March 2025: The RRC gathered in Newport Beach, CA for a Summit geared towards innovation, featuring topics across core menu design and asset class strategies, implicit Rothification effects, Social Security integration, impacts of extreme weather, and ret

March 2025: The RRC gathered in Newport Beach, CA for a Summit geared towards innovation, featuring topics across core menu design and asset class strategies, implicit Rothification effects, Social Security integration, impacts of extreme weather, and ret

Guest speakers spoke to the challenges of not being a “mega” plan sponsor and how to navigate: • Understanding and benchmarking all of your plan costs • Case study from a smaller plan • Negotiation tactics for plan sponsor

The underlying raw data file from the Design Matters pulse survey, intended for researchers and analysts who want to conduct their own exploration of the survey findings. It supports deeper quantitative analysis beyond what is presented in the published report.

This publication explores how thinking around DC investment menu design has changed over time, covering shifts in philosophy, structure, and participant-centered approaches. It makes the case that intentional menu construction is a meaningful driver of participant outcomes.

The DCIIA Retirement Research Center (RRC) explored the perspectives of industry practitioners on the effectiveness of current investment menus in meeting evolving workforce needs. The findings are from a pulse survey intended to highlight key industry insights and trends around streamlining investment menus for participants while achieving core objectives for participants and employers alike.

Designing an optimal menu of investment options for a defined contribution (DC) plan that will meet the needs of an organization’s diverse set of demographics is a challenging task for plan fiduciaries. In this report, the DCIIA Investment Policy & Design Committee examines best practices and considers five major influences on investment menu design.

At its annual member board meeting, DCIIA confirmed its Executive Committee for the 2025/2026 term, with Mike Raso of PineBridge Investments serving as Chair and Allegra Heyligers of Allspring Global Investments as Vice Chair. The release includes the full roster of committee members and their respective firms.