News

401k Retirement Savings: More Gone Than Forgotten

Writing in 401k Specialist, Tom Hawkins compares & contrasts the issue of ‘forgotten’ 401(k) accounts to its more problematic relative, 401(k) cashout leakage. In the piece, Hawkins takes the position that recent attention given forgotten accounts – via draft SECURE 2.0 legislation and the release of a drama-laden white paper – have created the mistaken impression that there’s a massive problem with forgotten 401(k) accounts, when in fact ‘forgotten’ 401(k) accounts are dwarfed by 401(k) cashout leakage, in terms of both their size and severity.

The Strong Case for a Retirement Savings ‘Lost and Found’

Writing in 401k Specialist Magazine, RCH's Tom Hawkins takes a deep dive into draft SECURE 2.0 provisions that dramatically expand the purpose, scope and scale of a Retirement Savings Lost & Found. Hawkins contends that the new provisions, as currently written, would create a massive, government-run repository of micro-balance accounts costing taxpayers millions, while failing to boost retirement security. Hawkins encourages Congress to return to an earlier Lost & Found model, while addressing the broader, small-balance account problem through policies that incentivize the adoption of auto portability.

More Than a Trillion Dollars Stuck in ‘Forgotten’ 401ks

Writing in 401k Specialist, Brian Anderson covers the release of a white paper from Capitalize, a new fintech firm that suggests that the problem of "forgotten" 401(k) accounts can be fully-addressed by offering "portability" to an IRA. After touching on the white paper's key findings, which borrow liberally from earlier RCH research, Anderson observes that the "problem is also being addressed by auto portability" by "moving them forward within the defined contribution system following job separations."

Auto portability can help 401(k) participants better prepare for retirement

In his latest article in Employee Benefit News, RCH President & CEO Spencer Williams addresses the dilemma facing employers, who are committed to promoting their employees’ financial wellness, but also confront the grim reality of excessive retirement savings leakage, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. By adopting auto portability, Williams asserts that plan sponsors can utilize "comprehensive benchmarks" that can “easily quantify their financial wellness efforts” while simultaneously meeting their fiduciary responsibilities.

Also featured in FinancialPlanning.com

401k Leakage and Auto Portability Featured at Senate Committee Hearing

Writing in 401k Specialist, RCH EVP Tom Johnson reports on the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) 5/13/21 hearing on retirement security. With testimony from a blue-ribbon panel of witnesses, the hearing had a broad focus, but the topic of retirement savings leakage, and its most-promising solution, auto portability, were prominently featured in testimony by EBRI CEO Lori Lucas, and echoed by other witnesses and Committee members.

How to Get Participants to Really Think Twice About Early Withdrawals

PLANSPONSOR's Lee Barney examines the problem of leakage, turning to RCH's team of experts. RCH EVP Neal Ringquist offers advice for sponsors and advisers to manage loans and in-service withdrawals, and emphasizes the importance of effective communication and portability in stemming cashout leakage. Next, RCH's Tom Hawkins characterizes the leakage problem by citing key statistics. RCH President & CEO Spencer Williams gets the last word, addressing the importance of "engag[ing] a service provider that specializes in providing counsel and education to new hires and terminating employees to help them make good decisions and prevent leakage."

Also featured in PlanAdviser

What happens to your 401(k) after you leave a job?

Writing in Bankrate, Karen Roberts and James Royal offer readers 8 things to consider about moving a 401(k) account following a job change or lay off. At the outset, Roberts & Royal acknowledge the difficulties, stating "moving your 401(k) and when to do may be more challenging than you realize." The authors highlight many options participants must keep in mind, underscoring the need for education. For balances under $5,000, they reference the rise of auto portability, writing that "[s]ome companies have recently adopted auto portability, meaning your small balance may automatically transfer to your new employer’s plan" and advise participants to inquire with their HR Department.

Also featured in the South Florida Reporter

A Big Problem: Another Leakage Study Reaches the Same Conclusion

Writing in 401k Specialist Magazine, RCH’s Tom Hawkins examines a retirement savings leakage study from the Joint Committee on Taxation, a nonpartisan committee of the United States Congress. Released with little fanfare on 4/26/21, the study confirms the findings of earlier research on cashout leakage – namely, that cashout leakage is a big problem, is driven by job changing, and is exacerbated by "forced distributions and [a lack of] portability of plans.”