Data & Research

Adviser-sold college savings plans gained traction, and now show balances equivalent to direct-sold plans, research shows. 

Average 401(k) account balances have increased 93% since the economic downturn of 2009, according to research from The Principal Financial Group.

New research from a coalition of retirement industry groups suggests financial advisers are moving away from the use and recommendation of annuities, despite industry buzz around income products.

Americans prioritize financial matters second only to their health, according to a Northwestern Mutual study, yet few seek professional advice or have a long-term plan for retirement.

People expect to work longer and flexibility will become the new model for retirement, finds Aegon’s third Retirement Readiness survey.

The average retirement plan participant’s decision to leave 401(k) assets in-plan or actuate a distribution when leaving an employer often hinges on whether they are retiring or taking...

A pervasive fear of running out of money in retirement is not causing Americans to spend less today, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Simplifying the 401(k) plan enrollment process may help employees save more effectively for retirement, says a recent paper from Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Roth IRA balances grew at twice the rate of traditional individual retirement accounts (IRAs) between 2010 and 2012, according to a new analysis from the Employee Benefit Research...

Market volatility and questions about interest rates have brought asset allocation and portfolio management to the forefront for financial advisers, according to a Fidelity Investments survey.

About a quarter of working Americans have a nest egg balance of zero, according to a survey from COUNTRY Financial, due in large part to stagnant wage growth.

More employers are recognizing employees need financial education programs to help them deal with financial challenges.

American's retirement readiness levels are not as bad as some predictions make them out to be, according to a Towers Watson report.

Some plan sponsors are unsure about best practices for handling uncashed retirement plan benefit checks, but a new paper aims to help.

Nearly three-quarters of Americans do not know that a 529 plan is a college savings tool, according to the annual 529 Plan Awareness Survey from financial services firm...

The glide path of a target-date fund (TDF) should reach its landing point at the investor's actual retirement date, according to a new BlackRock study.

Employees are recognizing that their financial vulnerabilities are most likely resulting from factors they can control rather than external factors such as the economy or stock market, a...

Target-date funds are the most popular asset allocation strategy, especially for women, according to data from MassMutual’s Retirement Services Division.

Showing plan participants how well and how much their best-performing peers save is highly motivating, Putnam Investments finds.

More corporate and institutional clients are seeking investment consultants and financial advisers with expertise in liability-driven investing (LDI), says a report from Cerulli Associates.