The SECURE Act is Now Law

Although U.S. stock indexes are hovering at or near all-time highs, many American workers still aren’t financially secure enough to retire. In response, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act focuses on promoting lifetime income options like annuities within a 401(k) and incentivizing businesses to expand their retirement offerings like auto enrollment. The Act also liberalizes the existence of Multiple Employer Plans (MEPs) for plan sponsors to pool their investments and plan administration usually at a cost savings.

This Act officially became law in December 2019, marking one of the most comprehensive retirement reform packages employers have seen in years. What should plan sponsors and participants know about these changes?

What Plan Sponsors Should Know About Lifetime Income Solutions

The number of U.S. workers who are covered by a defined benefit pension plan dropped by nearly half between 1980 and 2008, from 38 to 20 percent, and continues to steadily decline. More employers have adopted a defined contribution plan, which shifts the responsibility of saving and making investment decisions to their employees. However, many participants underestimate how much they should have in retirement and can deplete their resources much sooner than planned. Thus, in the absence of a pension plan, the need for retirement lifetime income solutions is evident. What should plan sponsors know about adopting and implementing lifetime income solutions in their plan?

How the SECURE Act Can Affect Your Retirement Plan

With around 10,000 Baby Boomers turning 65 every day, retirement reform has taken a front seat in the U.S. legislature. In late May 2019, the U.S. House passed (by a near-unanimous vote) the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019, which seeks to overhaul retirement planning the same way the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 overhauled U.S. tax laws.

The SECURE Act’s changes can impact plan sponsors of all types and sizes. Learn more about what’s in this Act and how plan sponsors can (and should) prepare for its seemingly likely passage.