco’s Scott Dennis
“As one of the first dedicated core plus private real estate CITs, the Trust introduces institutional real estate capabilities that support the long-term needs of defined contribution investors,” said Scott Dennis, Global Head of Private Markets, Invesco. “Drawing on our decades of real estate expertise, the CIT reflects our ongoing commitment to expanding access to private markets for retirement plan participants.”
Invesco also noted it will support plan sponsors and retirement professionals with research and educational resources designed to help them evaluate how private market strategies may be thoughtfully incorporated into DC plans. Insights from Invesco’s 2026 Defined Contribution Participant Pulse Survey show that more than 85% of participants are either definitely or maybe interested in having private market investments included in their employer-sponsored retirement plan, with a majority indicating greater comfort when access is provided through professionally managed solutions such as managed accounts or target date funds.
The Invesco Core Plus Real Estate Trust is trusteed and managed by Invesco Trust Company and sub-advised by Invesco Advisers, Inc. The CIT is intended for use exclusively within professionally managed DC solutions, such as TDFs and managed account portfolios. It is designed for a broad range of plan types and sizes, including large DC plans and pooled employer plans (PEPs) with custom target date funds, off-the-shelf target date fund providers, and managed account solutions.
Atlanta-based Invesco Ltd. is one of the world’s leading asset management firms with $2.2 trillion in assets under management as of Dec. 31, 2025.
SEE ALSO:
• DC Participants Open to Private Markets—and AI—with Guardrails: Invesco Survey
• Private Markets and 401(k)s: Invesco’s Greg Jenkins on What Comes Next
• ‘Next-Gen’ CIT for 401(k) Market Coming in Q2 from Apollo, Schroders
Veteran financial services industry journalist Brian Anderson joined 401(k) Specialist as Managing Editor in January 2019. He has led editorial content for a variety of well-known properties including Insurance Forums, Life Insurance Selling, National Underwriter Life & Health, and Senior Market Advisor. He has always maintained a focus on providing readers with timely, useful information intended to help them build their business.