With research showing that 56% of working Americans plan to utilize workplace-offered advice services in 2024,[1] Voya Financial announced the launch of a new dual Qualified Default Investment Alternative (QDIA). As the latest addition to its suite of advice and guidance solutions, the firm’s new... READ MORE

An industry-leading benchmark study of non-qualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plans finds that, while recruitment and retention continue to be the top goal for offering NQDC plans, other reasons for doing so are rising quickly in the ranks. Though these plans are still primarily used to... READ MORE

To “protect Americans’ affordable access to financial markets,” two Republican senators have introduced legislation to block the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from finalizing its proposed rule concerning the use of predictive data analytics by broker-dealers (BDs) and investment advisers... READ MORE

On Wednesday, House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-Mass.) introduced a bill to establish a federal auto-IRA for employers with more than 10 employees who do not currently sponsor a retirement plan.  The Automatic IRA Act of 2024 (H.R.7293) would require employees to be... READ MORE

Another of the BlackRock target date fund (TDF) suits comes to a conclusion, the Wall Street Journal takes a peek at managed accounts—and Nevin and Fred ponder the implications for glidepaths. To date, only one of the dozen or so suits filed against plans that had BlackRock’s LifePath TDFs have... READ MORE

While inflation and market volatility eased somewhat over the past year, that hasn’t necessarily resulted in a boost to American workers’ retirement and financial confidence. According to PGIM’s new RetireWell Confidence Index, workers’ retirement and financial confidence have lingered at “below... READ MORE

Will your 401(k) be chopped by the Chiefs—or find gold with the 49ers? That’s what adherents of the so-called Super Bowl Indicator[1] would likely conclude, after all. It’s a “theory” that when a team from the old National Football League wins the Super Bowl, the S&P 500 will rise, and when a... READ MORE

After first sharing their plans last fall to jointly market a multi-fund family PEP solution, Ascensus announced that sales of the Ascensus | American Funds Pooled Employer Plan (PEP) will begin in February. Both Ascensus and American Funds will offer the PEP program to employers and advisors... READ MORE

In the suit, filed in August 2021, participant-plaintiffs alleged that the fiduciaries of the $310 million SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment 401(k) Plan, and the SWBG, LLC 401(k) Plan breached their fiduciary duties of care and loyalty under ERISA by engaging in six categories of misconduct,... READ MORE

For those who think pooled employer plans (PEP) won’t catch on, or will at least struggle against their older, entrenched single-plan counterparts, Fred Reish has some news. In 5 to 10 years, PEPs will match single employer plans in new plan adoption, Reish, a partner with legal powerhouse Faegre... READ MORE

Loans to pay for an education: an investment in the future, but also a drag on it. Research and recent insights suggest that while loans help fund steps intended to improve one’s position, in some ways they can threaten future security by affecting retirement saving. It’s a debt whose effects... READ MORE

Well, here we are again at the end of yet another workweek…and the beginning of a new month…and just look at what has happened to these guys and gals… What’s the correct pronunciation of “February”? Cause we knew you’d want to know…  Are you drinking too much water?   Animals other than... READ MORE