401(k) plans

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  New study questions the usefulness of tax preferences in retirement plans

  By Warren S. Hersch  |  January 30, 2013

  The study results indicate that a tax incentive had little or no effect on total savings of Danish workers, though the incentive did shift how those impacted by the changes in tax incentives chose to save.

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  EBRI: Nearly three quarters of 401(k) plans include target date funds

  By Warren S. Hersch  |  January 28, 2013

  The report reveals that at year-ended 2011, 13 percent of the assets in the EBRI/ICI 401(k) database was invested in target-date funds and 39 percent of 401(k) participants held target-date funds.

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  Auto-Enrollment Found to Drive Participation in Retirement Plans

  By Liz Festa  |  July 11, 2012

  So why aren't all employer plan sponsors doing it?

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  ASPPA Criticizes Dēmos Report Conclusions on 401(k) Plan Costs

  By Warren S. Hersch  |  May 31, 2012

  The American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries is questioning the conclusions of a report that claims the fees associated with 401(k) defined contribution plans outweigh the popular savings vehicles’ benefits.

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  GAO Report Recommends DOL Examine Definition of Fiduciary

  By Warren S. Hersch  |  May 24, 2012

  The General Accounting Office has recommended that the Department of Labor examine the definition of fiduciary to determine if the definition captures the current relationship between sponsors and providers, the GAO discloses in a new report.

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  Re-enrollment Effective in Boosting 401(k) Participation

  By Paula Aven Gladych  |  March 14, 2012

  The most effective and immediate way to get 401(k) plan participants to improve their deferral rates is to “re-enroll” them into the plan.

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  Never Mind the Baby Boomers, Here Comes Gen X (Unprepared, Too)

  By Elizabeth Festa  |  January 23, 2012

  Generation X took a big hit to their collective savings by the Great Recession, too, and as they see Boomers struggling to meet their financial goals, GenXers are starting to ask themselves: why bother?

• LIMRA Survey Calls for Consolidation of Retirees’ Retirement Plans

  By Warren S. Hersch  |  October 6, 2011

  Survey says that insurers need to do a better job communicating with their clients and prospects before they retire, when they are still making decisions on how to invest their money in retirement.