DC Plan Sponsors Archives - 401k Plan Optimization, Compliance, Investment & Partners

Why Many Small 401(k) Plans Still Resist Auto Features — and How Advisors Can Help

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, 401k Advisor, AI, auto enroll, auto escalate, Auto Portability, auto re-enroll, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, Digital Tools, Employee feedback, fee compression, fees, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, Hybrid Advisors, Investments, Retirement Advisor Specialist, retirement income, small plans

Despite growing awareness of the benefits of automatic features like auto-enrollment and auto-escalation, many smaller 401(k) and 403(b) plans still trail larger ones in adopting...

A Decade of Impact: Todd Barden and TPSU at Marquette University

By Fred Barstein / 401k Advisor, 401k plan, benefit education, Client connection, collaboration, Communication, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, education, Fiduciary, financial wellness, Hybrid Advisors, Ideal Plan, Managed Accounts, Retirement Advisor Specialist, Retirement Advisory, Retirement Readiness, TPSU Adjunct Lecturer

At the end of a recent Fiduciary Education Program held on the campus of Marquette University, Fred Barstein, CEO and Founder of The Plan Sponsor...

Micro-Retirements Could Be Your Best Bet for Keeping Gen Z Talent

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Managed Accounts, 401(k) Plan Management, benefits committee, Benefits integration, collaboration, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, Economy, Employee Benefits, Fiduciary, financial stress management, Financial Wellness, Financial Wellness, Gen Z, Health & Wellness, Micro-Retirements

Young workers aren’t waiting decades to take a break anymore. A growing number of Gen Z and millennial employees are planning what’s being called a...

The Power of Clarity: Why Great Advisors Master Simple Communication

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) advisor trust, 401k Advisor, Adaptability, Client connection, collaboration, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, Fiduciary, Financial Advice, financial stress management, Financial Wellness, Specialist vs. Generalist

Clear, simple communication is one of the most powerful skills a retirement plan advisor can have. In a world overflowing with emails, texts, and updates,...

Six Common Myths That Increase Plan Sponsors’ Fiduciary Liability

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, Employee Benefits, erisa, fee lawsuits, Fiduciary, Fiduciary Liability, Financial Advice, Financial Advisors, Financial Literacy, Financial Stress, Financial Wellness, Regs and Regulators

Fiduciary lawsuits continue to make headlines, but many plan sponsors don’t realize they’re operating under dangerous misconceptions about their responsibilities. In a recent article, Carol...

Why Plan Sponsors Play a Critical Role in Retirement Readiness

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) advisor trust, 401(k) Plan Management, 401k Advisor, benefit education, Changing dynamics, collaboration, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, Employee engagement, Employee happiness, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, Ideal Plan, Improving Outcomes, Retirement Committee, Retirement Readiness

Improving employee retirement readiness begins with helping workers make informed financial decisions today. When employees understand how their choices around saving, debt, and spending impact...

When Employees Pause Retirement Savings: Time for Plan Sponsors to Get Involved

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, auto enroll, benefit education, Benefits integration, Communication, Company Contributions and Vesting, Compensation, Compensation, DC Plan Sponsors, Emergency Savings, Employee engagement, Employer Contribution, Fiduciary, Financial Literacy, financial stress management, Financial Wellness, Health & Wellness, Investments, Retirement Readiness, Retirement Savings Concern

Nearly 70% of employees are stressed about their finances and living paycheck to paycheck, according to PNC data cited in a recent Employee Benefit News...

From Auto-Enroll to Outcomes: The Power of Day-One Guidance

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, auto enroll, auto escalate, Auto Portability, automation, benefit education, benefits committee, Benefits integration, boosting 401(k) contributions, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, Employee Benefits, Employee engagement, Employee feedback, Employee happiness, Employee training, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, payroll integration, Plan design, Plan Participation, Retirement Readiness

In a world where auto-enroll is table stakes, real outcomes still hinge on intentional onboarding and a documented process. That means giving new hires clear...

Are Managed Accounts the Future of 401(k) Defaults?

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Managed Accounts, 401(k) Plan Management, 401k News, Alternative Investing, benefit education, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, Due Diligence, Fiduciary, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, Ideal Plan, Improving Outcomes, investment comittee, Investment Managers, Investments, managed accounts, Mutual Fund Fees, Plan Conversion, Plan design, Regs and Regulators, Research, Target Date Fund, Target Date Funds

As retirement plans evolve, so do the default investment options offered to participants. Target date funds still dominate the market, but attention is shifting toward...