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

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...

The Recordkeeping Industry Faces an Existential Moment

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Adaptability, Communication, Convergence, Convergence & Advisor M&A, DC Plan Sponsors, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, innovation, investment, Recordkeeping, Retirement Plan Advisor

The 401(k) recordkeeping industry stands at a pivotal moment. With $12.5 trillion in assets and 121 million accounts, recordkeepers are navigating intense pressure driven by:...

Automation Is Reshaping the 401(k) Industry

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, AI for Retirement, automation, Changing dynamics, Changing Recordkeepers, DC Plan Sponsors, Digital Tools, Due Diligence

The 401(k) industry is undergoing a major shake-up. As technology rapidly transforms how retirement plans are evaluated and selected, automation is accelerating a wave of...

Who Belongs on Your Retirement Committee?

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Adaptability, benefit education, benefits committee, CEO Engagement, Client connection, collaboration, Committees, DC Plan Sponsors, Employee engagement, financial wellness, HR, incentivizing financial meetings, Retirement Committee, specialized team

When building a retirement plan committee, it’s important to include a diverse mix of people from across the organization—not just leaders or finance professionals. While...

Why Advisor Due Diligence Matters for 401(k) and 403(b) Plan Sponsors

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Managed Accounts, 401k News, Benchmarking & Monitoring Fees & Partners, Communication, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, Due Diligence, Employee engagement, fee transparency, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, HR, Retirement Plan Advisor, Retirement Plan Advisor Due Diligence, Retirement plan management

Many plan sponsors are recognizing the complex responsibilities tied to managing retirement plans. While ERISA requires them to act as prudent experts, most lack formal...

Boost Employee Productivity and Retention with Emergency Savings Benefits

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, benefit education, Benefits integration, Change, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, Emergency Savings, Employee engagement, Employee happiness, financial stress management, Financial Wellness, Health & Wellness, healthcare, inflation concerns, Recruiting and Retaining Talent

Financial stress is silently eroding your workforce—97% of employees are feeling the pinch, and it’s hitting your bottom line with increased absenteeism and plummeting productivity. ...

The $800B IRA Rollover Challenge: Can Advisors Keep Up?

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, 401k rollovers, Benefits integration, collaboration, Communication, Convergence, DC Plan Sponsors, DC plans, Digital Tools, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, IRA Roll overs and Roll ins, Retirement Income

Benchmarking And Market Leader Concept Manager Businessman Coach Leadership Sbi 301984750

Each year, an estimated $800 billion leaks from 401(k) plans into IRAs—often bypassing plan advisors. Major record keepers like Fidelity, Schwab, and Vanguard dominate this...

Recent ERISA Lawsuits May Alter the Future of Retirement Plan Administration

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Benchmarking & Fees (ERISA, retirement plan), erisa, ERISA Attorneys, ERISA Co-Fiduciaries, fee lawsuits, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, financial stress management, financial uncertainty, Financial Wellness, lawsuits, litigation, Retirement Plan Advisor

The retirement plan landscape is shifting beneath our feet as a tidal wave of litigation threatens to fundamentally alter how 401(k) plans are administered. With...

401(k) Managed Accounts Can Help Improve Gen X Retirement Readiness

By Fred Barstein / 401(k) Managed Accounts, 401k Monitoring, 401k News, boosting 401(k) contributions, Communication, Consolidation, Convergence, DC Plan Sponsors, Employee happiness, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, Gen X, healthcare, investment, Managed Accounts, Retirement Income, Retirement Readiness

Gen X workers (ages 44-59) face unique hurdles on their path to retirement. As the “Sandwich Generation,” they’re often simultaneously caring for both children and...

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...