Target Date funds

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...

Pooled Employer Plans (PEPs): A Simpler Path to Retirement Plans?

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Adaptability, Auto Portability, Benefits integration, Change, Changing dynamics, Convergence, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, Employee happiness, employer match, Financial Security, Financial Wellness, PEP, PEPs, Target Date Funds

Pooled Employer Plans (PEPs) offer small to mid-sized employers a streamlined way to manage retirement benefits by joining a larger, shared plan overseen by a...

Key Questions 401(k) Plan Sponsors Often Overlook

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, 401k plan, AI, benefits committee, DC Plan Sponsors, education, Employee Benefits, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, Plan design, Retirement plan management, Target Date Funds

In a recent Fiduciary News article, Christopher Carosa, CTFA spotlighted several critical questions that 401(k) plan sponsors frequently neglect to ask, even though they have...

Strategic 401(k) Plan Design: Thinking Beyond Target Date Funds

By Fred Barstein / Collective Investment Trust, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, DOL, erisa, financial wellness, Improving Outcomes, Investments, Investments Video, Target Date Fund, Target Date Funds, Target Retirement Date

Target date funds have long been the default investment option for many 401(k) participants, offering a simplified, hands-off approach to retirement investing. But as Christopher...

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...

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...

Target Date Funds: The Key to Enhanced Retirement Outcomes

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, 403b, Benchmarking & Monitoring Fees & Partners, Collective Investment Trust, Communication, Compliance, DC Plan Sponsors, Documents & testing, DOL, ESG, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, Regs and Regulators, Secure Act Changes, Target Date Funds

Target Date Funds (TDFs) have significantly changed the Defined Contribution (DC) retirement landscape, making retirement planning simpler. TDFs allow individuals to invest in a single...

Fidelity’s 2024 Plan Sponsor Survey: Evolving Advisor Roles & Expectations

By Fred Barstein / adult learning, auto re-enroll, Benchmarking Fees, Communication, Compensation, Consolidation, Convergence, Economy, evolving and adapting, fee transparency, Fiduciary, Financial Advice, Financial Advisors, financial behaviors, Financial Stress, PEP, Regs and Regulators, Target Date Funds

Fidelity Investments’ 15th annual plan sponsor survey, conducted in January 2024, reveals significant trends and shifts in the retirement plan landscape, particularly in the role...

Fee Compression Driving New Retirement Income Solutions

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Benchmarking & Monitoring Fees & Partners, benefit education, Communication, Compensation, DC plans, Economy, fee transparency, Fiduciary, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, Financial Security, financial wellness, inflation, PEP, recordkeeping, Target Date Funds

As the retirement landscape evolves, major players in the industry are introducing new retirement income solutions. This shift is driven by decreasing investment fees and...

Maximizing Managed Accounts in Retirement Planning

By Fred Barstein / Authenticity, Benchmarking & Monitoring Fees & Partners, Client connection, Communication, Compliance, Custom Funds and Managed Accounts, DC Plan Sponsors, Digital Design, Digital Tools, Education, evolving and adapting, Financial Advisors, financial behaviors, Financial Wellness, Investments, Legislation, Managed Accounts, Retirement Plan Committee, Retirement Plan Fees, Selecting & Monitoring, Target Date Funds

While managed accounts offer a more personalized retirement planning solution than target date funds (TDFs), their effectiveness is hampered by insufficient data and participant engagement. ...