Employee benefits

In a competitive M&A environment, purchasers are becoming more willing to take on pension and post-retiree medical obligations, finds new Mercer research.

Peter Gordon explains why the company doesn’t offer a traditional annuity product within 401(k) plans and the importance of offering plan sponsors a neutral investment platform.

Reframing these options to illustrate how they enhance an employer’s benefit package can lead to increased engagement

Advisers should understand the impact of interest rates and other investment principles to help make these plans more effective, says Mike Clark of Principal Financial Group.

No one technology solution is right for every employer. Documenting your needs and goals is the first step to determine the right service.

Those who adapt to the new environment will gain market share and maintain high profitability, says one expert.

Everything has a price. As fiduciaries, plan sponsors are tasked by the DOL to ascertain reasonableness on the payments they make to third-parties, says John Ludwig.

There are still several stigmas attached to flexible work arrangements, despite increased demand from employees and growing — yet sometimes cautious — investment by employers.

It’s not uncommon today for retirement to last 20 or 30 years. And yet, more than half of all working-age households are inadequately prepared for retirement, says Prudential’s Christine Marcks.

Everything has a price. As fiduciaries, plan sponsors are tasked by the DOL to ascertain reasonableness on the payments they make to third-parties, says John Ludwig.

Workers need help understanding how and why to prioritize contributions to a health savings account.

Advisers can assist employers in promoting the benefit, offered to low- to moderate-income workers who put money in a 401(k), 403(b) or IRA plans.

The fate of the ACA’s excise tax notwithstanding, employers continue to look at an array of options to rein in their healthcare costs.

Even as employers increasingly shift the cost of these programs on to employees through voluntary plans, workers are seeing value in them.

Price comparison tools available to the public don’t make it easy enough for workers to make informed decisions.

How focus groups, partners, and a new value proposition can lead to additional revenue streams.

Understanding retirement plan administrative requirements, including those around audits and service providers, is essential.

Health savings accounts help workers save for healthcare expenses in retirement. Employees who are eligible to contribute to an HSA should max out those contributions before putting money away in their 401(k) plan, says retirement plan consultant Robert C. Lawton. Here’s why.

Employers can play a huge role in promoting the benefit, which is offered to low- to moderate-income workers who put money away in a 401(k), 403(b) or IRA.

The Alameda County Community Food bank in Oakland, California, works with SimpleFi to offer workers a unique financial wellness benefit.