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February 7th, 2024
Insight on Plan Design & Investment Strategy Every Weekday
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| MARKET MIRROR |
Tuesday, the Dow rose 141.24 points (0.37%) to close at 38,521.36, the Nasdaq rose 11.32 points (0.07%) to close at 15,609.00 and the S&P 500 rose 11.42 points (0.23%) to close at 4,954.23. The Russell 2000 rose 16.39 points (0.85%) to close at 1,953.63, and the FT Wilshire 5000 Index rose 156.89 points (0.32%) to close at 49,771.46.
The 10-year Treasury note increased 26/32, bringing the yield to 4.105%. The 30-year Treasury bond increased 28/32, bringing the yield to 4.303%.
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ON THIS DATE: In 1812, one of the largest earthquakes in U.S. history occurred along the New Madrid Fault across the south and the midwest. The same day, British novelist Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England. In 1940, the animated film “Pinocchio” had its world premiere, and it became one of Disney’s most beloved classics, known for its brilliant animation and compelling story. In 1964, the musical British Invasion began when the Beatles landed in New York City, and two nights later, as Beatlemania stormed America, their performance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” was watched by 73 million viewers. In 1966, comedian Chris Rock, known for his stand-up routines and films, was born. In 1974, Grenada gained independence from the U.K. In 1986, in the wake of political unrest, Haitian President Jean-Claude Duvalier fled his country, with U.S. assistance, for France. In 1999, Abdullah II became king of Jordan hours after the death of his father, Hussein. In 2013, Mississippi became the last U.S. state to officially abolish slavery; it had ratified the Thirteenth Amendment in 1995 but failed to submit the necessary paperwork. In 2015, collegiate basketball coach Dean Smith—who recorded 879 career victories, making him one of the most successful men’s collegiate basketball coaches—died at age 83. In 2019, baseball player and manager Frank Robinson, who was the first Black manager in Major League Baseball, died at age 82.
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| 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. |  | | May 19, 2026 | | Understanding the DOL’s Latest Proposal for Prudent Investment Selection | | The Department of Labor has issued a new proposal that could affect how retirement plan fiduciaries evaluate, document, and defend investment decisions.
This webinar will provide:
• Timely context and practical perspective on the proposal
• Insight into what the proposal is intended to clarify
• Considerations for how fiduciary processes may be affected
• Key questions plan sponsors and committees should be thinking about as the rulemaking process continues |
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|  | | August 19, 2026 | | DB Plan Administration | | Besides findings from PLANSPONSOR’s annual Defined Benefit Administration Survey, our panel will discuss trends in the defined benefit plan sector. Speakers will also talk about ongoing management of DB plans—whether closed, frozen or active—and benchmarking DB plan providers. With many corporate DB plans now overfunded, the panel will also discuss ways that sponsoring companies can use their plan’s surplus. |
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| | | November 18, 2026 | | Understanding Participant Behavior | | The PLANSPONSOR Participant Survey examines the attitudes and behaviors of American workers participating—or not—in an employer-sponsored retirement plan. We’ll explore findings about respondents’ participation and saving decisions, retirement expectations and most-valued benefits. Speakers will suggest what the findings mean for retirement plan design, benefit offerings and participant engagement. |
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|  | | SPONSORED BY: Fidelity | May 5, 2026 | | Unlocking Better Outcomes: What the 2026 Workplace Trends Mean for Your Plan | | Our 2026 report distills Fidelity’s latest research on retirement plan design, employee behavior, and integrated benefits—providing you with actionable, data-driven guidance to strengthen workforce financial wellness and organizational outcomes.
Clear, data-backed direction
Actionable, easy-to-implement strategies
A holistic view of the benefits ecosystem
A roadmap for 2026 and beyond |
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|  | | SPONSORED BY: Principal | March 24, 2026 | | The retirement ripple effect: The cost of delayed retirement | | More employees are working beyond age 65—not only by choice, but often because they’re not financially prepared to retire. This shift creates a notable ripple effect across organizations, influencing cost structures, mobility, and long-term workforce strategy. A new Principal® analysis reveals that delayed retirements create a measurable cost impact, but those costs vary significantly by industry. As the retirement landscape evolves, many organizations are rethinking how they support long-term financial security for their workforce. Employees want the ability to retire when they feel personally and financially ready, and employers want to help make that possible. When people can retire on their own terms, it creates space for thoughtful workforce planning, smoother transitions, and a healthier overall workplace. Employers can support those outcomes through thoughtful plan design. Automated features—such as auto enrollment, auto increase, and annual re-enrollment—help employees start saving earlier, stay engaged, and build confidence in their retirement readiness. When employees can retire on time, organizations benefit from lower long-term costs, improved mobility, and a more resilient talent strategy.
Join managing directors of Enhanced Plan Design at Principal for a practical, data-driven conversation on:
• What’s driving delayed retirement across industries.
• How delayed retirement affects employer cost structures and why the impact varies by sector.
• Scalable ways plan design—especially automated features—can influence retirement readiness, often at a cost lower than a single year of delayed retirement.
• Practical design actions to support employee readiness. |
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