Plan Sponsor

Effective retirement plan communications do more than just meet DOL requirements; the best ones engage, educate, motivate, and empower participants. Optimize your communications to connect with employees on a personal level, encourage informed decisions, and foster more active engagement with their retirement plan and their financial future. Effective, empathic communications help build a foundation of trust and confidence in the plan benefits — and the employer.

Target date funds (TDF) are in high demand these days. According to a recent Sway Research study, total TDF assets reached $3.5 trillion in 2023 — a record level. Moreover, mutual fund target dates began 2024 slightly ahead of collective investment trusts, holding $1.76 trillion in assets compared to $1.71 trillion in CITs, TDF assets in CITs are expected to overtake assets in mutual funds this year as fiduciaries continue to look for ways to reduce fees and access innovative solutions.

Americans are increasingly getting financial and retirement planning guidance from social media, risking exposure to misinformation, harmful advice and outright scams. Alarmingly, this includes almost eight in 10 millennials and Gen Zers. Workers turning to these platforms can undercut the benefit of employer-sponsored financial wellness initiatives and put themselves at risk. But there are ways to help ensure sound advice prevails.

According to a December 2023 survey from Schroder’s, nearly half of non-retired Gen Xers, those born between 1965 and 1980, have not done any retirement planning whatsoever. So how can employers help their "Sandwich Generation" workers consider planning for retirement?

Retirement planning often directs attention toward mid-career 401(k) participants and those nearing retirement, but what about the youngest members of the workforce — the 18- to 20-year-olds, or those even younger? How can proposed Legislation aim to help young workers put time on their side in retirement planning?

A recent Vanguard report finds that individuals in the lowest income bracket spend a staggering 96% of their pre-retirement income on daily needs, compared to the highest bracket spending only 43% on average. This income spend-down disparity leaves lower and middle class individuals with a substantial shortfall in retirement readiness. Plan sponsors can take proactive steps to help participants better prepare for a secure retirement with these simple tips.