NewsDash – May 4, 2022

May 4th, 2022
Insight on Plan Design & Investment Strategy Every Weekday

Data and Research

Annuities Shine in Rocky Market Environment

Both FIAs and fixed-rate deferred products benefited from the significant interest rate increases in the first quarter, according to new data published by the Secure Retirement Institute.

Ask the Experts

Are Distributions From a 403(b) Subject to the WEP Provision?

“Are distributions from a 403(b) plan subject to the Windfall Elimination Provision?”

Most Read

Compliance
ERISA Attorneys Call for Restoration of PBGC Pension Guarantees

Benefits
How to Make the Most of Increasing Longevity

Benefits
Research Reveals Access to ESAs Does Not Match Interest

Economic Events

New orders for manufactured durable goods in March increased $2.3 billion or 0.8% to $275.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This increase, up five of the last six months, followed a 1.7% February decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 1.1%. Excluding defense, new orders increased 1.2%. Computers and electronic products, up two of the last three months, led the increase, $0.7 billion or 2.6% to $26.3 billion.

Market Mirror

Tuesday, the Dow added 67.29 points (0.20%) to finish at 33,128.79, the Nasdaq closed 27.74 points (0.22%) higher at 12,563.76, and the S&P 500 increased 20.10 points (0.48%) to 4,175.48. The Russell 2000 was up 15.94 points (0.85%) at 1,898.86, and the Wilshire 5000 gained 185.52 points (0.45%) to finish at 41,820.72.

The price of the 10-year Treasury note was up 1/32, decreasing its yield to 2.975%. The price of the 30-year Treasury bond increased 2/32, bringing its yield down to 3.022%.

Data and Research

Consensus Builds Around Early Financial Education

The vast majority of U.S. adults think their state should require a semester- or year-long course in personal finance education prior to high school graduation.

Employers Feel the Strain of Rising Labor Costs

New survey data shows employers both large and small are looking closely at operating expenses and, when possible, prioritizing salaries and benefits.

Small Talk

ON THIS DATE: In 1715, a French manufacturer debuted the first folding umbrella. In 1886, Chichester Bell and Charles S. Tainter patented the gramophone. It was the first practical phonograph. In 1905, the U.S. officially began construction on the Panama Canal. In 1954, the first intercollegiate court tennis match was played in the U.S., between Yale and Princeton. In 1961, 13 civil rights activists, dubbed “Freedom Riders,” began a bus trip through the South. In 1966, San Francisco Giants outfielder Willie Mays hit his 512th career home run to break Mel Ott’s National League record for home runs. In 1970, in Kent, Ohio, 28 National Guardsmen fired their weapons at a group of anti-war demonstrators on the Kent State University campus, killing four students, wounding eight, and permanently paralyzing another. In 1979, Margaret Thatcher, leader of the Conservative Party, became Britain’s first female prime minister. In 1987, the First Bank of the United States was listed as a National Historic Landmark. In 2012, in Las Vegas, Google received the first self-driving vehicle testing license.

WEDNESDAY WISDOM: “Power is like being a lady… if you have to tell people you are, you aren’t.”—Margaret Thatcher

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 12, 2025

Bridging the Retirement Income Gap – Insights & Action

What will it take to deliver protected retirement income that truly meets the needs of both plan sponsors and participants? That’s the question our speakers – Glenn Dial, Senior Retirement Strategist at American Century Investments, and Matt Wolniewicz, President of Income America – will tackle head-on. Drawing from American Century’s 12th Annual Retirement Survey, they’ll unpack the latest sentiment data and reveal critical disconnects and opportunities in retirement readiness. From behavioral insights to implementation strategies, Glenn and Matt will guide attendees through the practical realities of guaranteed income, equipping retirement professionals with the tools to better align plan design with participant needs. What You’ll Learn: Key takeaways from the 2025 Retirement Survey, including sentiment trends and priority gaps. The mechanics of guaranteed income and how it fits into modern defined contribution plans. Actionable strategies for sponsors to enhance retirement outcomes. Whether you’re a plan sponsor, advisor, or industry stakeholder, this session can help you navigate the next chapter in protected retirement income.

SPONSORED BY: Fidelity | October 9, 2025

From Burden to Benefit: How Student Debt Benefits Support Retirement Readiness

Student debt is placing growing financial pressure on employees—and it’s directly impacting their ability to save for retirement. With the federal payment pause now over and broad forgiveness off the table, this stress is intensifying and showing up in the workplace. The time to act is now. Backed by Fidelity research, this session will explore how innovative student debt benefits can reduce stress, improve retirement readiness, and strengthen employee retention and productivity. Join us to learn why student debt benefits are more than a workplace perk—they’re a strategic investment in your people and your organization’s future.

SPONSORED BY: Corebridge | September 9, 2025

Maintaining Retirement Plan Momentum

Maintaining momentum for a successful future retirement seems to be more challenging than ever. Employees are looking to their plan sponsors for more support and direction to do a better job investing for their future. In this special financial wellness webinar sponsored by Corebridge Financial, you’ll get practical ideas and suggestions for: Maintaining and strengthening plan health in light of current Social Security and Medicare changes Working closely with your plan provider to develop robust and consistent education and communication outreach plans Providing improved action items for your employees to maintain and build their financial wellness

SPONSORED BY: Candidly | August 13, 2025

Future-Proofing Retirement: How Pearson Used Data to Bridge Student Debt and 401(k) Gaps

HR and benefits leaders are facing increased pressure to align their retirement offerings with the wants and needs of the modern workforce. For employers like Pearson, accomplishing this required confronting the disconnect between student loan obligations and retirement readiness — and turning to data to make an informed decision. Join us for a behind-the-scenes look into how Pearson analyzed its own workforce data and industry financial wellness benchmarks to implement a strategic, SECURE Act 2.0-friendly student loan retirement match benefit. You’ll hear directly from Pearson’s HR team about the data insights that drove their decision, how they made the business case for innovation, and how this new offering has impacted employee engagement. In this session, you’ll learn: • Why traditional retirement benefits fall short across all employee cohorts in the modern workplace • How Pearson used data to identify student debt as a leading barrier to retirement plan adoption and utilization • Pearson’s journey to implement a student loan retirement match offering in compliance with the SECURE Act 2.0 • Key strategies to enable plan sponsors to modernize their benefits in 2025 and beyond