In-Plan Annuities: Are they a viable option in DC plans?

In-Plan annuities. An alternative to company pensions. An alternative to externally purchased annuities. Perhaps the best of both worlds? So what is preventing wider adoption? This article on PlanSponsor refers to a webcast on this topic sponsored by NAGDCA. The pros and cons listed in the last few slides of the presentation are informative, educational, …

Fiscal pressures threaten the tax incentives of the 401(k) system.

Tax incentives. Retirement planning. Retirement income. Three terms that are intricately connected. As consumers we understand the importance of maintaining the delicate balance between these three. During times of economic uncertainty, it is all the more important to preserve this balance for the well-being of the nation as a whole. Yielding to the doomsday scenario …

A holistic approach to financial independence during retirement

Financial independence during retirement. Try to visualize what this means to you. Now, as an employer, think about how your employees visualize financial independence during retirement. Do you see any differences? How we address these differences, either as an employee, or as an employer, is where we have the largest potential for a better outcome …

If “work” is the new “retirement”, how do we prepare for this eventuality?

"Work" "Retirement". Up to now, these two words have been thought of as being mutually exclusive. However, in the new world we live in, this reality is gradually changing. Work might as well be the new retirement. What are the long term implications of this new reality? Not just for the society as a whole, …

Leveraging experience to help the younger generation

Balance. This is the key word that comes to mind when reading this article in The Washington Post. This is what the younger generation has to successfully manage - in this new world. Balance between paying off College loans, managing current finances, buying a new house, and with any luck, with anything left over, saving …

Social Security: Why it is important to do the homework enough in advance before eligibility

Social Security. Do these words bring images of relief or fear? Perhaps relief for some, and fear for many. Relief for those receiving payments or are fairly confident of its solvency when it is time to receive payments, fear for the skeptics. In addition to the above, this insightful study conducted by the BMO Retirement …

Did this week make a difference?

With the end of the National Save for Retirement Week (tomorrow is the last day), time to step back, reflect, and ask how this week has made a difference to us. Are we at the start of something new, end of something old, or neither one of those - as it relates to our topic …

National Save for Retirement Week – An opportunity to step back, review, plan, and act

Proactive planning. Something most people know is needed, but are either not able to do, or cannot do - because of a multitude of reasons, some within, and many outside our control. This is what I thought of when I reviewed this article on PlanSponsor that analyzes a Wells Fargo annual survey on retirement readiness. …

Can we apply any of these best practices to determine our approach to retirement planning?

Fund line-up. A critical component that plan sponsors grapple with to fulfill their fiduciary duties, and equally importantly their responsibility to their employees - in terms of providing the most appropriate investment funds in the plan to maximize the retirement income potential. This report published by Vanguard contains the best practices to determine a plan …

Why it is important to evaluate alternative products when researching annuity income options in retirement planning

Guarantee. Is there anything truly like that any more? And if there is one, what is the cost of obtaining that guarantee? And are we willing to pay the price for that guarantee? When is the last time we have stepped back and thought about that? In the context of retirement planning, this topic is …