The DCIIA Retirement Research Center released updated editions of two ongoing industry surveys covering custom target date funds and automatic features in DC plans. The cTDF report expanded significantly from its inaugural edition, while the plan sponsor survey of 175 respondents found continued growth in auto enrollment and auto escalation adoption, with both features approaching their maximum adoption levels.

The findings of this survey provide insight into the continued development and current state of defined contribution (DC) plan sponsor adoption of automatic (auto) features, including to what degree plan sponsors have made these design features a priority for their plans and what they presently perceive as barriers to further implementation. The findings also identify the specific benefits that plan sponsors attribute to the adoption of auto features.

Released amid the economic disruption of the early COVID-19 pandemic, this announcement highlights the publication of "Five Practical Barriers to Better Retirement Outcomes," a white paper addressing operational and administrative challenges plan sponsors should prioritize even during a crisis. Key issues covered include missing participants, 401(k) loan leakage, asset rollovers, retirement-age departures, and obstacles to in-plan annuities.

This paper helps plan sponsors identify and address five potential roadblocks to successful retirement outcomes: missing participants, 401(k) loan leakage, movement of assets out of plans via rollovers, participants leaving the plan at retirement, and obstacles to in-plan annuities. The goal is to raise awareness of these barriers and encourage action.

At its annual member meeting in Palm Beach, DCIIA elected its Executive Committee for the 2020-2021 term, with Mary Beth Glotzbach of Franklin Templeton serving as Chair and Chris Lyon of Rocaton as Vice Chair. The release includes the full committee roster spanning committee chairs, at-large members, and leadership across DCIIA's standing committees.

Northern Trust, NEST Corporation, and The People's Pension cover sustainable investing approaches, how major UK pension funds integrate ESG into their investment processes, and a deep dive into climate change as an intergenerational risk transfer issue for DC plan participants.