Defined contribution plans suffer no shortage of critics—just ask the plaintiffs’ bar.

The most strident would like to see them go away altogether, and return to the days when defined benefit pensions were the primary platform for readying workers for retirement.

That is unlikely to happen, of course. But a new survey of 20 sponsors of mega 401(k) plans that hold billions, and in some cases tens of billions, in participant assets, suggests more fiduciaries are incorporating components of traditional defined benefit portfolio management into their 401(k) platforms.

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Nick Thornton

Nick Thornton is a financial writer covering retirement and health care issues for BenefitsPRO and ALM Media. He greatly enjoys learning from the vast minds in the legal, academic, advisory and money management communities when covering the retirement space. He's also written on international marketing trends, financial institution risk management, defense and energy issues, the restaurant industry in New York City, surfing, cigars, rum, travel, and fishing. When not writing, he's pushing into some land or water.