Our 401(k) Investments are on the Watchlist. Now What?
Approach, review, document, and decide As a member of your company’s retirement plan committee, if you have recently been informed that one or more of your company’s retirement plan investments are on the Watch List, don’t panic. This is an opportunity for due diligence and possibly to enhance the plan’s performance. Approach As a thoughtful […]
Building a Better Retirement Benefit: Consider Adopting Auto Features
The use of auto features in 401(k) plans has continued to climb in popularity over the past decade. In fact, auto features such as automatic enrollment and auto escalation are considered best practices in 401(k) plan design as ways to help boost participation and employee savings rates.1 Many large 401(k) retirement plans offer auto features. […]
Are ESG Funds a Good Fit for Your Plan’s Investment Menu?
Should You Include ESG Funds in Your Retirement Plan? Maybe, Maybe Not. ESG, or environmental, social and governance funds, can be appealing to many investors, including millennials. These funds may be viewed as a proactive way to encourage reluctant and under-prepared millennials to save for retirement. But is it a good idea to include ESG […]
Retirement Plan Share Classes: Understanding the Basics
Share Class ABCs: Choose Wisely Choosing mutual funds for your retirement plan’s investment lineup can feel like wading through a sea of alphabet soup. Fund companies typically offer multiple share classes, each sporting its own unique letter. A shares, C shares, I shares, R shares — what does it all mean? Luckily, you don’t have […]
Effective Governance May Lead to Better Retirement Plans
Participant-driven lawsuits are on the rise, and employers are facing heightened scrutiny of the way they manage their retirement plans. In today’s continually-evolving regulatory and legal environment, it’s more important than ever to make sure your organization’s retirement plan is both effective and compliant. A well-structured retirement plan governance program can help you pursue these […]
Missing 401(k) Participants cannot be ignored
Locating missing plan participants can be a headache for any employer, but simply ignoring them is not an effective solution. Regulatory agencies in previous years have published guidance on this topic relating to missing “retired” employees. With the increase in the number of “pre-retired” missing plan participants, governmental bodies are now taking additional measures to […]
Plan Fiduciaries, do you need support?
Should we have a retirement plan committee? If you are an employer or employee who has decision-making authority over your company’s retirement plan, there is a strong chance that you are a 401(k) plan fiduciary. You have a legal obligation to operate the plan solely in the interests of the plan participants (people with retirement […]
What is 401(k) Benchmarking and Why Should You Do It?
Simply stated, benchmarking is the process of reviewing and evaluating your company retirement plan. It involves taking a look at what you are offering your employees today and deciding if it’s appropriate or needs some updating. There are four main areas to focus on when assessing your retirement plan: Plan Design Service Providers Funds Fees […]
Understanding How Much Your Portfolio Is Worth
You should always have a good idea of what your finances look like, which can be tricky if you don’t know how to assess your investments. You’ll have to consider factors like how risky your investments are and when they’ll pay off. Talk to the pros and read on for help understanding how much your […]
How Healthy Is Your Financial Portfolio?
Your financial portfolio contains all of the various investments that you have accumulated over the years. Whether you are planning on retiring soon, or retirement is many years in the future, it is always important to make sure that your financial portfolio is as robust as possible. With retirement planning service, you can create a […]
