Collective Investment Trust Archives - 401k Plan Optimization, Compliance, Investment & Partners

The Continued Rise of CITs in the Defined Contribution Market

By Fred Barstein / CIT, Collective Investment Trust, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, Fiduciary, Fiduciary Liability, investment, Investments, lawsuits, Retirement Income

Collective Investment Trusts (CITs) continue gaining momentum across the defined contribution marketplace as plan sponsors, advisors, and providers increasingly seek lower-cost investment solutions and more...

Private Credit Leaders Say It’s Time to Drop the “Semi-Liquid” Label

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, 401k Advisor, Collective Investment Trust, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, DOL, DOL Guidance, erisa, Fiduciary, global retirement trend, investment, Participant data, Private Credit Semi-Liquid Label, Regs and Regulators, Retirement planning

The private credit industry is doing some soul-searching—and one of the first casualties may be the term “semi-liquid.” That was a key theme at this...

CITs in 401(k) Plans: Lower Fees, Higher Stakes

By Fred Barstein / CIT, Collective Investment Trust, DC plans, Economy, fee transparency, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, Investments

The shift toward collective investment trusts (CITs) in 401(k) plans is accelerating—driven largely by the push for lower fees. But cheaper doesn’t always mean better. ...

Lower Fees, Higher Stakes: Are CITs Right for Your Plan?

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, 401k Advisor, Benchmarking & Monitoring Fees & Partners, CIT, Collective Investment Trust, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, erisa, fees, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, Pay Transparency, Target Date Funds

Collective investment trusts have been around for decades, but for many plan sponsors, they still seem mysterious—or at least more complicated than they need to...

The CIT Takeover: What’s Driving the Shift in 401(k) Investing

By Fred Barstein / CIT, Collective Investment Trust, Company Contributions and Vesting, DC plans, Economy, erisa, ERISA Advisory Council, fee compression, Fiduciary, fiduciary, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, Investment Managers, Record Keepers

Collective investment trusts (CITs) are rapidly gaining market share in 401(k) plans, increasingly replacing traditional mutual funds. Over the past 5–10 years—especially in advisor-sold retirement...

Plan Sponsors Turn to CITs for Lower Costs and Flexibility

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, CIT, Collective Investment Trust, DC Plan Sponsors, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, investment, Investment Managers, Investments, Retirement planning

Collective investment trusts (CITs) have steadily gained traction in retirement plan lineups, and for good reason. A recent article from the International Foundation of Employee...

From SIMPLE to Smart: A 401(k) Success Story with a MEP

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, auto enroll, Collective Investment Trust, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, Employee Benefits, Employee engagement, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, Multiple Employer Plans, small plans

Joining a Multiple Employer Plan (MEP) makes it easier and more affordable for businesses to offer a 401(k) to their employees. A MEP allows unrelated...

Plan Participants Want Lifetime Income Options But Few Plans Offer Them

By Fred Barstein / Adaptability, auto enroll, Auto Portability, Collective Investment Trust, Confidence, DC Plan Sponsors, Employee happiness, esg funds, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, Improving Outcomes, investment, Life expectancy, Lifetime Income Options, Retirement Income, retirement income annuity, Retirement Savings Concern, Target Date Fund

Although 93% of 401(k) participants say it’s important for their plans to provide lifetime income options like annuities, most plans still only offer lump sum...

The Coming of Age for Defined Contribution Plans

By Fred Barstein / 401k plan, Adaptability, AI, AI for Retirement, Changing Recordkeepers, collaboration, Collective Investment Trust, Convergence, DC plans, Digital Tools, Economy, Financial Advisors, Record Keepers, Target Date Funds

The 401(k) Industry Is Growing Up—Fast. With $12.5 trillion in assets, 100 million+ accounts, and 800,000 plans, 401(k) and 403(b) plans have officially moved from...

Strategic 401(k) Plan Design: Thinking Beyond Target Date Funds

By Fred Barstein / Collective Investment Trust, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, DOL, erisa, financial wellness, Improving Outcomes, Investments, Investments Video, Target Date Fund, Target Date Funds, Target Retirement Date

Target date funds have long been the default investment option for many 401(k) participants, offering a simplified, hands-off approach to retirement investing. But as Christopher...