Economy Archives - 401k Plan Optimization, Compliance, Investment & Partners

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...

Why Traditional Retirement Benefits Fall Short for Gen Z Workers

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, benefit education, Changing dynamics, DC Plan Sponsors, Digital Design, Digital Tools, diversity, Economy, Emergency Savings, Employee Benefits, Employee happiness, Fiduciary, financial insecurity, Financial Security, financial stress management, Financial Wellness, generational gap in retirement planning, multi-generational workforce, Plan design, Savings Rates

Gen Z Diverse Male And Female Traditional Retirement Benefits

Generation Z workers are rewriting the playbook on retirement planning. Despite being the youngest generation in the workforce, 76% are already saving for retirement through...

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...

401(k) Plans Offer a Strategic Advantage in Economic Downturns

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, 401k plan, 401k rollovers, auto enroll, auto escalate, Auto Portability, Communication, DC plans, diversity, diversity, Economy, Employee engagement, employer match, Financial Security, Financial Wellness, Independence planning, investment, Investment Managers, Recordkeeping

Recessions don’t announce themselves with a save-the-date card. When they arrive, plan sponsors and ERISA fiduciaries face mounting pressure to safeguard participants’ retirement savings. The...

Effective Retirement Plan Design Can Help Boost Participation and Savings Rates

By Fred Barstein / Adaptability, auto enroll, Auto Portability, benefit education, DC plans, Economy, Emergency Savings, Employee engagement, Fiduciary, Ideal Plan, investment, participation, Plan Participation, Retirement Readiness, Retirement Savings Concern, Savings Rates

Retirement Plan Design Participation Savings

Although retirement planning is a top priority for many Americans, significant barriers persist. Nearly one in four workers with access to employer-sponsored retirement plans don’t...

New Auto Savings Features Could Help Address the Job Mobility Challenge

By Fred Barstein / 401k rollovers, Adaptability, auto enroll, auto escalate, Auto Portability, auto re-enroll, Changing dynamics, Company Contributions and Vesting, Consolidation, DC plans, Economy, Financial Wellness, Financial Wellness, investment, participation, Plan Participation, Regs and Regulators

The average employee changes jobs nine times throughout their career, creating a challenge for traditional 401(k) savers. A recent panel discussion hosted by the Brookings...

Most U.S. Retirement Plans Have Red Flags – Is Yours at Risk?

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, 6th Annual RPA Broker/Dealer Roundtable, Benchmarking & Monitoring Fees & Partners, CEO Engagement, Changing dynamics, Changing Recordkeepers, Collective Investment Trust, Communication, Compliance, Early retirement, Economy, fee lawsuits, fee transparency, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, Financial Security, fraud, Legislation, litigation, Managed Accounts, product quality, Professional Retirement Plan Fiduciary Services, Regs and Regulators, Retirement planning, Specialization, specialized team, Target Date Fund, Target Date Funds

If you oversee a company retirement plan, here’s a startling statistic that should grab your attention: 84% of U.S.-based retirement plans have at least one...

PE Industry Considers Move to Enter 401(k) Market

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, 6th Annual RPA Broker/Dealer Roundtable, CEO Engagement, Changing dynamics, Changing Recordkeepers, DC plans, DOL, DOL Guidance, Early retirement, Economy, education, fee compression, fee transparency, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, investment, Investments, Private equity, product quality, Regs and Regulators, Retirement Advisory, Retirement Plan Advisor, Retirement Plan Advisor Due Diligence, specialized team

With President Trump just days away from his second term in the White House, private equity firms are eyeing the massive 401(k) market with renewed...

Tackling Financial Stress Through Wellness Programs

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, benefit education, Economy, Employee Benefits, Employee engagement, Employee happiness, Financial Literacy, financial stress, Financial Wellness, financial wellness programs, HR, Independence planning, inflation stress, Retirement Readiness

Tackling Financial Stress Through Wellness Programs Addressing financial stress has become a critical focus for employers as its impact on productivity and mental health becomes...

Hearts & Wallets: Employees Taking on the Majority of Retirement Planning Responsibility

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, benefit education, Benefits integration, Client connection, collaboration, Communication, competition, Consolidation, DC Plan Sponsors, Economy, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, Financial Security, financial stress management, Financial Wellness, HR, Retirement Readiness, Retirement Savings Concern

Employees perceive themselves as largely self-reliant when it comes to retirement planning. So finds recent research by financial benchmarking firm Hearts & Wallets, cited in...