Betterment Wants to Build a Better 401(k)
Betterment, the largest independent retail robo-advisor, said Wednesday that it has entered the small company segment of the 401(k) market. But will its model confine it to the shallow...
401(k)/IRA
$100 million for retirement pilot programs in Obama budget proposal
Certain pilots are expected to study "auto-portability"--the automatic transfer of small accounts from one 401k to another when people change jobs--and, potentially, help make it a standard feature of...
Christie nixes state-run IRA in favor of private marketplace
The marketplace will offer three options: a SIMPLE IRA, a payroll deduction IRA and a MyRA. Firms participating in the marketplace will have to offer at least two investment...
How “streamlining” a retirement plan pays off
A team of Wharton School professors documented the positive effects of reducing the number of investment options at a large non-profit institution's retirement plan to 39 from about 90...
“Roll-in” deal signed by Retirement Clearinghouse
Several years of effort by Retirement Clearinghouse (formerly RolloverSystems) to refine and popularize the automatic transfer of assets from 401k to 401k appear to be bearing fruit.
Cash-outs, loans and rollovers fuel the flood from 401(k)s: Cerulli
Liquidity is the defining characteristic of 401k plans. If participants couldn't borrow, cash out, rollover or take hardship withdrawals, they might not join in the first place. But with...
Unsolved mystery: Where are the missing participants?
Whichever set of data you believe, no more than 61% of full-time, full-year wage and salary workers are covered by an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan.
Two settlements of 401(k) excessive fee cases, for a combined $89 million
The settlements, by Boeing and Novant Health, mean over $30 million in fees and expense for the firm of Schlichter, Bogart & Denton, which specializes in federal class action...
‘myRA.gov’ steals its webpage design from the robo’s
The federal government's "myRA" program offers a portable Roth IRA to Americans with no other retirement plan at work. The first $15,000 in savings goes into U.S. Treasuries. Participants...
Financial Engines acquires The Mutual Fund Store
Financial Engines has been an innovator in the retirement income space. Its Income+ service “is designed to manage your investments to create payouts that can last into your...
TIPS for the Long Run?
Whether you'd prefer the new Dimensional Target Date Retirement Income Funds over one of the "big three" TDFs might depend on whether you share Robert Merton and Zvi Bodie's...
DFA’s Gerard O’Reilly Explains His Firm’s New TDFs
Dimensional Fund Advisors calls its new target date funds "Retirement Income" funds. How does DFA justify that ambitious title? O'Reilly, DFA's co-Chief Investment Officer and head of research, explains....
Women are better savers, but men save more: Vanguard
In its investigation of the “substantial imbalance” in wealth accumulation for men and women in Vanguard-administered retirement plans, Vanguard reviewed participation rates, savings rates and investment choices.
Shadow of ERISA hangs over state-run retirement plans
California, Illinois and Massachusetts have all enacted laws creating state-run defined contribution plans, but uncertainty that such plans might be subject to Department of Labor regulation is delaying implementation.
Fidelity partners with Envestnet on plan advisor platform
The new workstation which will provide advisory firms access to retirement plan data and service providers in one central location, will be accessible via single sign-on through Fidelity’s WealthCentral...
Sales of active funds to DC plans suffer as advisors seek lower fees
One-third of midtier consultants say they intend to increase DC plan placements of Large Cap US equity index funds, while only 14% plan to increase placements of similar actively...
Principal Adds ‘In-Plan’ Deferred Income Annuity Option
Participants in Principal Financial defined contribution plans will be able to buy deferred income annuities a little at a time or in a lump sum just before retirement.
Financial Engines offers call center support to rank-and-file participants
While participant interest in online advisory services is strong (60%), interest in services that included access to financial advisors is even stronger (68%), a new survey by Financial Engines...
Who says America doesn’t save for retirement?
Assets in individual retirement accounts (IRAs) totaled $7.6 trillion at the end of the second quarter of 2015, up 0.4% from the end of the first quarter. Story includes...
Envestment managed accounts to be offered in MassMutual 401(k)s
The service is called “RetireSmart Ready Managed Path.” The asset allocations use investment options already offered by the plan. The service is available to MassMutual plans with at least...
