Defined Contribution

While employers frequently believe vesting schedules support worker retention, "data does not support that," according to a Penn State law professor, who is requesting that the IRS prioritize recommending to Congress that it eliminates vesting schedules, in its 2025-2026 Priority Guidance Plan.

When asked to highlight DC plan sponsors' top investment menu priorities, retirement income was top-of-mind for all institutional consultants, according to PIMCO's Annual Defined Contribution Consulting Study.

The retirement landscape is evolving so rapidly that many of the underlying assumptions and expectations about retirement planning differ across generations currently in the workforce, according to a new Transamerica survey.

In 2024, 93% of auto-enrollment plans had participation rates of 80% or higher, compared with 49% of voluntary enrollment plans, according to Vanguard's annual How America Saves report.

Student loan debt is taking a toll on employee's 401(k)s, particularly as the Department of Education begins wage garnishment of those in default of loans, but employers could step up efforts by offering matching contributions or personalized financial counseling services, says MissionSquare.

Gen Zers, in particular, are more likely to accumulate multiple small 401(k) accounts that are prime targets for automatic transfers to low-yielding Safe Harbor IRAs, which were never meant to be long-term investing vehicles, according to PensionBee.