investment Archives - Page 3 of 5 - 401k Plan Optimization, Compliance, Investment & Partners

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...

Forfeiture Lawsuits and Their Impact on 401(k) Plans

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, 6th Annual RPA Broker/Dealer Roundtable, CEO Engagement, Changing dynamics, Changing Recordkeepers, erisa, fee lawsuits, Fiduciary, Forfeiture Lawsuits, investment, lawsuits, Legislation, litigation, Partners, product quality, Professional Retirement Plan Fiduciary Services, Specialization, specialized team

A wave of ERISA lawsuits is challenging the common practice of using forfeited 401(k) assets—typically from unvested employer contributions—to offset employer matching contributions rather than...

Why Purist 401(k) RPAs Face Growth Challenges

By Fred Barstein / Adaptability, adult learning, Authenticity, Client connection, collaboration, Communication, diversity, Financial Advisors, financial wellness, innovation, investment, Retirement Plan Advisor, Specialist vs. Generalist, specialized team

Independent 401(k) retirement plan advisors (RPAs) who focus only on retirement plans and avoid offering other services like financial planning or investment management are finding...

Financial Strain Impacts 3 in 4 U.S. Workers, New Study Reveals

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, benefits committee, Benefits integration, Compensation, debt relief, Employee Benefits, financial behaviors, financial insecurity, Financial Literacy, financial stress, financial stress management, Financial Wellness, Health & Wellness, investment, personal financial advice, Retirement Readiness

A new study reveals a concerning financial reality for American workers: nearly 75% are living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to cover more than their basic...

John Hancock and Vestwell Partnership Signals Digital Evolution for the Retirement Industry

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, 6th Annual RPA Broker/Dealer Roundtable, CEO Engagement, Changing dynamics, Changing Recordkeepers, Committees, DC Plan Sponsors, Digital Design, Digital Tools, education, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, Improving Outcomes, innovation, investment, product quality, Retirement Plan Advisor, Retirement plan management, Retirement Plan Testing, Retirement Readiness, Savings Rates, specialized team

In a move that signals a significant leap forward for the retirement industry, John Hancock Retirement has launched FutureStep™, an innovative open-architecture retirement plan solution...

Despite Their Popularity, Target Date Funds May Not Suit All Participants

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, 6th Annual RPA Broker/Dealer Roundtable, Adaptability, adult learning, CEO Engagement, Changing dynamics, Changing Recordkeepers, Committees, competition, DC plans, Early retirement, Fiduciary, financial literacy, Financial Wellness, investment, Investment Managers, Investments-research, product quality, Retirement Plan Advisor, specialized team, Target Date Funds

While target date funds (TDFs) continue to be among the most popular investment choices for 401(k) participants, mounting evidence suggests these default investment options may...

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...

Auto Portability: A Potential Game-Changer for Retirement Savings in America

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Auto Portability, Benefits integration, Consolidation, Convergence, diversity, Diversity equity inclusion, Employee engagement, Financial Wellness, investment, onboarding, participation, Savings Rates

Auto portability is a powerful innovation that’s addressing one of the most persistent challenges in the retirement industry: lost and forgotten 401(k) accounts. Auto portability...