Retirement plan design

From Auto-Enroll to Outcomes: The Power of Day-One Guidance

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, auto enroll, auto escalate, Auto Portability, automation, benefit education, benefits committee, Benefits integration, boosting 401(k) contributions, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, Employee Benefits, Employee engagement, Employee feedback, Employee happiness, Employee training, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, payroll integration, Plan design, Plan Participation, Retirement Readiness

In a world where auto-enroll is table stakes, real outcomes still hinge on intentional onboarding and a documented process. That means giving new hires clear...

Switching Retirement Plan Providers? Don’t Skip These Steps

By Fred Barstein / Changing dynamics, Changing Recordkeepers, DC plans, Employee Benefits, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, HR, Lifestyle Benefits, Plan design, Plan Optimization, provider due diligence, Retirement Happiness, Retirement Plan Advisor Due Diligence, Retirement plan providers, Roth 401k, Roth Contributions, Third party administrators

Changing retirement plan providers sounds straightforward. Move from Provider A to Provider B, transfer the assets, and you’re done. But anyone who’s actually been through...

Are Managed Accounts the Future of 401(k) Defaults?

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Managed Accounts, 401(k) Plan Management, 401k News, Alternative Investing, benefit education, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, Due Diligence, Fiduciary, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, Ideal Plan, Improving Outcomes, investment comittee, Investment Managers, Investments, managed accounts, Mutual Fund Fees, Plan Conversion, Plan design, Regs and Regulators, Research, Target Date Fund, Target Date Funds

As retirement plans evolve, so do the default investment options offered to participants. Target date funds still dominate the market, but attention is shifting toward...

Why Traditional Retirement Benefits Fall Short for Gen Z Workers

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Plan Management, benefit education, Changing dynamics, DC Plan Sponsors, Digital Design, Digital Tools, diversity, Economy, Emergency Savings, Employee Benefits, Employee happiness, Fiduciary, financial insecurity, Financial Security, financial stress management, Financial Wellness, generational gap in retirement planning, multi-generational workforce, Plan design, Savings Rates

Gen Z Diverse Male And Female Traditional Retirement Benefits

Generation Z workers are rewriting the playbook on retirement planning. Despite being the youngest generation in the workforce, 76% are already saving for retirement through...

Rethinking Retirement Support: Time for Plan Sponsors to Step Up

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Changing dynamics, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, education, Employee engagement, Employee feedback, Employee happiness, Fiduciary, Financial Advice, Financial Wellness, Plan design, Plan Participation, Retirement Committee, Retirement plan management, Retirement Plan Participation, Retirement planning, retirement security

With nearly 59 million employees lacking access to workplace retirement plans, according to a recent TIAA study, we’re facing a retirement readiness crisis that demands...

Is Your Retirement Plan Advisor Fulfilling Their Fiduciary Function?

By Fred Barstein / 401k plan, Audit, Authenticity, Benchmarking & Fees (ERISA, retirement plan), benefit education, Change, Changing dynamics, Client connection, Communication, DC plans, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, investment, Plan design, Retirement Plan Advisor, Retirement Plan Fiduciary, Target Date Fund, TRIPLE F ADVISOR

Retirement Plan Advisor Fiduciary Function

Investment oversight is one of your most critical responsibilities as a plan sponsor. But how do you know if your retirement plan investment advisor is...

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...