Benefits decision makers have cited high costs of living as the top issue to address through financial wellness initiatives, superseding retirement preparedness for the first time ever, according to Employee Benefit Research Institute’s (EBRI) sixth annual Financial Wellbeing Employer Survey.... READ MORE

BlackRock has launched what it describes as the industry’s only suite of target date ETFs created for the roughly 57 million Americans who lack access to a 401(k) or employer-sponsored retirement plan. According to the announcement, the iShares LifePath Target Date ETFs invest in a broad portfolio... READ MORE

The Department of Labor (DOL) has denied that it planned to increase investigative efforts targeted at brokerage windows following the release last year of a compliance assistance bulletin implying that investigations would extend to plans that offer cryptocurrency through a brokerage window. More... READ MORE

While it’s not nearly as high as the massive, inflation-fueled adjustment in 2023, Social Security recipients will still receive a modest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2024. This morning, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that Social Security and Supplemental Security... READ MORE

In response to numerous questions posted by House Education and the Workforce Committee members, Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su told the lawmakers that the Labor Department is committed to moving forward on a new rule.  “Our concern consistently has been and continues to be with financial... READ MORE

New research suggests that one of the best actionable steps a person can take toward a secure retirement is creating a formal written financial plan. Among the benefits of having a plan is that it helps keep retirement savers on track with their retirement goals and leads to greater retirement... READ MORE

Women apparently are tapping into their “financial superpowers” and are making smart money moves to gain ground in several financial areas, although there’s still more work to be done to help them feel better prepared, new research from Fidelity Investments suggests.   According to Fidelity’s... READ MORE

Legally operated cannabis companies could soon be allowed to sponsor retirement plans under legislation recently approved by the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. By a vote of 14-9 on Sept. 27, the committee approved the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation Banking Act (the... READ MORE

Improvements in retirement-plan design have put more workers in a better position to meet their retirement goals, yet for Americans who lack access to a plan, the outlook remains challenging. That was one of the key takeaways from Vanguard’s inaugural Retirement Outlook report, which evaluates... READ MORE