Auto Portability in the News
Browse the most comprehensive collection of articles in the media that feature auto portability.
Supreme Court ruling highlights an expansive definition of plan fiduciary
Writing in BenefitsPro, RCH President & CEO Spencer Williams examines the U.S. Supreme Court's recent Hughes v. Northwestern University ruling, which underscored the need for plan sponsors to err on the side of more rather than less, when considering the scope of their fiduciary responsibilities. While the case focused on high-cost investment options, Williams suggests that the ruling could expose plan sponsors to fiduciary risk for decisions that produce unnecessarily high levels of cash-out leakage, a risk that could be avoided if plan sponsors were to proactively adopt asset portability solutions, such as auto portability.
What Financial Advisors Need to Know About Auto Portability
In his latest article in the Consolidation Corner blog, RCH EVP and Chief Revenue Officer Neal Ringquist speaks directly to financial advisors on auto portability. Ringquist firmly believes that financial advisors will enjoy significant benefits from auto portability, but understands that all advisors may not “be there” yet in terms of fully understanding what auto portability is, how they stand to benefit from it, and how they should assess auto portability’s prospects for success. Ringquist walks advisors through important facts, data and information that should facilitate better understanding of auto portability and how it could positively impact their practices.
Why Account Consolidation is Vital to Reduce 401k Cybersecurity Risk
Writing in 401k Specialist, Retirement Clearinghouse EVP & Chief Operating Officer Ricki Ingalls makes the case for consolidation as a means to reduce cybersecurity risks for the 401(k) system. Appealing to common sense, Ingalls notes that “fraud starts small” and that consolidation of small balance 401(k) accounts achieved via auto portability can effectively minimize the cyber “attack surface” these excess accounts represent. Ingalls continues by describing the robust cybersecurity features that have been incorporated into auto portability.
The Full View: The merits of pulling in participants’ external financial information.
PlanAdviser's John Manganaro addresses issues facing job-changing retirement plan participants, and the role financial technology can play in creating better outcomes. Manganaro turns to David Stinnett, principal and head of Vanguard Strategic Retirement Consulting, who identifies cashing out as the "most problematic outcome." Manganaro writes that Vanguard "is now working with Retirement Clearinghouse (RCH) to provide plan sponsors with a new portability solution meant to simplify making small-balance 401(k) rollovers" -- adding that "once operational, the automatic portability program will be able to facilitate the movement of an employee’s 401(k) savings account from a former employer’s plan into an active account with the current employer."
Consolidation is Vital to Reducing 401(k) Cybersecurity Risk
Retirement Clearinghouse EVP & Chief Operating Officer Ricki Ingalls takes to RCH’s Consolidation Corner blog to make the case for 401(k) account consolidation as a means to reduce cybersecurity risks for the 401(k) system. Appealing to common sense, Ingalls notes that “fraud starts small” and that consolidation of small balance 401(k) accounts achieved via auto portability can effectively minimize the cyber “attack surface” these excess accounts represent. Ingalls continues by describing the robust cybersecurity features that have been incorporated into auto portability.
Toward a Sustainable and ‘Greener’ 401k System
Writing in 401k Specialist, RCH’s Tom Hawkins reacts to the DOL’s 2/14/22 Request for Information (RFI) seeking comment on ways to “protect life savings and pensions from threats of climate-related financial risk.” Hawkins contends that our retirement system itself has significant sustainability problems that are more financially material to future retirees than climate change. Hawkins urges action to address the 401(k) system’s inefficiency and waste, which could “produce more of the ‘green’ that will matter to future retirees.” Hawkins notes the findings of a recent Brookings Institution report on the problem of small retirement accounts, which recommends improvements in “combining accounts” and includes support for auto portability.
Towards a Sustainable and “Greener” 401(k) System
RCH’s Tom Hawkins, writing in RCH’s Consolidation Corner blog, reacts to the DOL’s 2/14/22 Request for Information (RFI) seeking comment on ways to “protect life savings and pensions from threats of climate-related financial risk.” In his piece, Hawkins contends that our retirement system itself has significant sustainability problems that are more financially material to future retirees than climate change. Hawkins urges action to address the 401(k) system’s inefficiency and waste, which could “produce more of the ‘green’ that will matter to future retirees.” Hawkins notes the findings of a recent Brookings Institution report on the problem of small retirement accounts, which recommends improvements in “combining accounts” and includes support for auto portability.
How to Improve Retirement Readiness in Under-represented Groups
NAPA Net's Ted Godbout reviews the latest research report from Alight Solutions, entitled "Improving Retirement Readiness for Underrepresented Groups." Reporting on Alight's findings, Godbout highlights the six steps that Alight offers plan sponsors to increase retirement savings for historically under-represented groups. As one of those steps, Alight advises sponsors that "implementing auto-portability can help reduce the number of automatic cash-outs that occur when people change employers" and that auto portability's impact is "most profound for marginalized groups."