In Practice
Buddy System
Retirement plan relationships are evolving from a casual give-and-take toward something more formal
CFOs Say Auto Enrollment Biggest 401(k) Change after PPA
Nearly four in 10 (38%) of the chief financial officers (CFO) in a recent survey said their firms expected to add 401(k) automatic enrollment programs as a result...
Fidelity Research Launches with Retirement Strategies Perspective
A survey conducted by Towers Perrin immediately following President Bush's signing of the Pension Protection Act (PPA) found more employers are likely to maintain their defined benefit pension...
Retirement Spending Patterns Vary
A recent study, "Spending and Investing in Retirement" by LIMRA and the Society of Actuaries offers insight into how people determine they are ready to retire and how...
Markets, Medicine Dominate Retirement Concerns
A new survey finds that retirees are most concerned about the impact of the investment markets and an unexpected medical issue on their post-career standard of living.
Savings Shortfalls a Target of New Plan Designs
Most employers (80%) consider the company-sponsored defined contribution retirement plan to be the primary vehicle for their employees' retirement income, but almost half (43%) are concerned that their...
Premature Rollovers
Recent studies indicate that more than half of participants spend at least some of their retirement savings well before that date.
Overcoming Bad Assumptions
While there has been a lot of talk the past year about the need to boost participation and deferrals, we don't seem to be making much progress.
Retirees Content with Adviser Relationships
The good news is that retirees appear to be quite content with their existing adviser relationships — all the more reason for advisers to establish those connections prior...
Cost Concerns, Ignorance Slow Small Plan 401(k) Adoption
More than 13.6 million employees in small, micro-businesses lack an employer-sponsored 401(k) plan today, a Fidelity news release said — a result that may well be the result...
Time to Be Looking for Clients Who May be Looking
A study released recently by Fidelity Investments says that 69% of small businesses review their 401(k) plan at least once a year and about a quarter (26%) of...
Prospecting 101
It is almost never a good idea to waste time pursuing clients who will not be a good fit for your business, even if they do appear to...