Paula Aven Gladych

As plan sponsors become more aware of their fiduciary responsibilities, advisers and investment managers who offer to help them manage some of that responsibility have become more popular.

As the employers and others in the retirement plan industry prepare for President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, the Insured Retirement Institute releases its own agenda for 2016.

Defined benefit plan sponsors continued to de-risk their plans in 2015 with lump-sum payouts and group annuity purchases. It was the second most active recent year for annuity purchases, finds new research from consulting firm Willis Towers Watson.

Mutual fund fees in 401(k) plans tended to fall between 2009 and 2013, finds new research from BrightScope and the Investment Company Institute. Consistent with other research, the study also found that fund expenses are typically lower in larger plans.

Plan sponsors are doing a better job of educating 401(k) plan participants about target-date funds, says Vanguard’s John Croke, but there’s still more to do moving forward.

Sitting back and hoping for the best is not an investment strategy, says Matt McDaniel, U.S. head of defined benefit risk at Mercer.

Trying to communicate retirement planning messages during the holiday season is like offering a kale smoothie to someone during Mardi Gras – it might be good for them, but it won’t be widely embraced, says one retirement plan expert.

The small-plan retirement market has been dominated by investment product providers like insurance companies, mutual fund companies and broker dealers. But are RIAs are making inroads?

Retirement plan experts don’t expect immediate effects from the Federal Reserve’s announced interest rate hike but advise plan sponsors to review new 401(k) loans to ensure they reflect the new rate.

Re-enrollment can help existing 401(k) plan participants diversify their investment holdings without having to put too much thought into it.