Half of Plan Sponsors Fail to Measure Employees’ Retirement Progress

April 19, 2012 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – According to the 2011 Wells Fargo Retirement Plan Sponsor Survey, 50% of companies have not measured their employees’ retirement progress. 

Thirty-two percent of plan sponsors said they are “analyzing plan participation, balances and deferral rates.”  Only 11% are measuring each employee’s retirement income and comparing it with expected needs. The majority (51%) do not provide employees with estimates of annual retirement income they can expect based on plan balances.  

Well over half the companies surveyed (63%) said their primary goal for plan management in 2012 is either overall retirement needs and to educate employees about how much to save, or to increase employee savings.

Plan Sponsor Challenges and Concerns 

One of the greatest concerns among plan sponsors is the impact of market volatility on account balances and pension plan funding (29%).  Other challenges include: participants’ appreciation for and use of the plan (19%); providing employees with the financial ability to retire (18%); managing fiduciary risks (12%); compliance with changing regulatory requirements (10%); the program’s effectiveness to recruit, retain and facilitate retirement (6%); understanding and managing plan expenses (2%); and management and oversight of service providers (2%).