Media Coverage

Good News: Auto Portability Prevents Cashing Out Retirement Funds

Cindy Hounsell, Founder & President of the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER) and Forbes contributor, writes eloquently about the woes of cashout leakage, while offering readers good news. Auto portability, says Hounsell, is "a technology-based solution developed by Retirement Clearinghouse" that can help ensure that savers' "401(k) savings move automatically from their previous employer’s plan to their new employer’s." Hounsell cites EBRI data that pegs auto portability's system-wide benefits at $1.5 to $2.0 trillion, indicating that "much of that savings will belong to the people who need it most" including women, minorities and lower-income workers.

From the TSP to RCH

The 401kWire's Neil Anderson reports on RCH's confirmation of Renee Wilder Guerin as EVP of Public Policy, following the retirement of industry veteran Tom Johnson, who will continue in a part-time consulting role with the firm. Reached by Anderson for comment, Wilder Guerin noted RCH's focus on participant account portability and its connection to improved outcomes to minorities and low-income workers as key factors in her taking on the role. The piece further quotes RCH President & CEO Spencer Williams, who states "there is still much to be done" in terms of public policy around "seamless plan-to-plan asset portability."

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Addressing Forgotten Accounts Can Improve Retirement Savings Outcomes

PLANSPONSOR's Rebecca Moore tackles the issue of "forgotten" retirement accounts, turning to RCH's Spencer Williams and Neal Ringquist for their views. Williams points to increased investment and cybersecurity risks associated with multiple accounts, which he maintains can be effectively addressed via consolidation. Ringquist notes frequent job-changing as a key driver for plan sponsors to maintain current addresses, to offer unbiased education & assistance to participants, and to adopt auto portability for small balances. Williams wraps things up by referencing the DOL's emphasis on "a due diligence process-driven approach to finding missing participants."

Retirement Clearinghouse picks public policy executive

Pensions & Investments Washington reporter Brian Croce covers the 7/20/21 announcement by Retirement Clearinghouse (RCH) on the appointment of Renée Wilder Guerin as Executive Vice President, Public Policy, replacing Tom Johnson, who is retiring. Croce quotes RCH President & CEO Spencer Williams, cites Ms. Wilder Guerin's former role with the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board and mentions the DOL's 2019 regulatory approval of its auto portability program.

Sens. Push Tax Proposals To Increase Retirement Savings

Law360's Stephen Cooper reports on the 7/28/21 Senate Finance Committee hearing (Building on Bipartisan Retirement Legislation: How Can Congress Help?), where the influential committee sought bipartisan consensus on ways to increase savings for American workers through tax incentives, expanded access and preservation of savings lost through leakage. Testifying before the committee, Cooper reports that Aliya Robinson, SVP of Retirement and Compensation Policy for the ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC), twice indicated that "her organization supports auto portability proposals" that would help move retirement savings forward for job-changers.

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Auto-Portability Provider Tops $10B Mark in 401k Account Consolidations

401k Specialist's Brian Anderson covers the 7/27/21 announcement from Retirement Clearinghouse (RCH) that the firm has surpassed $10 billion in retirement savings consolidations. The achievement, noted Anderson, "represents a greater than threefold increase in the amount of retirement account transfers completed on behalf of American workers in just six years" and extensively quotes RCH's President & CEO Spencer Williams.

People Moves: Retirement Clearinghouse Adds Executive VP of Public Policy

PLANSPONSOR's Amanda Umpierrez reports on the retirement industry's most significant people moves, including Retirement Clearinghouse (RCH), where the firm appointed Renée Wilder Guerin as EVP of Public Policy, following the retirement of Tom Johnson.

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Auto Portability Gaining Acceptance

Writing in 401kTV, Managing Editor Steff Chalk observes that "auto portability appears to be gaining some ground as a solution for retirement plans" and can "impact cash-out leakage, missing participants, and forgotten 401(k) accounts" -- adding that nearly 9 of 10 participants value auto portability. "The case for auto portability" says Chalk, "is compelling, and getting stronger" and he further notes that "including auto portability in public policy could help to improve the results" of pending SECURE 2.0 legislation.