In this research report by the DCIIA Investment Policy & Design Committee, building on past DCIIA work, we examine current defaults and emerging solutions in the context of the themes, also considering current and likely future adoption. We provide, as a call to action, questions to reflect and act on for plan sponsors, service providers, and advisors in an Action Kit.

Self-directed DC plan participants represent a unique window into how retirement investors respond to ESG options when given genuine discretion. Analyzing the allocation patterns of new participants who actively choose ESG funds, this paper explores what their behavior reveals about the evolving role of values-based investing in retirement—and the implications for plan menu design.

Personal financial wellness can be described as an individual’s ability to balance the needs of the present and future self when making financial decisions. This process is inherently personal. Employers, often in concert with their recordkeepers and other service providers, are increasingly offering programs aimed at helping their employees make better financial decisions in the belief and hope that improved financial wellness will accrue back to the employer in the form of greater productivity and other forms of ROI.

Ready access to data is a central component to many of the most promising opportunities for progress in the DC system, and these needs will grow as topics such as decumulation become a larger focus. Data privacy and data sharing are critical to all parts of the DC ecosystem.

A set of themes emerged from the day’s sessions. Perhaps the biggest was that considering a ful!lling, well-funded retirement isn’t just about saving for retirement, and that those of us who work in the space need to take into account a broader set of elements.

This paper explores various governance models that are used by DC plan sponsors and explains the key players, common fiduciary and settlor decisions, and considerations that may help plan sponsors choose a governance model suitable for their organization. We hope this paper provides a helpful guide to plan sponsors exploring their options.

March 2023: Review materials from the RRC Summit in Charlotte, NC to hear exclusive initial results from the Collaborative for Equitable Retirement Savings initiative, Personalization & Next Best Dollar project, and engaging presentations from member firm

March 2023: Review materials from the RRC Summit in Charlotte, NC to hear exclusive initial results from the Collaborative for Equitable Retirement Savings initiative, Personalization & Next Best Dollar project, and engaging presentations from member firm

Following President Biden's veto of H.J. Res. 30, which would have overturned the Department of Labor's ESG investment rule, DCIIA issued a public policy statement reaffirming its members' general support for removing barriers to the prudent integration of ESG factors into fiduciary decision-making under ERISA. The release also directs readers to related DCIIA resources on ESG and sustainable investing.