Happy Friday, readers! Spend even a little time working in the retirement plan services industry and one will see that complexity is an inherent characteristic of the marketplace. This is particularly true when it comes to solving the “decumulation challenge.” Simply put, helping plan participants turn a lump sum of cash savings into a sustainable retirement income stream is hard. Participants want the safety of a guarantee, but they fear the lack of liquidity associated with annuitization. Fortunately, new products and strategies are emerging that may help participants access the income protection they want while also providing a greater degree of flexibility.
According to Cerulli research, the various parties involved in the implementation of an in-plan retirement income solution are often not on the same page about basic terminology and definitions.
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According to Willis Towers Watson, just over 80% of organizations acknowledge the importance of their older workers and managing the retirement process; however, only about half believe they understand the process well, and just one-quarter feel they have found an effective approach.
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Nearly all of those who work with an adviser feel they have prepared themselves well for estimating their monthly income needs in retirement, Voya Financial learned in a survey.
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As retirees drawing Social Security income look forward to a modest increase in benefits scheduled for 2019, AARP has published a list of common Social Security misconceptions.
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Morningstar suggests individuals and their advisers should focus on strategies that can maximize retirement savings, regardless of planned retirement age.
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CFB Board sees decumulation as a likely driver of digital advice innovation, especially as an aging population creates a need for more efficient and effective services.
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The number of Department of Labor investigations of financial advisers has steadily increased over the years; here is a primer on the DOL’s sources of authority, and what to expect when examiners come knocking.
ERISA attorneys and plan design consultants say they are hearing more questions from sponsors about using managed accounts as a plan’s default investment, but the most common use case remains opt-in managed accounts.
