Ironically, for all the ink sacrificed on 401(k) fee exposés and 401(k) investment advice, most experts agree the biggest problem with retirement savings is “savings.” It doesn't matter what fees you pay if you don't save enough. It doesn't matter what investments you choose if you don't save enough.
The 401(k) opportunity gave everyone an equal chance to take responsibility for ensuring they can live their own desired retirement lifestyle. The world is filled with 401(k) millionaires. They saved enough. But the news is also filled with heart-breaking stories of folks who, though nearing retirement age, can't retire at their desired lifestyle. They didn't save enough.
Executing a good savings strategy requires discipline. This means 401(k) plan sponsors needs to pay attention to psychology as much—if not more—than accounting numbers. Fortunately, our academic thought leaders have been exploring this issue for some time and have come up with several good ideas plan sponsors can implement at little to no cost. Here's a review of a few:
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Christopher Carosa
Chris Carosa has been writing a weekly article and monthly column for BenefitsPRO online and BenefitsPRO Magazine since 2011 and is a nationally recognized award-winning writer, researcher and speaker. He’s written seven books, including From Cradle to Retire: The Child IRA; Hey! What’s My Number? – How to Increase the Odds You Will Retire in Comfort; A Pizza The Action: Everything I Ever Learned About Business I Learned By Working in a Pizza Stand at the Erie County Fair; and the widely acclaimed 401(k) Fiduciary Solutions. Carosa is also Chief Contributing Editor of the authoritative trade journal FiduciaryNews.com and publisher of the Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel, a weekly community newspaper he founded in 1989. Currently serving as President of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and with more than 1,000 articles published in various publications, he appears regularly in the national media. A “parallel” entrepreneur, he actively runs a handful of businesses, including a small boutique investment adviser, providing hands-on experience for his writing. A trained astrophysicist, he also holds an MBA and has been designated a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor. Share your thoughts and story ideas with him through Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/christophercarosa/)and Twitter (https://twitter.com/ChrisCarosa).
