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PLANSPONSOR NEWSDASH LOGO October 16th, 2024
Insight on Plan Design & Investment Strategy Every Weekday
Compliance
What is a SOC Report and Why Should Plan Sponsors Know About Them?
What is a SOC Report and Why Should Plan Sponsors Know About Them?
Requesting service organization control reports from service providers is an important part of the vetting process when looking to ensure safe cybersecurity practices.
DATA AND RESEARCH
Higher Contributions, Net Replacement Rates Make World’s Best Pensions
Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index again ranks Netherlands as having the best retirement system; focuses more on how to improve retirement outcomes in defined contribution plans.
Most Read
Compliance
IBM Hit With 401(k) Complaint Over TDF Monitoring 
Compliance
Digital Assets Might Fit Differently in DC Plans Than Other Alternative Assets
Compliance
ERISA Attorneys Call for Restoration of PBGC Pension Guarantees
MARKET MIRROR
Tuesday, the Dow fell 324.80 points (0.75%) to close at 42,740.42, the Nasdaq fell 187.10 points (1.01%) to close at 18,315.59 and the S&P 500 fell 44.59 points (0.76%) to close at 5,815.26. The Russell 2000 rose 1.18 points (0.05%) to close at 2,249.82, and the FT Wilshire 5000 Index fell 392.83 points (0.67%) to close at 58,252.53.

The 10-year Treasury note increased 6/32, bringing the yield to 4.036%. The 30-year Treasury bond increased 1 5/32, bringing the yield to 4.321%.
Data and Research
Deadline Extended for Participating in the 2024 PLANSPONSOR DC Survey 
Plan sponsors have until November 8 to complete the survey that can help them learn how their retirement plan stacks up against others in the same industry.
Ask the Experts
How Do New Long-Term, Part-Time Rules Apply to Student Employees in 403(b) Plans?
Experts from Groom Law Group and CAPTRUST answer questions concerning retirement plan administration and regulations.
SMALL TALK
ON THIS DATE: In 1793, after the French Revolution began, Marie-Antoinette, queen consort of Louis XVI, was targeted by agitators who, enraged by her extravagance and attempts to save the monarchy, ultimately guillotined her. In 1859, John Brown, a militant abolitionist, made his legendary raid on the U.S. arsenal at Harpers Ferry. In 1916, Margaret Sanger, an activist for women’s reproductive rights, opened the first birth control clinic in the U.S., in Brooklyn, New York. In 1946, ten of the 12 defendants sentenced to death at the Nurnberg trials, were executed. In 1964, China, eager to join the nuclear race, successfully detonated its first atomic bomb. In 1968, during the awards ceremony for the 200-meter race at the Mexico City Olympics, American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos gave a Black-power salute, for which they were ordered to leave the Games. In 1978, Karol Jozef Wojtyla of Poland was elected pope; he assumed the name John Paul II and was the first non-Italian pontiff in 455 years. In 2003, Hungarian boxer Laszlo Papp—who was the first three-time Olympic boxing champion—died at age 77.
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
SPONSORED BY: Principal | June 24, 2025
Pension Risk: Strategies to Help Manage Market Volatility
In recent years, many defined benefit plan sponsors have maintained significant allocations to equity investments, experiencing asset growth. Now, as market volatility threatens funding ratio gains, it’s important to consider strategies to help lock in DB plan funding gains and reduce investment risk. Get perspective and insights from defined benefit leaders as they discuss: What to consider when implementing or adjusting a liability-driven investing (LDI) strategy When pension risk transfer (PRT) may be an option How consolidating services with one provider could help improve risk alignment In a challenging time for pension plan management, you can prepare to de-risk when the timing is right.
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