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Benefits October 6, 2009
Most NQDC Plan Sponsors 'Into' their Recordkeeper
October 6, 2009 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - A new survey by
the Principal Financial Group found that among the 75% of
plan sponsors jobbing out the recordkeeping for their
nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plans, 92% are
satisfied with their provider.
Reported by Fred Schneyer
Of the group with external recordkeepers, 80% would
select the same recordkeeper again, and 83% would also
recommend the recordkeeper to another company. Ten
percent say they are likely to swap recordkeepers in the
next year.
Generally, Principal found, sponsors with bundled recordkeeping services are more satisfied than those with recordkeeping-only plans.
What makes them satisfied? Principal said sponsors are looking for providers meeting their needs for costs, accuracy, assurance that plan participants have quality access to plan information, and the ability to offload the plan sponsor administrative burden. Timeliness, quality, and the accuracy of reports and statements are also important factors.
The survey found plan sponsors finance their nonqualified deferred compensation plans using a diverse set of methods. The top three informal financing methods identified in the survey were: mutual funds, COLI, and the use of other corporate assets. When asked prior to the economic downturn in the fall of 2008, there was high satisfaction among plan sponsors regarding their financing methods, with few indicating planned changes.
“Therefore, plan sponsors will be looking for recordkeepers that can support nonqualified solutions with specialized resources, exhibit a breadth of experience, and offer administrative efficiency. These providers must offer best plan-design practices that meet plan sponsor needs while satisfying Section 409A and regulatory requirements,” the Principal concluded.
With Principal polling both sponsors and participants, the survey also found 92% of deferred compensation plan participants indicate the plan is important to reaching their retirement goals. Meanwhile, fewer plan participants indicate that the plan is important to their decision to take a new job (74%) or stay with a current employer when a plan is available (64%). Plan participants also value retirement calculators, financial planning, and investment advice when made available to them.
For plan sponsors, an 11-minute telephone interview was conducted. A total of 221 plan sponsor interviews were completed. For plan participants, a 10-minute Internet-based survey was completed by 303 participants.
The survey report is available here .