Employee engagement Archives - Page 2 of 9 - 401k Plan Optimization, Compliance, Investment & Partners

SECURE 2.0 Self-Certification: Why Easier Hardship Withdrawals Are Driving Plan Leakage

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, Changing dynamics, DC plans, Emergency Savings, Employee engagement, Fiduciary, Fiduciary, Financial Stress, Financial Wellness, Hardship Withdrawals & Loans, investment, SECURE 2.0, SECURE Act

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...

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...

The Power of One-on-One Consultation in Building Retirement Readiness

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) advisor trust, 401(k) Plan Management, 401k Advisor, benefit education, Client connection, Communication, Convergence, DC plans, Employee engagement, Fiduciary, financial wellness, One-on-on consulting, Retirement Plan Consultants

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...

Preparing Employees for Retirement: What Plan Sponsors Should Do Now

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, 401k Advisor, benefit education, DC Plan Sponsors, education, Employee engagement, Employee happiness, Employee training, Fiduciary, financial literacy, financial stress management, Financial Wellness, participation, Retirement Plan Advisor, Retirement Readiness

When a company has a growing segment of employees approaching retirement age, it should proactively shift from simply “offering” a retirement plan to actively supporting...

Student Loan Wage Garnishment Is Back and Employers Are on the Front Line

By Fred Barstein / 401k plan, AI for Retirement, CEO Engagement, Changing dynamics, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, Economy, education, Employee engagement, Fiduciary, Financial Literacy, financial stress management, financial wellness, Millennials saving, Plan design, Retirement Readiness, student loan, Student Loan Debt, Student loan wage garnishment

After years on pause, student loan wage garnishment has officially returned. The Department of Education confirmed that garnishment notices went out the week of Jan....

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...

Top 10 401(k) Stories in 2025

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, 401k Advisor, AI for Retirement, benefit education, Benefits integration, Change, Client connection, Convergence, DC plans, Emergency Savings, Employee engagement, evolving and adapting, Fiduciary, financial stress management, Financial Wellness, Investments, Latest News, Latest Stories

The retirement industry saw significant transformation in 2025, with several major themes shaping how employers, advisors, record keepers, and participants navigate the 401(k) landscape. The...

Why Participant Loans Can Strengthen Retirement Readiness

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, Client connection, Communication, DC plans, Employee Benefits, Employee engagement, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, Hardship Withdrawals & Loans, participation, Retirement Plan Loans

Participant loans, when structured thoughtfully, can actually strengthen the overall retirement experience by reducing financial stress for employees. Knowing they can access a portion of...

Financial Wellness is a Must-Have for Reducing Stress, Improving Retention

By Fred Barstein / 401k plan, Aging Workforce, benefit education, CEO Engagement, DC Plan Sponsors, diversity, Employee Benefits, Employee engagement, Employee training, Fiduciary, Financial Advice, financial stress, financial stress management, financial uncertainty, Financial Wellness, financial wellness programs, Gen X, Gen Z, generation x, generational gap in retirement planning, Health & Wellness, HR, Millennial saving, recruiting, Retirement planning

Employee financial stress is pushing more companies to rethink their benefits strategy. And for good reason—nearly two-thirds of employers faced turnover rates of 10% or...

Why Employee Communication Matters in Financial Literacy

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, benefit education, Client connection, Communication, Confidence, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, Employee engagement, Employee happiness, Fiduciary, Fiduciary Training, Financial Advice, financial behaviors, financial literacy, Financial Stress

Employee communication is essential for building financial literacy, especially around retirement benefits. Even the strongest 401(k) plan won’t have its intended impact if employees don’t...

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

Top 10 401(k) Stories in 2025

Financial Wellness is a Must-Have for Reducing Stress, Improving Retention

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