Defined Contribution Plans

A new survey finds that small employers are interested in learning more about pooled employer plans, although there is still some hesitancy on the road to implementation. In fact, more than half of smaller employers surveyed by the Secure Retirement Institute (SRI) that are considering a defined... READ MORE

In April, equity markets posted their worst month in more than two years, but 401(k) investors were holding firm, according to Alight’s April 2022 401(k) Index. Surprisingly, there were no above-normal trading days in April, and on average, 0.011% of 401(k) balances were traded daily, the firm... READ MORE

Perhaps because of the recent full moon, the nation’s 401(k) “haters” were out in force. Yes, last week we were “treated” to a Bloomberg op-ed with ideas on how to “fix” America’s broken retirement savings system, a back-handed compliment (of sorts) on SECURE 2.0 in Forbes from Teresa Ghilarducci... READ MORE

Despite ongoing challenges bought about by the pandemic, 2021 withdrawal and contribution data indicate that essentially all DC plan participants continued to save in their retirement plans at work. Only 2.2% of DC plan participants stopped contributing in 2021, compared with 2.3% in 2020 and 3.4... READ MORE

An annual analysis of 401(k) plan data finds that the top five industries with the best plans continue to outpace the competition in nearly all metrics.  The results of Judy Diamond Associates’ sixth annual 401(k) Plan Benchmark Report finds that for the second year in a row, the 11,532 firms that... READ MORE

Employers are eyeing changes to their DC plans in an effort to improve their employees’ retirement security and financial wellbeing and to help with recruitment and retention.  In a survey of 363 DC plan sponsors representing a broad range of industries, Willis Towers Watson found that 75% of... READ MORE

Last year, more workers took advantage of the convenience of virtual and on-demand 401(k) educational sessions, and it appears this trend will continue even as workplaces move back to in-person work.   According to data from Schwab Retirement Plan Services, participant viewership for virtual live... READ MORE

Another 401(k) has been charged with falling short of its fiduciary obligations—and of failing to leverage its “tremendous bargaining power”—though it’s a smaller plan than most caught in those crosshairs. The plan in this case is 99 Cents Only Stores, LLC (also branded as “The 99 Store”), an... READ MORE

Given that strategies that worked for DC plans in the past may be less successful in the future, it will be critical to incorporate forward-looking market views to keep participants on track, the firm suggests in a new paper.  In “What our Long-Term Capital Market Assumptions Mean for Defined... READ MORE