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Retirement Clearinghouse in the News

Find news articles referencing RCH and our services, including Auto Portability

Jun
24
2020

Institutionalized 401(k) portability needed now more than ever

Writing for BenefitsPRO, RCH President & CEO Spencer Williams examines the retirement-related circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 crisis, and sets forth a persuasive argument for the systemic adoption, or "institutionalization" of auto portability. By more-effectively coping with large numbers of terminated participants, auto portability will help reduce unnecessary cashouts, including "automatic" cashouts under $1,000, which Williams advises sponsors to avoid completely. During the crisis, when reduced mobility is the norm, Williams further advises sponsors to conduct participant searches to ensure that records are kept up-to-date.

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Jun
20
2020

401k Cashout Leakage is Real, Not a ‘Narrative’

In his latest article in 401k Specialist, RCH's Tom Hawkins provides his take on the topic of 401(k) cashout leakage, examining a recent study by the Investment Company Institute (ICI). Hawkins writes that the ICI study -- while using an innovative approach to mine 2010 tax data -- fell short in providing accurate or timely estimates of 401(k) cashout leakage levels, which are best-reflected in research conducted by EBRI and by large recordkeepers, and recently compiled by the Savings Preservation Working Group.

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Jun
16
2020

Wellness Benefits Gaining Acceptance and Respect

Writing for 401kTV, Steff Chalk, Executive Director of The Retirement Advisor University, describes the growing employer acceptance of wellness benefits, as they become more readily measurable. Chalk extensively quotes an article previously authored by RCH's Spencer Williams in Employee Benefit News, where Williams itemizes the many real, quantifiable and positive impacts of auto portability on participants' financial wellness.

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Jun
10
2020

Without auto portability, terminated employees will miss out on retirement funds

Writing in Employee Benefits News, RCH President & CEO Spencer Williams examines the disruptive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on America's retirement savers, and makes a persuasive case for the systemic, institutional adoption of auto portability as a means to help rebuild and to preserve retirement savings over the long-term. In the near-term, Williams observes that reduced participant mobility make this an opportune time for sponsors to update participant addresses.

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Jun
08
2020

A Critical Time to Protect the Vulnerable

Writing in 401k Specialist, RCH's Tom Hawkins addresses the need to protect newly-terminated, vulnerable participants during the COVID-19 crisis. Hawkins points out that these participants are particularly vulnerable to financial emergencies, or in many cases, simply to poor decision-making. Hawkins urges sponsors to take additional steps to listen, to educate and to protect these participants -- not only during the crisis, but beyond.

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May
26
2020

The Pluses of Portability

In their latest "Inside Angle" column featured in the April-May 2020 PLANSPONSOR Magazine edition, Groom Law Group's Steve Saxon and George Sepsakos advise fiduciaries on the "pluses of portability" -- specifically addressing the improvements auto portability confers upon the 15 year-old automatic rollover (ARO) feature. Auto portability, writes the authors, "is consistent with the DOL’s broader view that plan fiduciaries have an obligation to locate missing participants and to pay benefits." To this end, they urge sponsors & fiduciaries -- when reviewing their ARO programs -- to consider incorporating auto portability in order to best meet these core fiduciary requirements.

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May
20
2020

EBN: ​The Institutionalization of Portability is Key to Reducing Cash-Out Leakage

In his latest article in Employee Benefit News, RCH President & CEO Spencer Williams identifies plan-to-plan portability as a vital feature to prevent cash-out leakage. Similar to the progress that's been made over the past decade in reducing plan fees, Williams makes the case that the inevitable "institutionalization" of portability will dramatically reduce cash-out leakage and maximize participants' retained savings. Williams advocates for the adoption of a dual portability model, comprised of auto portability for small balances and a consent-based, concierge service for participants with larger balances.

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May
14
2020

Data and Dollars: Securing Retirement Plans in the Online Age

Writing in 401kSpecialist, Danielle Andrus examines the issue of securing retirement plans, and turns to RCH expertise on the matter. Andrus quotes RCH EVP Neal Ringquist, who states “the more accounts that are out there in the system, the more accounts an individual has, the more opportunity there is for online access to those accounts." By encouraging new hires to consolidate their accounts, it helps protect participants from "losing data or assets to cybercrime." From an institutional perspective, Ringquist also observes that "the level of due diligence, particularly around information security, has significantly increased in the last five years.”

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