Search the News Archive

Consumer-Facing Medicare Plan Tools Are Inaccessible and Inaccurate

"Few would probably describe shopping for health insurance as 'fun,' but research shows Medicare Plan Finder (MPF), the federal government's website for finding information about plan options, makes this process particularly unbearable.... One of MPF's biggest problems? Information about out-of-pocket costs is difficult to find and understand. On top of that, this information doesn't account for an individual's health conditions, physician visits per year, and other factors that impact costs."

Retirement Plan Providers Improve Website Experiences and Financial Planning Tools, Participants Still Want Better Usability

"User satisfaction with retirement plan providers is generally high ... with 87% of respondents saying they were either 'somewhat satisfied' or 'extremely satisfied' with their provider. But many respondents cited usability improvements when asked what they would change about their plan provider's website. Respondents focused on page layout, menu design, and login flow as areas ripe for improvement."

Automatic Plan Features, Planning Tools, Mobile Apps -- What's Next in the Retirement Industry? (PDF)

"[W]hat's the next step for the US retirement plan providers and plan sponsors? Digitalization? Should they follow the footsteps of global insurance and pension players and invest in digitalization initiatives -- leveraging analytics, decision management, the Internet of Things and smart machines to supplement manual efforts to re-emphasize the importance of retirement savings? Will this help the US retirement industry in driving growth and differentiation for adaptable and personalized customer experiences for plan participants and boost their retirement savings?"

The Efficacy of Publicly Available Retirement Planning Tools

"The authors conclude that the advice provided from a majority of these tools is extremely misleading to households, and propose a more systematic approach to tool development by improved choice of input variables. Analyzing professional advisor opinion and theory, critical input variables are identified and recommended. A case scenario is developed incorporating these critical variables and used to test the efficacy of 36 publicly-available retirement planning tools."

Best Retirement Planning Tools and Software

"Some retirement planning software has hefty initial costs or ongoing subscription fees. However, there are some retirement planning tools that may align with your needs and budget.... Here is a breakdown of these options, along with information regarding their cost and top features."

SEC Provides Free Online Financial Planning Tools

Tools at the SEC's Investor.gov web site include: 401(k) and IRA Minimum Distribution Calculator; Compound Interest Calculator and Savings Goal Calculator; Social Security Retirement Estimator; Retirement Ballpark Estimator; Mutual Fund Analyzer; 529 Expense Analyzer; and a link to a searchable database of investment advisers who have filed Form ADV.

Newer Web-Based Retirement Planning Tools Just Might Work

Excerpt: There is abundant academic and empirical evidence suggesting the shift to consumer driven retirement will not optimize consumer well being due to behavioral impediments and generally low investment interest and acumen. This issue is well recognized and has been partially addressed by regulators and the retirement industry via 'fiduciary immunization' for automated contributions and prepackaged lifecycle driven investment products. 401(k) plan auto-enrollment and utilization of target retirement funds can overcome some level of investor inertia with regard to savings and investment decisions. However, these tools are limited in their ability to ensure retirement sufficiency across a wide range of investor circumstances and preferences.

SEC Offers Free Financial Planning Tools for Retirement Savers and Investors

This page provides links to the following tools, developed by the SEC: [1] 401(k) and IRA Required Minimum Distribution Calculator ... [2] Compound Interest Calculator and Savings Goal Calculator ... [3] Social Security Retirement Estimator ... [4] Retirement Ballpark Estimator ... [5] Mutual Fund Analyzer ... [6] 529 Expense Analyzer.

Best New Retirement-Planning Tools

Three new financial tools, all released in the past few months, can help you with filing for Social Security, tapping your nest egg and finding a financial adviser.... AnalyzeNow.com ... Fidelity Investments' 'Income Strategy Evaluator' ... BrightScope Inc.'s new 'Advisor Pages'.

5 Tips in Using Retirement Planning Tools

Excerpt: Retirement planning software is available for free on several major investment and retirement websites. But according to a recent analysis sponsored by the Pension Research Council, these programs do an inconsistent and often poor job.