The Retirement Program offers participants access to a distinctive array of asset classes, including alternative investments. Alternative investments, such as hedge funds, private equity, and real estate, provide a greater level of diversification than is available through typical employer plans, which usually offer only publicly traded investment funds. However, alternative investments come with certain restrictions: they do not trade on the public markets, they are priced monthly rather than daily (subject to a lag), and there are limitations on contributions and redemptions. Due to these restrictions, it is not possible for the Retirement Program to provide participants with daily valuation of account balances. Accounts are valued at the end of each month, with balances updated for performance at the end of the following month.