benefits committee Archives - 401k Plan Optimization, Compliance, Investment & Partners

Want to Be a Millionaire? A Fresh Approach to Retirement Savings

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, 401k plan, Adaptability, adult learning, benefit education, benefits committee, Communication, Confidence, DC plans, debt relief, Employee Survey, Employee training, evolving and adapting, financial wellness, Independence planning, innovation, Millennial saving, Millennials Delaying Milestones, Modernize Retirement Plans, multi-generational workforce, Retirement Readiness, Retirement Savings Concern, Student Loan Benefits, student loan debt

One of the biggest challenges facing retirement plan sponsors today is helping younger employees connect with the idea of saving for a future that feels...

What Today’s Retirement Plan Participants Are Really Looking For

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, 401k Advisor, benefits committee, Changing dynamics, Communication, Creative approach, DC Plan Sponsors, Employee engagement, participation, Plan design, Plan Participation, Retirement Committee, Retirement Income, Retirement Plan Participation, Retirement Readiness

For many workers, retirement still feels like a distant goal—especially when today’s financial priorities include rising costs, student loans, housing expenses, and everyday bills. Yet...

Employers Increasingly Address Student Loan Stress Among Younger Workers

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, 401k News, 401k Trends, benefits committee, Client connection, Creative approach, DC Plan Sponsors, education, Employee Benefits, Employee engagement, Employee feedback, Employee happiness, Employee training, financial stress management, Financial Wellness, Health & Wellness, Student Loan Debt

As student loan debt continues to weigh heavily on younger generations entering the workforce, employers are increasingly recognizing the impact financial stress can have on...

Six Plan Governance Blind Spots and How to Fix Them

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, 401k plan, 401k Trends, Adaptability, Audit, Benchmarking & Fees (ERISA, retirement plan), Benchmarking Fees, benefits committee, Compliance, Cyber Security, DC Plan Sponsors, erisa, ERISA Advisory Council, fee lawsuits, Fiduciary, Fiduciary Liability, Financial Advisors, investment, Legislation, participation, Plan governance

Running a retirement plan involves a lot of moving pieces—service providers, investment options, fees, compliance requirements—and it’s easy for fiduciaries to get so deep into...

The 401(k) Revolution Is Underway

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) advisor trust, 401k Advisor, 401k Trends, Adaptability, AI for Retirement, artificial intelligence, benefits committee, collaboration, DC Plan Sponsors, Economy, fee transparency, Fiduciary, Fiduciary Liability, Financial Advice, Financial Stress, financial stress management, Financial Wellness, funds, Future Self, investment, Retirement plan management, Retirement planning, retirement security

The defined contribution (DC) world—especially 401(k) and 403(b) plans—is no longer the quiet, complex corner of finance it once was. What used to be a...

Health and Wealth Benefits Shouldn’t Be Communicated Separately

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, benefit education, benefits committee, Benefits integration, collaboration, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, Employee Benefits, Employee engagement, Employer Contribution, Fiduciary Liability, Financial Wellness, Health & Wellness, investment

Health impacts finances. Finances impact health. It’s not a new insight, but a recent white paper from Milliman, a global actuarial and consulting firm, argues...

Why Employers Are Overlooking Student Loan Benefits (And Why It Matters)

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, benefits committee, Benefits integration, CEO Engagement, education, Employee Benefits, Financial Wellness, SAVI, Student Loan Benefits, Student Loan Debt

Not every employee experiences student debt in the same way. A recent graduate navigating repayment options faces a very different reality than a mid-career professional...

Trump Account Matching Has Recruiting Appeal and Compliance Strings Attached

By Fred Barstein / benefits committee, Benefits integration, Communication, employer match, erisa, ERISA Advisory Council, Fiduciary, Fiduciary Training, ira, plan sponsor governance, Trump Accounts

Employer matching on Trump Accounts may sound like a natural extension of the family-first benefits trend that has reshaped recruiting over the past five years. ...

Employees Feel Fine Day to Day—but Financial Stress Is Undermining Resilience

By Fred Barstein / benefit education, benefits committee, Client connection, Communication, Convergence, Employee Benefits, Employee engagement, Employee happiness, Employee Resilience, Fiduciary, financial behaviors, financial insecurity, financial stress management, Financial Wellness, Financial Wellness, managed financial stress, Plan design, Retirement Plan Committee, wellness assessment

Tired Businesswoman In The Office With Stack Of Papers Sbi 350593568

Most employees say they’re doing pretty well on a daily basis. But dig a little deeper, and the picture changes. A new national survey from...

Recordkeeper Switches Can Go Wrong Fast. Is Your Plan Protected?

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, benefits committee, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, DOL Guidance, Employee engagement, ERISA Advisory Council, fee lawsuits, fees, Fiduciary, Fiduciary Liability, financial wellness, Improving Outcomes, lawsuits, Lifestyle Benefits, Qualified Advisor, Record Keepers, Recordkeeping, recordkeeping, Retirement Happiness, Retirement Readiness

Switching recordkeepers might seem like a straightforward administrative move, but when things go sideways, the consequences can be severe. A recent lawsuit against a Florida...