Women need employer help in brightening retirement prospects
When people speak about retirement and security, women often get overlooked, but they are one of the most vulnerable segments of society.
Retirement education
Benefits Think 9 FAQs about fiduciary responsibility
The Department of Labor recently announced a proposed set of regulations about retirement plan fiduciary responsibility. Here are the answers to nine frequently asked questions employers have about their fiduciary duties.
Robert C. Lawton
Lawton Retirement Plan Consultants
Millennials bring new expectations for retirement planning
As a younger generation of investors begins to grapple with retirement planning, advisors and fund companies should take note of the distinct concerns that those millennials bring with them
Workers missing out on billions in unclaimed 401(k) matches
While the majority of employers offer a company match on their 401(k) plan, employees are not taking advantage of the benefit, passing up the chance to potentially receive thousands of dollars every year.
Washington event puts spotlight on retirement woes
Although an important aspect of retirement, Social Security is just the backbone on which defined benefit and defined contribution plans should build upon.
Workers want more active employer role in retirement planning
Employer-sponsored defined contribution plans have become the go-to retirement vehicle for the majority of workers in the U.S. but more needs to be done to get employees to not only save but to save more.
Benefits Think Is the financial crisis over?
Commentary: Do loans and hardships really help solve what the plan was designed to do? Columnist John Ludwig doesnt think so. In the end, they are a detriment to most participants retirement dreams, he says.
John Ludwig
LHD Retirement
Funded status of top corporate plans jumps slightly in April
April was a better month for the 100 largest U.S. corporate pension plans, with their funded status rising to 82.6% from 80.9%.
529 plans help employees invest in childrens futures
When saving for the future, many people opt focus on their childrens opportunities rather than their own. The College Savings Plan Network encourages employers to offer benefits options, such as a 529 college investment plan, to help their employees save for their childrens college educations.
Benefits Think The downside of passively managed funds
Commentary: There are certain areas of an asset allocation where there is real danger to blindly investing in passive investments.
Benefits Think 4 best practices for promoting employees financial wellness
Commentary: Many workers prefer to access financial products, including insurance, in the workplace. This intersection of employer awareness and employee preference has created an opportunity for employee benefit advisers, says Prudentials Lori Fouché.
Interest rate liability important to retirement conversation
As U.S. employers move away from defined benefit pension plans in favor of self-directed retirement accounts, workers have become responsible for their own investment and longevity risk in retirement something theyve never had to deal with before and dont understand very well.
Small business partnerships could be retirements silver lining for many
As the country celebrates small business week, a time to appreciate the contributions these employers give to the economy, some debate how small companies can best give back to their employees financial wellness and, ultimately, retirement readiness.
Todays employees concede working longer will help fund their retirement
Younger workers have begun to recognize that working well into their traditional retirement age will likely be the new normal, as Social Security and even workplace savings plans may not support their lifestyles.
Providing a comprehensive total employee benefits package
It's important for employees — even those who've been with the same company for years — to reevaluate their needs and make sure they’re getting the most out of the benefits you're offering.
Plan sponsors get serious about TDF selection
As target-date fund assets continue to skyrocket and as more 401(k) plans adopt auto-enrollment, plan sponsors are taking a taking a more measured approach to choosing the TDFs for their plans.
Public entities, voluntary benefits next up in retiree exchange market
A 9-million person market is a powerful one to tap. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, which represents Blues plans across the country, is the latest to launch a retiree private HIX, coming this summer.
Health plan changes put added pressure on retirement savings
More employers are moving to a holistic benefits education approach that addresses health care and retirement savings at the same time.
Benefits Think New generation requires new retirement thinking
Commentary: To better serve millennials, the financial services community and 401(k) plan sponsors need to better understand the motivations of the typical member of this generation.
Kevin Boyles
Ascensus
Benefits Think When the intranet is not enough: Rules for electronic disclosure of plan documents
It seems that everyone has a smart phone or a tablet and I cant think of anyone I know who does not have internet access at home. Consequently, plan sponsors ask all the time if they can just e-mail plan documents to employees to satisfy the notice requirements, or maybe just post new plan documents on the company intranet. Recent legal actions serve as a reminder that the short answer to the question is no.