News

Education Key to Preventing 401k Cashouts

In an interview with 401k Specialist's Danielle Andrus, RCH President & CEO Spencer Williams urges 401(k) savers to carefully consider the long-term consequences of cashing out. Acknowledging that, in the current pandemic-fueled economic crisis "folks need access to money" Williams encourages savers to withdraw 401(k) savings only if they're faced with a "real emergency" and if so, to withdraw only what's absolutely required. Education is key, says Williams, and can "have a profound influence on participants' decision making."

All Those 401(k)s in the Time of Coronavirus

Responding to the Wall Street Journal's 3/20/20 article “The Emergency 401(k) Button” with a letter to the Editor, RCH President & CEO Spencer Williams urges 401(k) savers to exercise caution when considering whether or not to cash out their savings. A hasty decision could result in "the loss of years of compound interest and investment growth that won't be there for retirement" writes Williams, citing a hypothetical 30-year-old, who cashes out $5,000, but stands to lose $52,000 in retirement earnings. Borrowing now, says Williams, is easier than borrowing in retirement, and your "70-year-old self will thank you" for your restraint.

How sponsors can help minorities save for retirement

In his latest byline in Employee Benefit News, RCH President & CEO Spencer Williams addresses the cashout leakage crisis, which disproportionately affects minorities, including African-Americans and Hispanics. Auto portability, says Williams, can make all the difference in solving the crisis, but requires that "sponsors themselves, as well as their recordkeepers, take the next step" and adopt the new plan feature. The adoption of auto portability, writes Williams, is completely consistent with a recent public statement released by the Business Roundtable, and endorsed by 181 CEOs of the nation's largest corporations.

Also featured in Employee Benefit Adviser

SECURE Act Impact: 3% Reduction in Retirement Deficit?

401kSpecialist Magazine's Managing Editor Brian Anderson reports on EBRI's 2/21/20 Issue Brief, which examines key provisions of the SECURE Act. In his article, Anderson notes that the overall reduction in the nation's Retirement Savings Shortfall (RSS) directly attributed to the legislation is 3%. However, when EBRI factors in auto portability, Anderson writes that "the overall reduction in retirement savings shortfalls is 10.0%" -- a significant increase over baseline.

SECURE Act Will Reduce Retirement Deficits By $115 Billion, EBRI Says

Financial Advisor Magazine's Tracey Longo covers EBRI's 2/20/20 Issue Brief that projects the benefits of the SECURE Act legislation, noting that the SECURE Act, by itself, could cut the nation's Retirement Savings Shortfall (RSS) by 3%, or $115 billion. While this is good news, even better news is that the SECURE Act -- when paired with auto portability -- would generate a whopping 10%, or $383 billion reduction in the RSS, of which $268 billion is directly attributable to auto portability.

NAPA Net: SECURE Act Benefits Surge, When Paired With Auto Portability

NAPA Net reporter Ted Godbout covers the release of EBRI's Issue Brief #501, released 2/20/20, which projects the benefits of the newly-enacted SECURE Act legislation. EBRI's analysis finds that key provisions of the SECURE Act are projected to deliver a respectable 3%, or $115 billion reduction in the Retirement Savings Shortfall (RSS), a key metric of retirement savings adequacy. However, when the SECURE Act is paired with auto portability, Godbout notes that the RSS reduction surges to 10%, or $383 billion.

SECURE Act could reduce retirement savings shortfall — EBRI

P&I's Brian Croce examines EBRI's new Issue Brief, which models the impact of key provisions of the SECURE Act. Croce notes that EBRI's projection of the legislation's baseline benefits produces an overall reduction in the Retirement Savings Shortfall (RSS) of 3%, or $115 billion, while the addition of auto portability dramatically increases those benefits to yield a 10%, or $383 billion reduction in the RSS measure.

EBRI: Auto Portability Adds More Retirement Security to the SECURE Act

A new Issue Brief released by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) examines the impact of the SECURE Act's most important provisions on Americans' retirement security. The EBRI brief projects that the SECURE Act will reduce the nation's $3.81 trillion Retirement Savings Shortfall (RSS) by 3%, or $115 billion. However, when combined with auto portability, the RSS is reduced by 10%, or $383 billion -- a massive, incremental benefit.