Workers Concerned About Retirement Savings, Want Support
Nearly half (49%) of Americans “strongly agree” or “agree” their retirement plan savings are the only significant emergency savings they have, according to a Voya survey.
Saving for retirement early and understanding the long-term benefits of compound interest are key strategies for plan participants to secure their financial futures, but equally important is understanding how much to save and to have access to financial professionals.
Working Americans consider the task almost as challenging as understanding text speak. The January Voya Financial Consumer Insights & Research survey found, among benefits-eligible workers, nearly one-third find knowing how much to save for retirement (29%) almost as confusing as teenage slang (32%).
The survey highlights the concern workers have about attaining their goals, with 61% expressing concern that the economy and 60% citing inflation will have a significant or severe impact on their ability to save.
Moreover, nearly half (49%) of Americans now “strongly agree” or “agree” that their retirement savings are their primary form of emergency savings—up from 43% in January 2023. This trend emphasizes the growing need for continuous guidance and support to safeguard and grow their retirement funds.
The Need for Guidance
Voya’s research highlights the importance of seeking support. The survey found 83% of workers value guidance on optimizing retirement savings and workplace benefits. Fewer workers maintained the same benefits coverage as last year (64% vs. 72% in January 2024).
After the recent open enrollment, 75% of benefits-eligible workers expressed interest in tools to help them manage retirement, emergency savings, and healthcare costs. Sette emphasizes for employees to understand how workplace benefits and savings solutions can work together to support their retirement savings.
“While many employers continue to evolve their workplace benefits and savings offerings, when it comes to optimizing savings, our data show a clear need for support, and employers can play a critical role in helping their workforce,” said Kerry Sette, VP, head of Consumer Insights & Research at Voya Financial, in a statement.
“And, when thinking about the current cost of living, workers are keen to maximize the value of their workplace benefits and savings solutions; the survey found 60% are actively trying to get the most value from their 401(k) contributions and employer matching, HSA contributions (28%) and voluntary and supplemental health insurance benefits (21%). By focusing on the holistic needs of employees, employers can underscore the investment they are making in their workforce and support individuals’ long-term savings goals.”
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World Investment Advisors Launches Investment Management Platform WorldMAP
World Investment Advisors, LLC (World) launched its World Managed Account Platform (WorldMAP), an open-architecture, multi-custodial investment and portfolio management platform, designed to help advisors save time, grow revenues, and optimize outcomes for clients. At the same time, World has named Lauren Yeaton Hunt Senior Vice President of Wealth Platforms and Partnerships to facilitate launch and manage advisor and client experience.
Initially, the company said, WorldMAP will consist of a model program that includes strategies created and managed by World’s in-house investment team, led by Chief Investment Officer Nate Garrison. World’s in-house models will be branded Cota Street, with 10 strategies and more than 50 models at launch.
Additionally, the WorldMAP platform will feature automated and individualized tax management, and the ability to extensively personalize models for clients at scale. Advisers will also have access to models offered by other industry-leading strategists, and a diversified lineup of separately managed account (SMA) managers.
“The launch of WorldMAP is a revolutionary step for our wealth platform, indicative of the investments we are making to create an elevated experience for our advisors and their clients,” said Troy Hammond, CEO of World Investment Advisors. “WorldMAP delivers on our pledge to provide advisers with all the tools, services and solutions to differentiate themselves in the current hyper-competitive landscape.”
eMoney Advisor Enhances Needs Analysis Feature
eMoney Advisor has enhanced its Needs Analysis feature, a planning tool designed to foster conversations between financial advisers and their clients and prospects. The company said the tool is designed to facilitate conversations about topics such as retirement, education, and spending goals.
New topics will be added in the coming months with life insurance rolling out soon, the company said, with plans to add annuity income, long-term care, and debt reduction later. Advisers can use the tool and these conversations as a “entry point for generating interest in more comprehensive planning services as clients’ needs evolve,” the company said.
“Many people are interested in receiving financial advice but only want to discuss goals that are most relevant to them and their situation. Needs Analysis is a scalable solution that directly addresses this need in the market,” said Chad Porche, senior vice president of product management at eMoney, in a statement. “We believe it will allow advisers and firms to provide advice to more people and, ultimately, lead to deeper engagement as clients’ needs grow more complex.”
Financial Finesse and SecureSave Announce Partnership
Financial coaching firm Financial Finesse has partnered with workplace emergency savings account provider SecureSave to create an integrated solutions for employers, the companies said.
The integration means there is a SecureSave page within Financial Finesse’s employee Financial Wellness Hub, enabling users to seamlessly sign up for an ESA and view their savings progress in real time. There is also direct access to Financial Finesse, including one-on-one financial coaching, within SecureSave to provide support at key decision points.
The companies are offering joint communications to drive program awareness and engagement and are offering employers the ability to offer incentives, so employees can earn ESA contributions as a reward for taking specific actions to improve their overall financial wellness.
The solution, which launched with a Fortune 500 healthcare company in December, has proven to be effective at reaching demographics with traditionally lower levels of financial security, including women and employees of color, the companies said.
Lincoln Financial Expands Solutions Available in WellnessPATH Marketplace
Lincoln announced expansion of the solutions available through its flexible wellness program, WellnessPATH® Marketplace. The program now offers 10 solutions: Student loan support resources; emergency savings account solutions; tax preparation discounts; home, auto and renters’ insurance; pet insurance; 529 college savings plan finder; estate planning support; debt management; and homebuying support.
Within the marketplace, employees can also access information and education they need to create a personalized journey toward improving their financial wellbeing at every stage of life, from entering the work force, buying a home and nearing retirement, the company said.
The company also announced that, in partnership with Candidly, employees can access student-loan support solutions and an emergency savings account. Employers have the option to make contributions directly to employee’s student loan repayment and to emergency savings accounts.
Allspring Introduces Two Active Equity ETFs
Allspring Global Investments, introduced two active equity exchange-traded funds: the Allspring LT Large Growth ETF and Allspring Special Large Value ETF , both trading on the NYSE Arca.
Allspring LT Large Growth ETF, managed by Neville Javeri, Jake Seltz, and Paul Roach, is based on a high-conviction large-cap growth U.S. equity strategy that, until now, was not widely available directly to individual retail investors.
Allspring Special Large Value ETF follows a value investing strategy that is led by Bryant VanCronkhite and James Tringas, co-heads of the Special Global Equity team, who use an investment approach focused on identifying companies with proven management and flexible balance sheets.
These are Allspring’s first actively managed equity ETFs, and both have an expense ratio of 0.35%; in December Allspring launched three actively managed fixed income ETFs.
T. Rowe Price Adds Two Active Equity ETFs to Roster
T. Rowe Price debuted the T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Premium Income ETF and T. Rowe Price Hedged Equity ETF , active transparent equity exchange-traded funds. With these funds trading on the NYSE Arca, T. Rowe Price now has 19 active ETFs.
T. Rowe Price Hedged Equity ETF, managed by Sean McWilliams, seeks to provide long-term capital growth and normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in equities, the company said. The fund, with an expense ratio of 0.46%, combines the firm’s U.S. Structured Research Equity Strategy with lower volatility individual equities and a derivatives hedging strategy designed to reduce portfolio volatility, especially during equity market downturns.
T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Premium Income ETF, co-managed by six investment professionals from T. Rowe Price Investment Management, is a low-volatility portfolio of high-quality stocks and covered calls, optimized to maximize income, preserve principal and limit losses. The company said is the second ETF in the Capital Appreciation suite and has an expense ratio of 0.34%.
Oppenheimer Clients Can Invest in Physical Precious Metals Through Integration with GBI
GBI, an institutional platform for physical precious metals investments, has integrated with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. to allow the wealth management firm’s clients to invest in gold, silver, and other precious metals through the GBI platform. Clients can now easily buy, sell, store, and take delivery of physical precious metals directly from their wealth management account, according to a statement.
“This collaboration strengthens our commitment to providing a comprehensive and tailored physical precious metals solution that addresses the growing demand of wealth managers and their clients for this uncorrelated tangible asset,” said Steven Feldman, Co-Founder and CEO of GBI.
Oppenheimer says the partnership reinforces the company’s dedication to expanding and diversifying the investment options available to our clients and that this will allow them to capitalize on alternative investment options.
