Informed and Actionable Insights
DCIIA’s Retirement Research Center (RRC) conducts industry-informed research focused on actionable insights. Our goal is to serve the industry and stakeholders as a reliable, fact-based, and authoritative research resource. We support improved financial and retirement security through research on public policy, investments, and behavioral factors affecting decision-making and industry innovation.
Types of Research:
- Ongoing core projects with the RRC members
- Collaborative partner projects with strategic partners
- Proprietary projects through the RRC Private Label
Research Overview
We study real-world behavior to understand how people save, invest, and retire.
RRC members receive exclusive reports, datasets, and event recordings.
Managed Accounts
The RRC is currently fielding a study to explore the evolving role of managed accounts in defined contribution plans. The goal is to better clarify the value proposition for participants, identify barriers to adoption, and surface best practices for plan sponsors, consultants, and providers. Research instruments seek to provide more insight into changing services, the role of digital advice or AI, and potential impacts into participant behaviors, including savings behavior, debt reduction, or retirement readiness.
Private Market Assets in DC
The RRC is currently scoping a research initiative to evaluate the considerations for adding private markets securities to DC plan menus. With an active working group, this research will explore challenges to including securities options on DC menus, innovation solutions, a range of delivery methods, fiduciary risk, and participant demand.
Evolution of Core Fund Menus
In a series of papers, the RRC is exploring DC plan core menus have changed in the recent past. Quantitative research is ongoing to release the final set of papers, assessing historical changes in the number of offerings, gains and losses of asset classes, index fund influences, and decision-making influences based on option fees.
Retirement Income
Following three prior phases, the RRC is continuing its research into retirement income with a participant survey. This survey will assess preferred product features, familiarity with options, educational materials, and usage trends.
Recordkeeper Distribution Options
The RRC will revisit its 2024 research study on retirement income and distribution capabilities offered by major recordkeepers. The purpose is to produce a current-state update on aggregated, platform-level offerings, technology constraints impacting solution availability, and strategic influences on solution adoption.
The outcomes of this study are intended to inform platform selection considerations for plan sponsors, refresh the benchmark for core retirement income capabilities, and contextualize the evolution of supply-side retirement income delivery.
Research Minute
With 2.3x over the average industry open rate, the Research Minute serves to provide timely, quick-read insights that also feature RRC Members as Guest Contributors. The “Research Minute” brings a series of brief, thought-provoking retirement research and behavioral economics ideas.
RRC Upcoming Events
Connect with plan sponsors shaping retirement security
RRC Webinar: The Converging Worlds of Wealth and Retirement
Advisory Councils
To identify key research initiatives, the RRC is guided by multiple Advisory Councils.
These Councils advise the RRC on potential topics, review research papers, join working groups and events, and facilitate collaboration between the RRC team and specialized segments of the industry.
RRC Executive Committee
Brookfield Asset Management
Apollo Global Management/Athene
Alight Solutions
AllianceBernstein
T. Rowe Price
PGIM/Prudential/Jennison Associates
Partners Group
iCapital
Member Voices
What DCIIA means to our community.
"I have been particularly impressed by DCIIA’s diversity and inclusion initiatives. They have advanced this work with a level of purpose and intentionality that seeks to enhance access to retirement security for all American workers."
"I think DCIIA is one of the best-kept secrets in the advisor community. Membership requires a nominal investment for the return. It really pays for itself in that you get ongoing access to insights from the top people in the retirement industry. My senior ERISA consultant tells me he’s locked down when it comes to our DCIIA membership – there’s no way we can go without the access to people and thought leadership that it provides."
“When you have the opportunity to participate in an organization like DCIIA, you feel like you’re having an impact. That feeling inspires you to keep coming back, keep being involved. This is a group with a passion for defined contribution.”
“I believe we are doing meaningful work at DCIIA that is pushing the industry forward. What I absolutely love is that individuals — who in their day jobs might be direct competitors — can come together, collaborate, and learn from each other.”
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“DCIIA is a true community of knowledgeable industry peers who are genuinely committed to improving retirement outcomes. The conversations and connections here broaden my perspective and elevate my work.”
"DCIIA brings together an esteemed mix of practitioners, researchers, and policymakers who are genuinely focused on improving retirement outcomes. Being part of this community has given me access to thoughtful content, candid conversations, and relationships that help us stay grounded in what truly matters for savers."
Join the Research Conversation
Collaborate with us on studies, access our latest findings, or discuss your research needs.
Custom Insights
The RRC welcomes collaboration from industry professionals who want to contribute to meaningful research. Whether you're interested in shaping studies or accessing our findings, we have opportunities for your involvement.
Joining RRC
Stay connected with RRC research as it develops. Our team regularly releases reports, analysis, and findings that advance understanding across the defined contribution landscape.
RRC Staff
The Value of RRC Membership
As an RRC member, firms help guide the industry’s research agenda, contribute thought leadership, gain high‑value visibility, and build credibility through data‑driven insights and collaboration.
Shape Industry Direction
Guide the research agenda and influence key industry conversations by helping set project priorities, serving on event steering committees, and contributing through the RRC Executive Committee and Advisory Councils.
Elevate Thought Leadership
Take an active role in original research as a leader, collaborator, analyst, or co‑author, and gain early access to deep‑dive findings, working files, and raw data that keep you ahead of emerging trends.
Expand Visibility & Influence
Increase your firm’s presence across the RRC community by presenting at events, authoring Research Minute posts, co‑authoring reports, and engaging with peers, thought leaders, and academics at exclusive RRC Summits.
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Strengthen Market Credibility
Access bespoke research capabilities tailored to real‑world retirement challenges, supported by a proprietary team that designs and executes custom studies—reinforcing your firm’s expertise and leadership in the market.
Become an RRC Member
Complete our quick application and join an active community of industry leaders. We’ll reach out and guide you through each step of the membership process.
