Employee Benefits Archives - 401k Plan Optimization, Compliance, Investment & Partners

Who Should Help 401(k) Participants: Advisors or Record Keepers?

By Fred Barstein / 401k plan, AI, benefit education, benefits committee, Changing Recordkeepers, collaboration, Communication, competition, DC Plan Sponsors, education, Employee Benefits, Financial Advice, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, Private Wealth & Retirement Planning, Professional Retirement Plan Fiduciary Services, Retirement Plan Advisor

As the retirement industry shifts focus from just saving to helping people use their 401(k) money wisely, a big question has come up:Who’s best suited...

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...

The Pros and Cons of Automatic Enrollment in Retirement Plans

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, 6th Annual RPA Broker/Dealer Roundtable, auto enroll, Benefits integration, CEO Engagement, Changing dynamics, Changing Recordkeepers, Client connection, Communication, Company Contributions and Vesting, DC Plan Sponsors, Employee Benefits, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, Financial Literacy, Financial Wellness, Financial Wellness, HR, HR, Ideal Plan, Improving Outcomes, IRA Roll overs and Roll ins, office environment, onboarding, participation, Plan design, Plan Participation, product quality, Retirement Advisory, Retirement Readiness, specialized team

The Pros and Cons of Automatic Enrollment in Retirement Plans Automatic enrollment in 401(k) and other retirement plans has gained popularity as a tool to...

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...

Measuring Retirement Plan Success: Beyond Participation Rates

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, 6th Annual RPA Broker/Dealer Roundtable, CEO Engagement, Changing dynamics, Changing Recordkeepers, Communication, Compensation, Employee Benefits, Employee happiness, fee compression, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, generational gap in retirement planning, HR, Ideal Plan, Plan Conversion, product quality, Retirement Readiness, Senior Management Engagement, specialized team

Measuring Retirement Plan Success: Beyond Participation Rates For many employers, offering a retirement plan is a fundamental part of their benefits package. It helps attract...

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...

Navigating Employee Benefits & Retirement Plans During Acquisitions

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, acquisition, Adaptability, benefit education, benefits committee, Benefits integration, collaboration, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, Employee Benefits, Employee engagement, Employee happiness, Fiduciary, Financial Stress, Financial Wellness, investment comittee, Plan Conversion, Plan Optimization, War for Talent

Navigating Employee Benefits & Retirement Plans During Acquisitions Expanding through acquisitions allows companies to scale quickly, but it also brings significant challenges, particularly in managing...

Longevity, Early Retirement Create Unique Challenges for Retirement Plan Sponsors

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Adaptability, benefit education, benefits committee, Benefits integration, Communication, Compensation, Confidence, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, Digital Tools, Diversity equity inclusion, Early retirement, Employee Benefits, Employee engagement, Employee happiness, employer match, Fiduciary, financial literacy, Financial Security, Financial Stress, financial stress management, financial uncertainty, Financial Wellness, Healthcare & other benefits, inflation concerns, Mobile apps, multi-generational workforce, participation, Retirement Income, Retirement Readiness, Retirement Savings Concern

Problem Solution Buttons Show Answers And Guidance

As life expectancy continues to increase, employers are grappling with how to help their workers properly plan and save for longer retirements. According to John...

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...

Drive Engagement in Financial Planning Meetings with Free Food

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, adult learning, benefit education, benefits committee, CEO Engagement, Client connection, Committees, Communication, Company Contributions and Vesting, Creative approach, DC plans, Detailed Meeting Minutes, Employee Benefits, Employee engagement, Employee happiness, Employee training, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, financial literacy, Financial Wellness, financial wellness, Health & Wellness, incentivizing financial meetings, Peer to peer learning, Retirement Committee

Drive Engagement in Financial Planning Meetings with Free Food If you’re an employer looking to increase participation in your financial planning meetings, consider offering free...