Investments

Expected investment returns in DB plans aren’t what they used to be, says The Principal’s Mike Clark.

But employer auto-enrollment, rather than employee financial intelligence, may be the reason.

Retirement plan sponsors should focus on student loan repayments, the fiduciary rule and more in the coming year.

New innovations gained ground in the benefits industry in 2016, but there’s work to do with employee engagement.

New innovations gained ground in the benefit adviser space in 2016, but there’s work to do with employee engagement.

Plan providers must find ways to differentiate their services to be part of advisers’ go-to lists.

Although clients pay taxes on the contributions they make, they can still expect tax savings as their money grows tax-free and future distributions are exempt from taxes.

Plan providers must find ways to differentiate their services to be part of advisers’ go-to lists.

Although retirement investors lose from the decline in bonds' value, they stand to gain from the rising payouts from 10-year Treasury bonds.

Although retirement investors lose from the decline in bonds' value, they stand to gain from the rising payouts from 10-year Treasury bonds.

The total retirement funds of 100 CEOs can match the combined nest eggs of 41% of U.S. households that saved the least for retirement.

The total retirement funds of 100 CEOs can match the combined nest eggs of 41% of U.S. households that saved the least for retirement.

Investors are advised to reduce their risk capacity and get their portfolio ready for the distribution phase once they are within five years of their retirement.

Investors are advised to reduce their risk capacity and get their portfolio ready for the distribution phase once they are within five years of their retirement.

Investors nearing retirement should make sure their portfolios are diversified and consider alternative assets, such as real estate, commodities and annuities.

Investors nearing retirement should make sure their portfolios are diversified and consider alternative assets, such as real estate, commodities and annuities.

Clients in this situation will need to gather a lot of paperwork, including at least eight certified copies of the spouse's death certificate for life insurance, among other reasons.

Clients in this situation will need to gather a lot of paperwork, including at least eight certified copies of the spouse's death certificate for life insurance, among other reasons.

It's misguided to treat Social Security as bonds since clients can't sell a portion of their Social Security when they need to raise funds.

It's misguided to treat Social Security as bonds since clients can't sell a portion of their Social Security when they need to raise funds.