Standard target-date funds assume all participants of the same age share the same risk profile and savings trajectory—an assumption that rarely holds in practice. This piece explores how plan sponsors can use participant data to customize glide paths, moving beyond one-size-fits-all defaults toward solutions that better reflect individual retirement readiness.

Converting accumulated savings into a guaranteed income stream is one of the most consequential—and underutilized—decisions a retiree can make. Investigating the behavioral and financial science behind annuitization choices, this paper explores what drives participants toward or away from annuity conversion and what plan design can do to support better outcomes.

Employers increasingly are focusing on the financial wellness of America’s workers as they understand how the connections among employees’ financial, emotional, and physical health can affect business. Workers are facing increasing financial challenges due to rising costs and, for many, relatively stagnant wages. As a result, workers often end up with higher debt and unable to meet their short-term needs. As time goes on, financial problems can cascade and compound with ever-growing negative consequences.