Failure to rebalance, not frequent trading, cited as challenge for 401(k) plans
Market timing and frequent trades within 401(k) plan mutual funds seem to be a thing of the past, according to the Government Accountability Office.
Financial planning
Managed accounts as QDIAs: rare, but could change
As participants age and their retirement investment requirements become less easily satisfied by cookie-cutter target date funds, the use of managed accounts as qualified default investment alternatives in 401(k) plans may grow.
Social Security needs to figure more prominently in retirement plan education
When employers are talking to employees about retirement readiness, Social Security benefits should figure into the conversation, particularly for those nearing retirement.
Benefits Think The demographic disconnect: Financial wellness across the generations
Accounting for the needs of multiple generations in a financial wellness program can seem overwhelming.
Workers missing out on Roth 401(k)s
Many employees may not be aware they have the option of a Roth 401(k), and those who do often don't have any idea which to pick — the traditional 401(k) or the Roth 401(k).
Benefits Think Bridging the generational financial wellness divide
Commentary: As the boomer generation moves further into traditional retirement years, evolving employee expectations are altering the benefits landscape more significantly than at any other time in recent history.
Benefits Think Wellness conversations still one-dimensional
While employers define the topic in different ways, most are focused solely on the physical.
Loretta Metzger
Corporate Synergies
DC plan participation rates rising, helped by auto-enrollment
Participation in employer-sponsored 401(k) plans has slowly crept up over the past decade, in large part because of actions taken by plan sponsors.
Benefits Think Chamber of Commerce study fatally flawed
Commentary: If the objective of the Chamber of Commerces study on the DOLs proposed fiduciary rules was to scare small business owners, clearly it succeeded. But it certainly failed on another level.
Robert C. Lawton
Lawton Retirement Plan Consultants
Small-plan market to suffer under new fiduciary regime: U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Small businesses will pay a big price if the Department of Labors proposed changes to the fiduciary rules go into effect, says the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Household income key variable in benefits plan success
Lower income employees present a particular challenge to employers as they seek to get a handle on managing their health plans.
Inadequate retirement savings a global issue
While employers may recognize that the amount of time employees will spend in retirement is growing, people around the world fail to reflect this trend in their long-term financial planning.
Financial stress carries over into retirement
Women tend to stress out more than men when it comes to retirement, but they also report more positive experiences in retirement.
Benefits Think Washington: A model approach to improving retirement savings?
Commentary: When talking about the financial security of all Americans, playing politics is unfortunate. Ideologue mentality prevents meaningful dialogue and instead keeps kicking the can down the road, says The Principals Aaron Friedman.
Aaron Friedman
Principal Financial Group
Shareholder pressure influencing golden parachute benefits
Powers granted to shareholders to vote down pay packages for the CEO and other top executives by the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act appear to be driving some change in executives golden parachute protections.
In-plan annuity options grow as MetLife introduces longevity product
Although they still amount to little more than a blip on the radar screen, income guarantee arrangements incorporated into defined contribution plans are growing rapidly in popularity.
New benefits help employees shed their debt weight
Low-cost lending and credit-establishment services emerge as a new benefit to help employees make better financial decisions.
Benefits Think Why plan sponsors should support harmonization of fiduciary regulations
When the recently proposed fiduciary rules are finalized there will likely continue to be significant differences between how Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) and brokers interact with their retirement plan clients from a fiduciary standpoint.
Robert C. Lawton
Lawton Retirement Plan Consultants
Proactive financial habits can guarantee early retirement success
Many assume that a wealthy upbringing is essential for an early retirement, but recent studies show those who plan to retire early were no more likely to describe their family growing up as wealthy/affluent, or financially comfortable, than people who planned to stay in the workforce longer.
Set-it-and-forget-it prevails in worker retirement accounts
Although 401(k) plan participation is increasing, employees are not actively managing their accounts.