Follow Us
© 2026 Arizent. All rights reserved.
Retirement plans aren’t just for retirement anymore. Thanks to federal legislation, 401(k)s can be used to pay off student loans, build emergency savings, set aside money for health care or even buy a first home.
The list has grown so long that some experts are asking a new question: Is the 401(k) doing too many things? With employer-sponsored retirement plans serving so many other purposes, could their original mission — helping Americans save for retirement — get crowded out?
Nathan Place is a national reporter at American Banker. A native of New York City, he has worked for more than a decade in both print and video journalism. He got his start in Beijing, where he … Read full bio
For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
From emergency savings to retirement and AI-powered advice, employers are rethinking financial wellness as workers struggle to keep up with rising costs.
U.S. workers say retirement is getting harder to afford, raising questions about how organizations can help workers save, understand their benefits, and plan ahead.
Childcare issues are putting pressure on working parents and employers alike. Here's what benefit leaders should know about costs, tax credits and care.
In addition to finding success with a self-funded model, an in-house program gives Fello's employees access to cost-free primary and urgent care.
Transamerica Institute finds more middle-class workers expect to fund retirement through 401(k)s and other savings, but financial pressures could derail those plans.
