DC Plan Sponsors Respond to Regulator Actions

In response to increased DoL and IRS audit and enforcement activities, nearly 60% of plan sponsors surveyed by Mercer said they intend to take some kind of action in the next 12 months.   

According to a news release, actions cited include: 

• 65% plan to conduct an internal review of plan operations; 
• 27% intend to engage their vendor to review administration; and  
• 22% will conduct an independent operational compliance review.   

In preparation for pending participant fee disclosure rules, 60% of plan sponsors indicate they will take some kind of action.  

Actions cited include: 

• 53% will conduct an administrative fee benchmarking study;  
• 28% will reevaluate who (participant or employer) pays administrative fees; and 
• 21% will change from a nontransparent bundled pricing arrangement to a transparent, fixed administrative fee pricing arrangement. 

Other findings, according to the news release, include: 

• 77% of plan sponsors intend to maintain their current level of employer contributions, despite the negative impact the market downturn has had on participant accounts; 
• 45% of plan sponsors are considering adding some type of annuity option or minimum withdrawal benefit to their DC plan; and 
• 25% of respondents intend to add investment advice in response to finalized Labor Department rules. 

 More information is at http://www.mercer.com.