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

A Decade of Impact: Todd Barden and TPSU at Marquette University

By Fred Barstein / 401k Advisor, 401k plan, benefit education, Client connection, collaboration, Communication, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, education, Fiduciary, financial wellness, Hybrid Advisors, Ideal Plan, Managed Accounts, Retirement Advisor Specialist, Retirement Advisory, Retirement Readiness, TPSU Adjunct Lecturer

At the end of a recent Fiduciary Education Program held on the campus of Marquette University, Fred Barstein, CEO and Founder of The Plan Sponsor...

Hardship Withdrawals & Loans: What’s Allowed—& What’s Not

By Fred Barstein / Communication, Compliance, Emergency Savings, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, Financial Wellness, Hardship Withdrawals & Loans, Health & Wellness, Retirement Plan Fees, Retirement plan management, Retirement Savings Concern

Hardship withdrawals and 401(k) loans allow employees to tap into their retirement savings in certain situations, but they come with different rules and consequences. Hardship...

What Makes a Great Retirement Plan Advisor?

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, 6th Annual RPA Broker/Dealer Roundtable, Adaptability, Authenticity, CEO Engagement, Changing dynamics, Changing Recordkeepers, Client connection, Communication, Communication, Confidence, Early retirement, Employee happiness, Fiduciary, Financial Advice, Financial Advisors, financial wellness, generational gap in retirement planning, HR, Plan design, product quality, Retirement Advisory, Retirement Plan Advisor, specialized team

What Makes a Great Retirement Plan Advisor? A great retirement plan advisor combines expertise, strong communication skills, and a true dedication to client success. They...

Bridging the Generational Gap: Adapting Retirement Planning for Changing Expectations

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Aging Workforce, benefits committee, Change, Changing dynamics, Communication, Consolidation, Convergence, DC plans, diversity, Diversity equity inclusion, Education, education, Employee engagement, Employee happiness, employer match, evolving and adapting, Fiduciary, Financial Advice, financial literacy, Financial Wellness, generational gap in retirement planning, Independence planning, inflation concerns, Millennials Delaying Milestones, Millennials saving, multi-generational workforce, office environment, participation, Peer to peer learning, Record Keepers, Retirement Happiness, Retirement Readiness, Retirement Savings Concern, Savings Rates, social security

Bridge Private Wealth Retirement Planning

A seismic shift is occurring in the constantly shifting retirement planning space. Plan sponsors and advisers now find themselves navigating dramatically varying expectations about retirement...

Words Make All the Difference in Improving Participation and Outcomes

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, acquisition, adult learning, Authenticity, benefit education, Client connection, Communication, Communication, Creative approach, DC Plan Sponsors, Economy, education, Employee Benefits, Employee engagement, Employee training, Fiduciary, Financial Advice, Financial Advisors, financial literacy, Financial Wellness, personal financial advice, Private Wealth & Retirement Planning, Retirement Happiness, small plans

Canadian philosopher and media theorist Marshall McLuhan is famous for coining the phrase, “The medium is the message.” His iconic observation suggested that the form...

Gen Z Most Optimistic About Their Retirement Outlook

By Fred Barstein / Aging Workforce, Behavioral Finance, Communication, Communication, DC plans, diversity, Emergency Savings, Employee Benefits, Employee happiness, Employer Contribution, employer match, Fiduciary, financial behaviors, financial insecurity, financial literacy, financial stress management, Financial Wellness, Future Self, generation x, Health & Wellness, Independence planning, inflation concerns, investment, Job growth, managed accounts, Millennials saving, multi-generational workforce, Partners, personal financial advice, Plan design, Plan Optimization, Plan Participation

Different generations have differing perspectives on their retirement prospects. Generation Z seems to be the most optimistic. A pair of recent BenefitsPro articles highlighted two...

Improved Retirement Confidence Starts with Clarity

By Fred Barstein / adult learning, Behavioral Finance, benefits committee, Benefits integration, Communication, Communication, Confidence, Digital Tools, DOL Guidance, Economy, Employee engagement, Employee happiness, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, Financial Stress, financial stress management, Financial Wellness, Health & Wellness, inflation concerns, managed financial stress, Peer to peer learning, Retirement Happiness, Retirement Readiness, Retirement Savings Concern

New research from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) shows Americans are cautiously confident about their retirement prospects. However, confidence comes from understanding, and many...

Savings Rates Hit Record Highs While Retirees Are Still Returning to Work

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Adaptability, Aging Workforce, annuity, Communication, Communication, Compensation, Economy, Emergency Savings, Employer Contribution, employer match, evolving and adapting, financial insecurity, Financial Security, financial stress, Financial Wellness, hiring, inflation stress

A pair of articles in Employee Benefit News recently spotlighted two seemingly opposing trends: Americans’ 401(k) savings rate has hit an all-time high. Nonetheless, many...

Why Financial Wellness Programs Matter for Employers & Employees

By Fred Barstein / Behavioral Finance, Communication, Communication, Digital Tools, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, Financial Stress, Financial Wellness, Independence planning, personal financial advice

Neglecting financial wellness programs can have detrimental effects on both employers and employees. For employees, the absence of these initiatives often leads to increased...

Effective 401(k) Education: Strategies for Adult Learning

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, adult learning, Authenticity, Client connection, Communication, Communication, Fiduciary, Health & Wellness, healthcare

The financial services industry, particularly the 401(k) sector, has much to learn from executive education programs about adult learning. Unlike children or college students, adults...