Despite people’s reticence to get advice, 42% believe their need for financial help has increased over the past few years. Recent Empower research found that most workers with a retirement plan are concerned about macroeconomic factors and how they affect their daily lives and pocketbook. DCIIA has been working on research geared to understanding 401(k) plan contributions to the retirement readiness of American workers since 2010. This paper draws on EBRI’s Retirement Security Projection Model® and explores the current state of the impact of 401(k) plans and other retirement savings plans on overall retirement preparedness in a post-Pension Protection Act (PPA) DC environment.

The purpose of this paper is to suggest a working definition of financial wellness, survey the nascent body of research surrounding these programs, and highlight some demographic groups where financial wellness programs may be most likely to add significant value.

This slide-deck publication is intended to provide a better understanding of the various investment vehicles that are commonly used within DC plans, their benefits and drawbacks, and considerations for deciding which structure to use.

DCIIA’s Retirement Research Board embarked on a series of initiatives to identify ways to create consensus definitions for varying auto features used within DC plans. The outcome of these projects is this series of auto feature definitions.

This paper seeks to offer a new perspective to plan sponsors who desire to implement or enhance automatic plan features in a defined contribution plan. Specifically, this paper highlights several potential benefits to the employer and profiles plan sponsors who have experienced these benefits. Additionally, DCIIA provides a roadmap for implementation that suggests strategies a plan sponsor may employ to implement automatic plan features over a multi-year period.

The results from an industry survey of 5,000 retirement plan participants confirm that plan leakage remains an issue that ultimately is undermining the critical public policy goal of preserving assets for retirement savings.

A DCIIA guide that outlines how plan sponsors can evaluate and implement retirement income solutions within defined contribution plans, focusing on helping participants convert savings into sustainable retirement income through a mix of guaranteed and non-guaranteed options, while addressing key risks, fiduciary responsibilities, operational considerations, and real-world case studies that demonstrate practical approaches to improving retirement security and outcomes.

This webinar explores how illiquid assets such as private equity, real estate, and hedge funds can be incorporated into defined contribution plans, covering their potential benefits for returns and diversification along with key fiduciary, legal, and operational considerations, as well as real-world implementation examples.

Here we outline best practices in integrating illiquid investments into defined contribution plan portfolios.