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January 22nd, 2025
Insight on Plan Design & Investment Strategy Every Weekday
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AWARDS
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MEPs and PEPs Eligible for Plan Sponsor of the Year
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PLANSPONSOR is opening its Plan Sponsor of the Year awards to closed MEPs and to PEPs. Only the pooled plan provider, or PPP, of a PEP can apply, and only the sponsoring entity of a closed MEP can apply. If we have enough entries, we will recognize these categories in the 2025 awards program. If you are the PPP of a PEP or the sponsor of a closed MEP and would like to apply, email , and we will send you a link to the application. 
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| MARKET MIRROR |
Tuesday, the Dow rose 537.98 points (1.24%) to close at 44,025.81, the Nasdaq rose 126.58 points (0.64%) to close at 19,756.78 and the S&P 500 rose 52.58 points (0.88%) to close at 6,049.24. The Russell 2000 rose 42.09 points (1.85%) to close at 2,317.97, and the FT Wilshire 5000 Index rose 595.71 points (0.99%) to close at 60,885.12.
The 10-year Treasury note increased 4/32, bringing the yield to 4.582%. The 30-year Treasury bond increased 29/32, bringing the yield to 4.813%.
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ON THIS DATE: In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade that a Texas statute criminalizing abortion in most instances violated a woman’s constitutional right of privacy. In 1998, Theodore Kaczynski, the so-called Unabomber, who killed three people and injured 22 in 16 attacks between 1979 and 1995, was sentenced to four terms of life in prison without parole. In 2006, Evo Morales, a member of the Aymara indigenous group, was sworn in as president of Bolivia, becoming the first indigenous leader to hold the office. In 2010, struggling with ratings, Conan O’Brien left “The Tonight Show” after hosting his last episode of the late-night television program. In 2012, Joe Paterno—who, as head coach at Penn State was one of the most successful coaches in the history of collegiate football but whose final season was overshadowed by a sex-abuse scandal involving a former assistance coach—died at the age of 85. In 2018, writer Ursula K. Le Guin, best known for tales of science fiction and fantasy, died at the age of 88. In 2021, professional baseball player Hank Aaron, one of the game’s greatest hitters, died at the age of 86.
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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. |  | | SPONSORED BY: MetLife | March 3, 2026 | | Paycheck or Pot of Gold? Helping Participants Navigate the Decumulation Dilemma | | In this webinar, you’ll discover how defined contribution plan participants are navigating the decumulation dilemma— taking their accumulated savings as a paycheck (i.e., an annuity) or a perceived “pot of gold” (i.e., a lump sum). We’ll share key findings from MetLife’s 2026 Paycheck or Pot of Gold Study, which show how quickly lump sums are being depleted and, in contrast, the high levels of satisfaction among annuitants. Whether you already enable your plan participants to convert their DC savings into guaranteed lifetime income – or are considering it – you won’t want to miss this webinar. ● Hear how pre-retirees and retirees are navigating the challenge of making their savings last ● Learn about employers’ growing interest in guaranteed lifetime income solutions from the industry's market leader ● Understand how you can shape successful retirement outcomes for your plan participants |
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|  | | August 18, 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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| | | January 28, 2026 | | Benchmarking Your Plan: Using Data to Stay Competitive | | In this webinar, you’ll discover how benchmarking can transform your retirement plan into a powerful tool for attracting and retaining talent. We’ll highlight key findings from the PLANSPONSOR Defined Contribution Survey and show how benchmarking drives smarter plan design decisions.
Hear real-world examples and advisor insights on improving plan competitiveness and employee outcomes. Find out why benchmarking matters, what to look for, and how to put these strategies into action. |
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|  | | SPONSORED BY: ACI | December 16, 2025 | | Retirement Realities – What Sponsors May Be Missing | | What do plan sponsors believe about retirement readiness, and how does that compare to what participants actually feel? During this webinar, Glenn Dial, Senior Retirement Strategist at American Century Investments, will unpack the findings from the firm’s 12th Annual Retirement Survey. He’ll explore where sponsor and participant perspectives align – and where they diverge – on key issues like savings confidence, market risk, and retirement income expectations. Glenn will also touch on the evolving role of target date funds (TDFs) and how guaranteed income is being viewed in today’s defined contribution landscape. This session is designed to help retirement professionals better understand the sentiment gaps and take action to close them.
What You’ll Learn:
Fresh insights from the 2025 Retirement Survey.
Key disconnects between plan sponsors and participants.
Perspectives on market risk, TDFs, and retirement income.
Strategic considerations for plan design and communication
Whether you're a plan sponsor, advisor, or industry stakeholder, this webinar will help you rethink how retirement plans can better serve the people they're built for. |
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