A joint survey by the DCIIA Retirement Research Center and the SPARK Institute found sharply divergent pandemic-era impacts on RFP volumes: recordkeepers saw a 47% decline and consultants/RIA aggregators saw a 50-60% drop, while DCIOs reported average volume increases of 453%. The release notes that travel restrictions were a key driver of the recordkeeper decline, while fund performance reviews prompted an uptick in DCIO activity.

A presentation which show demographic trends such as increasing longevity and gender pension gaps, compares international pension systems and retirement approaches, and explores strategies for improving retirement income through plan design, annuitization, investment-based solutions, and enhanced participant engagement across defined contribution systems.

This paper includes a review of the basics of managed accounts, a summary of their usage over time, a description of how they can be offered, and considerations for determining if they are right for a particular DC plan, and if so, in what ways.

A DCIIA and SPARK webinar presentation on financial wellness that examines challenges such as income volatility, lack of emergency savings, gender disparities in retirement income, and the financial impact of caregiving and student loan debt, while highlighting opportunities for the retirement industry to improve financial security through policy initiatives, workplace savings solutions, and innovative benefit designs.

Comment letter submitted by DCIIA re: Improving Investment Advice for Workers & Retirees.

This presentation examines retirement market trends such as an aging population, declining defined benefit plans, and increased demand for guaranteed income options, while highlighting the role of the SECURE Act in improving plan sponsor protections and enabling greater portability of retirement income solutions across plans.

This paper provides a brief overview of the Dept. of Labor's Information Letter and some initial takeaway considerations. Contributors: Bill Ryan, Aon; David Levine and Kevin Walsh, Groom Law Group; Marla Kreindler, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius; Steve Ferber, PIMCO.

Comment letter submitted by DCIIA re: Financial Factors in Selecting Plan Investments.

This report provides a snapshot of initial policy responses related to participant access to defined contribution (DC) plans in various global markets as of May 15, 2020.