The Institutional Retirement Income Council (IRIC), the non-profit think tank for the retirement income community, is out with its annual forecast of retirement industry trends to watch in 2025. IRIC anticipates a growing wave of innovation and adoption of retirement income solutions for DC plans, reflecting the increased interest of plan sponsors, providers, and participants in in-plan retirement income solutions.
 
“Next year will be the acceleration of plan sponsor adoption for in-plan retirement income options,” said Kevin Crain, executive director of IRIC. “With traditional pensions becoming increasingly rare, ensuring retirement income security is a shared responsibility of employees and employers. 2024 was when in-plan retirement income offerings continued to evolve regarding product creation and DC plan recordkeepers’ implementation.

“Plan sponsors evolved financial wellness programs. Automatic solutions advanced with increased plan adoption and more aggressive plan design, which resulted in greater success for participant savings. Also, industry studies throughout the year reported on participant and plan sponsor agreement that in-plan retirement options are desired.”
 
Here are IRIC’s key 2025 retirement industry trends.