SPARK Releases Final Data Standards for Retirement Income Solutions

The information sharing standards document, “Data Layouts for Retirement Income Solutions (Version 1.0),” is posted on The SPARK Institute Web site at http://www.sparkinstitute.org/comments-and-materials.php.  The SPARK Institute will also maintain a Q&A section on its Web site to address technical questions that may arise as the standards are adopted.    

According to a news release, the standards accommodate such in-plan options as fixed deferred annuities, guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits (GMWB), and guaranteed minimum income benefits (GMIB) solutions under several different service models followed by insurance carriers, including a recordkeeper-traded model, provider-traded  model, and guarantee administrator model.    

“These standards will make it easier and more cost effective for recordkeepers and insurance carriers to make retirement income solutions available to plan participants,” said Larry Goldbrum, SPARK General Counsel, in the news release.