Defined Contribution Plan Trends that Plan Sponsors Need to Know

Defined contribution (DC) plans were designed to help participants become retirement ready. However, nearly 40 years since their introduction, as people who began their careers in that period are hoping to leave the workforce, retirement readiness still tops the lists of concerns for DC plan sponsors and participants. Many employers sought for years to maximize employee participation, educate employees about diverse investment options and use their 401(k) or 403(b) plans to attract and retain staff. However, evidence shows that two thirds of employees with access to plans are not using them to save.

Should Retirement Plan Sponsors Implement Automatic Enrollment?

Use of automatic enrollment in defined contribution plans has grown considerably in recent years as plan sponsors seek to boost employees’ participation and retirement savings. Concerned about the fact that only 32 percent of workers nationally who have access to a 401(k) or 403(b) plan participate, employers are moving to automatic enrollment out of a sense of responsibility.

Give Plan Participants What they Need to Boost Retirement Confidence

Companies and institutions that sponsor retirement savings plans work hard to develop attractive options that will encourage participants to save and invest for retirement. However, in spite of considerable efforts (and resources spent) to educate plan participants on the fund choices, the value of the benefit and company matches, employees are not taking full advantage of their plan and many are not feeling secure their retirement savings are adequate.

How to Boost Plan Participation Rates

When asked why they did not participate in their employer’s 401(k) plan, 40 percent of respondents to a survey said they did not have time to enroll. Nearly an equal percent said they did not earn enough, and 19 percent cited the hassle of enrollment as the reason for non-participation. These concerns, as well as other factors, could be affecting the participation and retirement readiness of the employees of your organization. Here are a few ways you can address these common concerns and increase plan participation rates.