As of February 28, 2020, global stock markets have entered “correction” territory, defined as a 10% decline from the index high. This is in large part due to the uncertainty surrounding the new coronavirus, first detected in Wuhan City, China, but now detected in 37 locations internationally, including the United States. There certainly will be … Continue reading Staying the Course – Coronavirus and Past Market Epidemics

Many plan providers struggle with deciding how many investment options to offer in their retirement plans. While people generally like to have lots of options when making other decisions, having too many plan options can potentially lead to poor investment decisions by plan participants. In addition, increasing plan options can also increase plan costs, as … Continue reading Too Many Choices: How Many Investment Options Should You Offer?

Your retirement plan is a valuable resource for your employees and serves as a vehicle to attract and retain top talent. Ensuring plan success is crucial. Examining plan analytics can help evaluate its success. Plan analytics you should explore: Median age, tenure and savings rates of plan participants These analytics can be helpful to determine … Continue reading Use Plan Analytics to Evaluate Your Retirement Plan

Target date funds (TDFs) — which rebalance investments to become more conservative as a fixed date approaches — are a convenient way for plan participants to diversify their portfolios and reduce volatility and risk as they approach retirement, making them an increasingly popular choice. However not all TDFs are created equal, and selecting and monitoring … Continue reading Target Date Funds and Fiduciary Obligations

Over 40 percent of employers now offer at least a small retirement plan match to employees, who can help manage their financial wellness by taking advantage of this offer. Even if your employer only matches a small percentage, you’re losing money by not participating. But before you sign up for your company’s retirement plan, it’s … Continue reading Participant Memo: Take Advantage of Your Company’s Retirement Plan Matching Program

A plan fiduciary plays an important role in the organization’s financial health. Not only do they oversee the fiduciary process, but they identify and serve the best interests of a retirement plan’s participants and beneficiaries. Here are 10 important responsibilities to keep in mind. Limit liability: As a fiduciary, it is imperative that you understand … Continue reading Top Ten Fiduciary Responsibilities

1. Don’t Cash Out Retirement Plans When Changing Employment When you leave a job, the vested benefits in your retirement plan are an enticing source of money. It may be difficult to resist the urge to take that money as cash, particularly if retirement is many years away. If you do decide to cash out, … Continue reading Participant Corner: Four Tips for Increasing Your Retirement Dollars