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Why Plan Sponsors Should Be Thankful for Retirement Plans This Season

"Retirement plans as a talent magnet ... Building loyalty and engagement through security ... Financial wellness promotes business wellness ... Tax advantages that benefit everyone ... Maximizing the impact of your retirement plan."

Protect Your Lifestyle: How to Plan for Health Care in Retirement

"Fidelity Investments estimates a 65-year-old couple retiring in 2025 could face $345,000 in lifetime health care costs. Preparing for these expenses requires a proactive approach focused on what you can control and informed decisions about insurance and long-term care. Here's how to start."

Early Retirement: A Financial Reality Check for Generation X

"69% of Gen Xers view retiring before age 65 as a key part of the American Dream. However, 40% admit they are not financially prepared to make that dream a reality. This disconnect between aspiration and readiness raises questions about how Gen X can close the gap, and whether early retirement is still within reach."

Inflation and Retirement Confidence: What Employers Can Do to Help

"Offering resources like workshops, webinars, or guides designed to explain how inflation could affect retirement planning can help empower employees to make more informed decisions. Information about how Social Security benefits are adjusted for inflation and how to plan for increasing healthcare costs in retirement can also help."

Legislative Changes Ahead for 401(k) Plan Sponsors

"[T]he Helping Young Americans Save for Retirement Act [S 1707] ... is intended to encourage employers to open their plans to younger workers without immediately incurring additional compliance costs.... [T]he Protecting Americans' Retirement Savings Act [S 928] ... highlights an increasing expectation for retirement plan investments to align not only with financial objectives but also with broader national policy concerns."

Roth Conversions: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

"The most attractive feature of a Roth IRA is its tax-free growth and withdrawals.... Ideally, you should pay the taxes due on a Roth conversion from non-retirement assets.... This makes Roth conversions a less practical solution for those who are cash-strapped or heavily concentrated in pre-tax retirement accounts.... Because conversions increase your adjusted gross income (AGI), they may reduce your eligibility for income-based programs such as [ACA] health insurance subsidies or FAFSA-based financial aid for college-bound children.... A poorly executed Roth conversion can create a cascade of tax headaches."

Supporting the Sandwich Generation: A Guide for 401(k) Plan Sponsors

"Employees in the sandwich generation, juggling the financial responsibilities of supporting aging parents and dependent children, often struggle to focus on their long-term financial goals. Plan sponsors are in a unique position to assist this group by offering targeted financial wellness resources and plan features designed to ease their financial strain."

Cybersecurity: Top Priority for 401(k) Plan Sponsors in 2025

"[1] Why 401(k) plans are prime targets ... [2] The regulatory landscape: what the DOL expects ... [3] Key actions for plan sponsors in 2025 ... [4] More than risk management: a business advantage ... [5] Looking ahead: what's next in 401(k) cybersecurity ... [6] A fiduciary duty you can't ignore."

The Rising Popularity of Roth 401(k)s: What Plan Sponsors Need to Know

"The most obvious benefit is tax-free growth and withdrawals in retirement, which can be especially powerful over long time horizons.... Employees in higher tax brackets today may be better served by deferring taxes through traditional contributions, especially if they expect to be in a lower tax bracket in retirement. Roth contributions also reduce take-home pay since taxes are paid immediately, which may discourage participation."

Healthcare, Wellness, and Financial Planning

"[U]nexpected medical expenses and long-term healthcare costs are two of the most common threats to a solid financial plan.... Consider an HDHP over a PPO to stash additional savings ... Max out your HSA ... It's okay to touch an emergency fund for healthcare costs ... Get to know your benefits package and be aware of wellness programs."