Lower Fees, Higher Stakes: Are CITs Right for Your Plan?
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...
DC plans
401(k) Fees Are Falling—But Are You Overpaying?
As 401(k) plans grow and add participants, fees are often left unchanged for years—despite ongoing fee compression across the industry driven by increased competition and...
Fee Compression Continues, Small Plans Still Pay More
Investment fees are still falling across all plan sizes, but smaller plans continue to pay significantly more than their larger counterparts—and cost variation across providers...
Could a Centralized Clearinghouse Fix 401(k) System Challenges?
Defined contribution plans have come a long way, but the system still struggles with one big reality: people change jobs frequently. Over the course of...
Why HR Can’t Stop at Enrollment When It Comes to Retirement Plans
For many companies, the work of managing a retirement plan feels complete once employees are enrolled. But Teresa believes that’s only the starting point. As...
Employee Champions: Turning Peer Trust Into Powerful Benefits Engagement
Have you ever heard the term employee champions? At first glance, it may sound like a buzzword, but in practice it describes a powerful internal...
Vestwell’s $385M Raise Signals a New Phase for Defined Contribution Plans
Vestwell’s $385 million funding round signals accelerating momentum to modernize the defined contribution market. The firm plans to acquire 27,000 Guideline plans, expand AI capabilities,...
Why Explaining the Match in Dollars Can Improve Plan Participation
Presenting the employer match in tangible, easy-to-understand language can significantly improve how employees perceive and value the benefit. When the match is expressed as a...
SECURE 2.0 Self-Certification: Why Easier Hardship Withdrawals Are Driving Plan Leakage
SECURE 2.0’s self-certification rules mark a consequential shift in how hardship withdrawals are accessed, with meaningful implications for plan sponsors. By eliminating the need for...
The Power of One-on-One Consultation in Building Retirement Readiness
One-on-one consultations play a critical role in retirement readiness because they allow advisors to address each employee’s unique financial situation, goals, and concerns. As employees...
