401k retirement plan Financial Wellness

Less Is More: How Reducing 401(k) Loans Can Boost Retirement Readiness

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, DC plans, Employee Benefits, Employee training, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, Financial Wellness, HR, Retirement Plan Loans

Improving a company’s 401(k) loan policy is a strategic way to promote both employee financial wellness and long-term retirement readiness. Allowing too many concurrent loans...

Why Timing Matters: The Power of Vesting in Employee Retention

By Fred Barstein / Company Contributions and Vesting, Employee engagement, Employee feedback, Employee happiness, Financial Wellness, Financial Wellness, Ideal Plan, Improving Outcomes, incentivizing financial meetings, multi-generational workforce, office environment, onboarding, Plan design, Plan Participation, recruiting, Recruiting and Retaining Talent, Vesting, vesting

Why Timing Matters: The Power of Vesting in Employee Retention Vesting schedules may seem like a small detail in retirement plan design, but they can...

Addressing Hourly Workers’ Financial Challenges is Key to Retention and Productivity

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Adaptability, Artificial Intelligence, auto enroll, Behavioral Finance, benefit education, Communication, Digital Tools, Employee engagement, Fiduciary, Financial Advice, Financial Literacy, financial stress, Financial Wellness, Financial Wellness, Retirement Savings Concern, retirement security

Six in 10 hourly workers are struggling financially, with many working multiple jobs just to stay afloat. For retirement plan sponsors, this harsh reality creates...

Millennials and Gen Z Embrace AI for Retirement, Experts Urge Caution

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Adaptability, AI, AI for Retirement, artificial intelligence, Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, education, financial literacy, Financial Wellness, Financial Wellness, Gamification Retirement Planning, Gen Z, Life expectancy, Millennials saving, personal financial advice, Retirement Happiness, virtual learning

A recent study from artificial intelligence (AI) platform Pearl reveals that nearly two-thirds of Gen Z and millennials would follow AI-generated retirement advice based on...

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...

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...

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...

Financial Inclusion Is an Opportunity for Employers to Support Financial Security

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Adaptability, auto re-enroll, benefit education, benefits committee, Client connection, diversity, Emergency Savings, Financial Wellness, Financial Wellness, Inclusion, Retirement Savings Concern

Financial inclusion is about ensuring all individuals have access to essential financial tools and services that enable them to build financial stability and well-being. For...

Financial Wellness: Supporting Employees in Challenging Times

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Adaptability, benefits committee, Communication, Confidence, DC plans, Economy, Emergency Savings, Employee happiness, Employee training, employer match, financial insecurity, financial literacy, financial stress management, Financial Wellness, Financial Wellness, Health Savings Account, healthcare, Healthcare & other benefits, innovation, Job growth, recession

Financial stress has emerged as a critical issue in the workplace that demands employers’ immediate attention. Recent data from earned wage access company ZayZoon reveals...

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...