Employer involvement in 401(k) drives employee engagement
Employers are realizing that employees really respond when they not only promote their company retirement plan, but contribute to it.
Retirement education
Withdrawal liability is mounting for multiemployer pension plans
Commentary: Pension liability risk management is now more critical than ever. If an employer triggers a withdrawal, they need to act within 90 days to preserve their legal rights.
Annuities meaningless if savings practically zero
Employees may express interest in annuities, yet few retirement plan sponsors are rushing to offer them within their 401(k) plans.
State-run pension system is a ticking time bomb
Advisers are needed now more than ever to help individuals reach their retirement goals as employees assume the responsibility of managing their financial future.
Benefits Think 4 ways to a leak-proof 401(k) plan
Significant amounts of participant balances are leaking out of 401(k) plans and not being replenished, with potentially disastrous results.
Robert C. Lawton
Lawton Retirement Plan Consultants
Boomers face hidden danger in 401(k) plans
Some baby boomers are carrying too much risk in their retirement portfolios because of the stock markets rapid rise over the past five years.
Retirement savings shortfalls becoming state problem
While states are starting to realize they need to step up and help private sector employers better prepare their employees for retirement, Americans continue to fall short in meeting their economic needs in retirement.
Weighing the pros and cons of custom target-date strategies
When does it make sense to choose a custom target-date strategy instead of an off-the-shelf menu? Its a complicated question with no easy answer.
Benefits Think Retirement communications beyond the boomers
Commentary: Adopting a new approach to participant communications that factors in the unique characteristics of each generation, as well as the specific needs and preferences of each individual, is key to building and sustaining business.
Employers out of touch with employee perception of benefits
Workplace benefit plans are key part of employees future financial success but the majority of employers dont think their employees value the benefits that are offered.
BLS data highlights retirement disparities between public, private sectors
While a majority of both public and private employees have access to retirement plans, new research points to major differences in the number of those who actually participate.
Financial advisers engender savings discipline
U.S. working adults who seek the help of an adviser are more likely to describe themselves as savers and have less debt than those without an adviser.
Benefits Think Meaningful shift in acceptance of new retirement savings strategy
Commentary: Stretching a match has strong appeal for companies that have identified a retirement benefit philosophy that prioritizes the ability of its employees to retire with the right replacement ratio.
Empower employees through financial wellness programs
More and more employers are looking to ensure the retirement readiness and financial wellbeing of their employees, as financial stress has shown to make a significant impact on both the physical well-being of employees and their workplace productivity.
Benefits Think Lost in translation: Annual funding notices confound readers
Commentary: Bloviating terms have no meaning to plan participants, who simply want to know if their pensions will be delivered as promised.
Mike Clark
Principal Financial Group
Regular monitoring keeps 401(k) fees in check
Fee disclosure rules may have helped bring 401(k) fees down, but plan sponsors can still do more to ensure they and their employees arent paying too much.
Benefits Think Safe harbor IRAs arent always safe
Commentary: Many safe harbor IRAs dont live up to their name and could leave sponsors with unexpected fiduciary liability.
Spencer Williams
Portability Services Network and Retirement Clearinghouse
Comment period closes on DOL fiduciary rule
Many believe the DOL has gone about its fiduciary rule-making in the wrong way and fear the rules, as proposed, will do more harm than good.
Benefits industry asks DOL to revamp burdensome fiduciary rule
Industry trade groups and associations flooded the DOL with suggested amendments and revisions to its proposed fiduciary rule, ahead of the July 21 deadline for comments.
Plan sponsors concerned about PBGC premiums
Higher PBGC premiums and a volatile market are catalysts for risk management in DB plans.