This week has seen plenty of new articles surfacing all having to do with fixing the retirement system and using 401(k)s more effectively. Here are just a few that caught my eye.
Your employer can boost your retirement income
I agree that your employer can boost your retirement income. A recent paper by the Institutional Retirement Income Council (IRIC) proposes that plan sponsors offer standard distribution options albeit with institutional rather than retail pricing. While better pricing is always good if delivered with sufficient support, the best solution may be in rethinking the product offerings entirely. I’ll have more to say on that in the coming months. So stay tuned.
Bigger retirement paychecks for those with access to institutional pricing
This article provides further reasoning why institutional pricing is in the best interest of investors. As mentioned above, it’s a step in the right direction.
Sponsors, participants warming up to guaranteed income options
The trend to in-plan guaranteed income options is generally a positive sign, although these options make the most sense after a participant retires or rolls out. But participants want to know what they’ve got to count on for retirement income long before then. I’ve got some further ideas I’ll be sharing in the near future. So stay tuned.
401(k) plans are not helping employees meet their retirement goals
Clearly plan sponsors need to do more since they have the resources to help employees make the most progress toward their retirement goals.
How the new-model 401(k) can help boost your retirement savings
We’re all in favor of boosting savings and using target date funds to simplify the process. The real issue is what happens to those savings when the participant retires or rolls out.