December 2024
2024 Year in Review
In December, we review the year that was and look ahead to what’s to come in 2025 in plan advisement, the retirement sector and markets.
Special Coverage
Moving Beyond SECURE 2.0
Retirement plan advisers discuss how they’re wrapping up 2024 with clients and preparing for the year ahead.
Economic and Market Outlooks for the Year Ahead
Next year’s outlook emphasizes growth from easing policies, AI and infrastructure.
401(k)s and the Courts in 2025
Plan forfeiture court decisions, Loper Bright’s use and potential DOL guidance shifts are all on the table, according to ERISA...
Past Special Coverage
Multiple Employer Plans, Pooled Employer Plans and Startup Plans
In November, we consider the growth and evolution of the market for MEPs, PEPs and startup retirement plans.
Tracking the Evolution of PEPs
Pooled employer plans have gained traction in their nearly four years of existence, and their use cases are evolving beyond...
Finding the Best Fit Between PEPs and State-Run Plans
Experts discuss which small plan solution is most appropriate for different types of businesses.
What Is Driving Plan Startups?
Providers credit state mandates and tax incentives, but others point to adviser interest in small plans and more uptake for...
Mercer: Trump, New Congress Will Likely Continue Bipartisan Work to Expand 401(k) Coverage
Mercer’s policy lead says bipartisan work should continue to expand employer-sponsored retirement plan coverage, but tax treatment of such plans...
Mapping State Retirement Programs
Georgetown University’s Center for Retirement Initiatives provides a color-coded map of where U.S. state-led retirement programs stand today.
MEPs and PEPs in the Pooled Marketplace
Although pooled employer plans get most of the headlines, multiple employer plans continue to play an important role in the...
DCIO and Investment Menus
This month’s special coverage considers the defined contribution investment products, services and trends that are shaping participant outcomes.
TDFs: Set, But Not Forgotten
TDFs may be ‘set it and forget it’ investment vehicles, but they continue to evolve to meet plan sponsor needs...
CIT Growth Continues With Adviser Backing
As more plan sponsors turn to collective investment trusts to reduce costs, industry experts see both opportunities and challenges.
DC Plan Experts See Slow, Steady Progress in Plan Personalization
Solutions such as managed accounts and custom TDFs are evolving, but challenges to uptake remain, according to industry players.
Asset Managers Exploring Fresh Avenues to Bring Alts Into DC Plans
Per Cerulli, asset managers are leveraging CITs and interval funds to try and get into DC plans; an adviser sees...
Why Falling Interest Rates May Help Stable Value’s Play
A stable value proponent explains why the ‘rate of change’ of interest rates is as important as the changes themselves...
Plan Advisers’ Value in 4 Charts
PLANADVISER asks plan sponsors about the services they get from their adviser team.
Plan Cybersecurity
September’s special coverage series considers the current cybersecurity needs and focus areas for employer-sponsored retirement plans.
Cybersecurity Best Practices for Retirement Plans
The game is continually evolving for keeping plan data and systems safe. In this special coverage article, experts discuss how...
Keys to Guarding Retirement Plan Data Against Human Error
Mistakes managing employer-sponsored plan data often expose vulnerabilities that can be exploited by bad actors.
AI Is Here. Fiduciaries Must Remain Diligent
Experts discuss how the benefits of artificial intelligence for 401(k) plan administration and management also come with risks to be...
Cybercriminals Pose Threat via Executive Accounts
Executives’ workplace retirement plan accounts provide the authority and access hackers need to attack other databases.
Cybersecurity Insurance Considerations
Expert Steve Taylor gives his views on cybersecurity insurance, as breaches proliferate in financial services.
6 Steps to Help Participants Safeguard DC Assets
McKinsey cybersecurity experts give tactics to protect against scammers.
Retirement Plan Litigation
Retirement plan litigation is getting no rest in 2024, with lawsuits focused on new areas of retirement plan design and legal developments including a Supreme Court ruling that overturned the Chevron doctrine. This month, we consider various topics related to 401(k)s and the courts.
Major 401(k) Litigators Are ‘Back in Action,’ With More Entering the Fray
After a lull in filings last year, 2024 is seeing an uptick, including from law firms not previously active in...
Top Advisers: Diligence About 401(k) Plan Litigation as Crucial as Ever
Plan advisers share their expertise on what types of plans are most at risk for 401(k) litigation and how they...
Are District Court Rulings the ‘Final End’ For DOL’s Fiduciary Rule?
Two federal courts in Texas halted the DOL’s new fiduciary rule. An appeal is likely, but ERISA experts say Congress...
The High Price of Discovery in ERISA Class Action
An ERISA consultant and expert witness in 401(k) litigation details how advisers can best prepare for potential class action suits.
‘Emerging’ Health Plan Litigation Signals Need for Plan Adviser Diligence
A Wells Fargo health plan lawsuit is a reminder for plan advisers and sponsors to carefully consider and document their...
Participant Service
July’s special coverage delves into participant service from qualified plan advisers, recordkeepers and other players in the retirement ecosystem.
From Plan Education to Wealth Management
When does financial education and planning for a 401(k) participant turn to individual wealth management? Practitioners discuss best practices for...
Challenges Facing Young Savers
Industry experts discuss how to address challenges facing young workers.
Participants’ Progress
Fresh research shows signs of progress for 401(k) savers, but challenges from lack of access to losing momentum due to...
Facing Delayed Retirement, Many Americans Wish They Had Started Saving Sooner
According to new reports from Voya and F&G Annuities & Life, most Americans wish they had started saving for retirement...
The Scramble to Make the Saver’s Match Work
Industry groups, including Pew and the Retirement Clearinghouse, game plan while awaiting a Treasury request for information.
Workplace Advice Use Trending Up, But Age, Assets Matter
Data from Hearts & Wallets found that more middle-asset, middle-aged households are turning to the workplace for financial guidance, but...
The Rothification of Retirement
June’s special coverage series considers the push toward increased Roth use in defined contribution plans and the implications for plan advisers, sponsors and participants.
Roth in Reality
Further guidance is needed for recent federal retirement legislation as industry faces implementation.
Counting on Roth
Federal retirement legislation is in part looking to Roth 401(k) savings to help pay for related incentives—but uptake may be...
Why Roth? Benefits for Plans and Participants
After many years of availability, many employers now offer a Roth 401(k) as part of their plan design—which will make...
The ‘Rothification’ of Retirement Plans: Opportunity and Complexity
In-plan Roth contributions have been available for over 20 years, but recent retirement legislation will increase both their use and...
Nuts & Bolts: Should I do Roth 401(k), Traditional Or Half and Half?
In this Nuts & Bolts entry, PLANADVISER unpacks this essential, but often misunderstood area among participants.
Vanguard: Roth 401(k) Savings Show Steady Growth
Vanguard’s annual America Saves report shows an uptick of Roth 401(k) use both in terms of availability and participant use.
Plan Design Innovation
In May’s special coverage series, PLANADVISER considers innovations and tactics for best in class workplace retirement plan design.
Beyond Auto
Impactful plan design innovations that plan sponsors can make to incentivize workers to save.
Top Advisers Talk Plan Design
Advisers navigate auto and personalization options to maximize plan design.
Why Emergency Savings May Be Staying Out of Plan
PLESAs are tax-privileged and can auto-enroll, but their out-of-plan alternative are currently more popular to many plan sponsors due to...
Addressing Auto Holdouts
Auto-enrollment and escalation are considered the key to 401(k) success; what should advisers do when plan sponsors push back?
Small Business Plan Design in Practice
Advisers and recordkeepers discuss plan design for the burgeoning small business 401(k) market.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
In April’s special coverage series, PLANADVISER speaks with diversity, equity and inclusion experts and considers on-the-ground programs seeking to advance DEI in the financial sector.
DEI Efforts Help Industry Serve Shifting Demographics, Client Needs
Experts say diverse teams can help improve client service and business needs.
Moving the Needle on DEI in Financial Services
Mitigating the wealth gap and recruiting diverse talent go hand in hand when promoting inclusion in the retirement advisory industry.
WIPN Connects Women in Retirement Sector With Male Sponsors
The retirement group launched an ally program after finding that active connections and recommendations had a bigger impact on women’s...
401(k)s to Match the Mission
Just Futures has brought to market a value-driven retirement plan investing model it says is especially in demand by nonprofits.
Fiduciary Training for Female Advisers
An initiative led by OneAmerica’s Sandy McCarthy and Broadridge seeks to advance the careers of more women in an industry...
Retirement Planning for Diverse Populations
Experts discuss why taking into account the diversity of participant populations is crucial in evaluating and designing a workplace plan.
Retirement & Wealth Convergence
Rampant M&A has brought retirement plan advisement and wealth management closer together, but how will the business model work? And which firms will get it right? This month’s special coverage considers various aspects of the convergence.
Manage My Wealth, Please
Plan advisers note increased demand from participants for individual wealth management, noting that they can often do so at lower...
Financial Advisers Push to Manage 401(k) Assets
As demand increases for more holistic financial planning services, firms are looking to expand the market of financial advisers managing...
Convergence Is Changing the Adviser Landscape; Let’s Make Sure It’s for the Better
Freedom Fiduciaries’ CEO discusses the challenges of a B2B industry shifting to integrate consumers and the model needed to get...
Managing Fiduciary Conflicts in the Age of Convergence
ERISA expert David Kaleda discusses what the DOL’s proposed Retirement Security Rule may mean for retirement and wealth management firms.
Private Equity’s Role Continues, With Shifts, in Retirement/Wealth Convergence
The impact of PE capital looks set to continue, but with evolutions that may be important for plan advisers to...
IRA Rollovers Set to Grow, but by How Much?
Experts expect the IRA asset pool of more than $12 trillion to increase from rollovers, but the shift may be...
Managed Accounts
Managed accounts have seen advancements in technology in recent years that has in turn helped lower associated fees. This month’s special coverage considers where managed accounts are now in the ecosystem of personalizing retirement savings.
Managed Accounts: Past & Present
The more personalized investing options for retirement plans have been around for two decades. Will they finally take off?
Are Managed Accounts Good for Less Wealthy Retirees?
Industry experts discuss the benefits and disadvantages of managed accounts for those near or in retirement who may not be...
Managed Accounts, By the Numbers
PLANSPONSOR’s latest plan sponsor research reveals how managed accounts are being used—or not—on the ground.
EFE Sees Managed Account Assets Hit $210B
The managed account provider for 45% of the market also notes improved user engagement.
It’s Time We Stopped Evaluating Managed Accounts From 2006
iJoin’s CEO discusses the evolution and current state of managed accounts.
Recordkeepers Are Leaning In on Managed Account Offerings
Representatives from Fidelity, Vanguard, Empower and Principal discuss their proprietary and partnered managed account offerings and growth.
Client Retention
Client retention and attraction is more crucial than ever in an age of compressed fees, heightened RFPs, and adviser aggregation. The stories in January’s special series consider best practices to build lasting client relationships.
Client Retention Today
401(k) marketers and advisers give tips on business development in an age of compressed fees, social media and busy schedules.
Client Attraction Through Giving
401(k) marketers and advisers give tips on business development in an age of compressed fees, social media and busy schedules.
Training New Advisers for Client Retention
Newcomers need guidance from seasoned counterparts, but they should also be ready to jump in impromptu.
Advisers’ Value to Clients, by the Numbers
PLANADVISER and PLANSPONSOR research highlights what the relationship between plan advisers and plan sponsors can bring.
Client Retention Tips from a 401(k) and Wealth Adviser
A dual practitioner discusses the importance of combining well organized systems with a personal touch.
Leading Teams Starts With Mindset Shift
Many advisers rise through the ranks due to success with clients, but leading often takes other skills, writes a Hartford...
Practice Management
Our 2023 monthly special series coverage ends on a core issue for advisers: practice management. The stories in this series consider ways of structuring a modern plan advisory, strategies to stay profitable, and how to bring in new clients.
Profitable Endeavors
Plan advisers discuss how they provide best-in-class services while still meeting—and trying to exceed—client needs.
From In-House Referrals to Cold Calls: Strategies for Client Attraction
Experts discuss how they create strategies to attract new clients.
Adviser Voices: How to Structure a Retirement Plan Advisory
Industry experts explain how they structure their practice to produce the best results.