Retirement preparedness is more than just a numbers problem. Participants who feel financially insecure often disengage from planning entirely, regardless of their account balance. Grounded in research on the emotional dimensions of retirement readiness, this piece offers strategies for plan sponsors and advisors to address participants' sense of financial well-being alongside their actual savings rates.

Mutual funds remain the dominant vehicle in most DC plan menus, yet their performance relative to cost and risk benchmarks is frequently debated. Conducting a systematic analysis of fund performance within retirement portfolios, this paper evaluates whether both actively and passively managed options are delivering adequate value for participants.

In the United States, more than 33 million families provide care to children under the age of 18. Childcare costs often are unaffordable, as caregiving expenses can exceed 30% of a family’s income and are compounded by an upward trend of increasing costs over the past 10 years.1 Additionally, one in five caregivers reports significant financial distress due to unpaid bills, accumulated debt, and a diminished ability to save.

A DC plan’s investment philosophy and approach to its standalone investment lineup can serve as a guide for deciding the most appropriate TDF management style. This PSI Focus explored active management misconceptions, benefits of a blended strategy, and how to explore one.