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PLANSPONSOR NEWSDASH LOGO February 21st, 2024
Insight on Plan Design & Investment Strategy Every Weekday
Administration
Understanding Investments and Fees: A Key Part of Plan Committee Education
Understanding Investments and Fees: A Key Part of Plan Committee Education
The issue of monitoring investments and plan fees is something that often comes up in retirement lawsuits and is therefore an important part of the fiduciary training process.
Compliance
Comments Challenge IRS Interpretation of Automatic Features, Roth Matching, Other Provisions
The IRS December grab bag notice provisions on de minimis incentives and terminally ill distributions also received some pushback from the industry.
Most Read
Compliance
Latest 401(k) Plan Forfeiture Complaint Filed Against BMO Financial
Administration
Principal CEO: Recordkeepers Should Get Creative to Enhance Services, Go Beyond Scale
Opinions
Retirement Income Stands Out as a Rare Consensus Focus for Politicians
MARKET MIRROR
Tuesday, the Dow fell 64.19 points (0.17%) to close at 38,563.80, the Nasdaq fell 144.87 points (0.92%) to close at 15,630.78 and the S&P 500 fell 30.06 points (0.60%) to close at 4,975.51. The Russell 2000 lost 28.60 points (1.41%) to close at 2,004.14, and the FT Wilshire 5000 Index lost 339.10 points (0.67%) to close at 50,112.30.

The 10-year Treasury note increased 1/32, bringing the yield to 4.280%. The 30-year Treasury bond decreased 3/32, bringing the yield to 4.453%.
Data and Research
Motivating Faculty, Staff to Save for Retirement Is Top Concern for Higher Ed Plan Sponsors
Plan sponsors at higher education institutions expressed concerns over their participants’ retirement readiness, but many do not measure the performance of their plans, according to Transamerica research.
Ask the Experts
Can Employer Contributions to 403(b) Custodial Accounts Be Distributed for Hardships?
Experts from Groom Law Group and CAPTRUST answer questions concerning retirement plan administration and regulations.
SMALL TALK
ON THIS DATE: In 1885, the Washington Monument was dedicated on the grounds of the Mall in Washington, D.C. In 1916, the Battle of Verdun, one of the most devastating engagements of World War I, began. In 1925, the weekly magazine “The New Yorker” began publication under founding editor Harold W. Ross. In 1936, lawyer and politician Barbara Jordan, the first African American congresswoman to come from the Deep South, was born in Houston, Texas. In 1965, Malcolm X, who articulated concepts of racial pride and Black nationalism in the U.S., was assassinated and became an ideological hero after the posthumous release of “The Autobiography of Malcolm X.” In 1972, U.S. President Richard Nixon visited to the People’s Republic of China, ending a 21-year estrangement between the communist country and the U.S. In 1995, businessman and adventurer Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean in a balloon. It was the first of his many aviation records. In 2018, evangelist Billy Graham—whose large-scale preaching missions, known as crusades, and friendship with numerous U.S. presidents brought him to international prominence—died at age 99.
Industry Intel Roundup—Featured Webinars
PLANSPONSOR is pleased to present the next edition of our Industry Intelligence roundup. This week, we are featuring webinars sponsored by experienced providers in the industry. The content was created to educate, inform and offer ideas for plan sponsors regarding plan design, investing, administration and compliance.
SPONSORED BY: Income America | November 19, 2024
Changing the Conversation on Guaranteed Retirement Income
As retirement plans transition from supplemental savings vehicles to the primary income source for many retirees, plan participants’ perspectives on retirement have shifted significantly. This session will delve into the findings from American Century’s 11th Annual Retirement Survey, highlighting how these evolving views are influencing employers’ goals and strategies in designing their organizations’ plans. With income replacement becoming a critical focus for participants, plan sponsors are increasingly recognizing the need to align retirement plans with these expectations. Additionally, there is a growing emphasis on guaranteed income solutions to better meet the evolving retirement goals of employees. By adapting plans to meet participants’ needs and incorporating sought-after design features, plan sponsors can drive deeper engagement and achieve better outcomes for their participants.
December 12, 2024
Plan Benchmarking
How do plan sponsors determine the right goals for their plans or measure plan success? What tools are available to benchmark retirement plans? What should plans be measuring and how often? What kinds of actions or improvements can measurements drive? These questions and more will be answered in PLANSPONSOR’s final editorial webinar of 2024.
SPONSORED BY: Principal | October 30, 2024
Rethinking Retirement: Participant Engagement Trends and Best Practices
Dive into key participant behaviors and engagement trends that can reshape how we approach retirement planning. This presentation highlights the complexities participants face in understanding their eligibility and reveals misconceptions about their enrollment. We’ll explore targeted strategies to help boost participation rates and address certain generational gaps. In today’s saturated digital environment, participants are conditioned to ignore marketing-style emails. Discover best practices in how to refine your messaging and break through the noise. Finally, we’ll explore why the “easy button” plan features haven’t been working. By evolving messaging to meet participants where they are paired with best practice plan design features, we aim to drive deeper engagement and better outcomes. *Principal® Retirement Security Survey—Nonparticipants, December 2023. Intended for Plan Sponsor use only. PLANSPONSOR is not an affiliate of any company of the Principal Financial Group®. The subject matter in this communication is educational only and provided with the understanding that Principal® is not rendering legal, accounting, investment or tax advice. You should consult with appropriate counsel, financial professionals, and other advisors on all matters pertaining to legal, tax, investment or accounting obligations and requirements. Insurance products and plan administrative services provided through Principal Life Insurance Company®. Securities offered through Principal Securities, Inc., member SIPC and/or independent broker-dealers. Referenced companies are members of the Principal Financial Group®, Des Moines, IA 50392. Principal®, Principal Financial Group®, and Principal and the logomark design are registered trademarks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a Principal Financial Group company, in the United States and are trademarks and services marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., in various countries around the world. © 2024 Principal Financial Services, Inc. 3893943-092024
SPONSORED BY: Fidelity Investments | October 10, 2024
The shift in the retirement landscape and how to better support employees
SPONSORED BY: Corebridge Financial | September 30, 2024
How College Planning Fits Into Financial Wellness
When it comes to the college search, you’ll often hear talk about finding the right “fit.” Usually that means academic and social fit, but a key piece of fit is also the financial fit. A college degree is one of the most expensive purchases a family will make in their lifetime. Figuring out what you will pay, how much you can afford, and how you will find the best value for your money is a critical component of any college search. In this webinar, New York Times bestselling parenting and higher education writer Jeff Selingo will explain how to assess the value of a college and ways to compile the college list with financial wellness in mind. Jeff spent a year inside the college admissions process for his book, Who Gets In and Why, and has written about higher education for 25 years.
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