Public Policy

Wall Street Journal: Moving Your 401(k) Could Get Easier

In her 6/10/19 column in The Wall Street Journal, Bailey McCann examines pending regulation from the U.S. Department of Labor on the RCH Auto Portability program, designed to reduce leakage and "help workers bring their retirement accounts with them as they change jobs." McCann quotes RCH founder, President & CEO Spencer Williams, and credits RCH for "develop[ing] the platform that would do the automatic transfers." Also expressing their support are Matthew Drinkwater, Director of Retirement Research at the LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute, and Alicia Munnell, Director of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.

EBRI's VanDerhei Addresses PSCA Conference, Including Auto Portability Update

ASPPA Net's John Iekel covers EBRI Research Director Jack VanDerhei's 5/1/19 presentation before the PSCA National Conference, where VanDerhei provided an update on auto portability's benefits, as calculated in EBRI's Retirement Security Projection Model (RSPM). According to Iekel, VanDerhei asserted that "introducing auto-portability for participants who are Gen Xers reduced retirement savings shortfalls for couples regardless of which dies first, and for single people regardless of gender."

Also Featured in NAPA Net (link)

Mercer Exec: Auto Portability 'Essential for Shoring Up US Retirement System'

In his capacity as Head of US Defined Contribution and Financial Wellness Research, Mercer's Neil Lloyd notes the recent emergence of serious industry dialogue on plan-to-plan retirement savings portability. Long a proponent of portability, Lloyd recognizes the inherent problems associated with holding multiple retirement saving accounts. In his piece, Lloyd strongly advocates for auto portability, stating that it "might be the solution to less efficient small-balance accounts." Lloyd goes further, opining that auto portability should be considered a legislative priority, writing that "SECURE ACT 2 will be vastly improved if provisions further supporting auto-portability are included."

401kTV Features Auto Portability as Key to Cybersecurity Risk Management

401kTV's Steff Chalk examines the issue of 401(k) cybersecurity, specifically focusing on the benefits of auto portability in the management of cybersecurity risk. Referencing RCH President & CEO Spencer Williams' recent article in Employee Benefit News, Chalk states that "the technology that makes 401k auto-portability possible may also enhance existing industry best practices that protect plan participants’ personal data." Chalk also adds that "plan sponsors [should] embrace 401k auto-portability to lessen the instances of small-balance accounts and missing participants."

401kSpecialist: Where Are We in the Fight For 401k Auto-Portability?

On April 16th, as part of their Strategic Issues Webinar Series, the LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute delivered the webinar Regulatory and Legislative Trends Impacting the U.S. Retirement System, featuring presenter Michael Kreps, Principal, Groom Law Group, and a highly-influential voice in DC on retirement public policy. Kreps provided an insider's update on auto portability, which he characterized as having the potential to deliver “an enormous boost to the industry and to participants in general.”

P&I Article on DOL Guidance Mentions Auto Portability

In his 4/29/19 article, P&I's Brian Croce addresses the deliberate pace of guidance offered by the Department of Labor (DOL) over the last two years. The article notes that the DOL's advisory opinion "issued for Retirement Clearinghouse LLC over expansion of its auto portability program to reduce plan leakage" was one of two issued thus far, and the only advisory opinion issued in 2018. The article also highlights the ongoing emphasis of the DOL on enforcement & recovery activities with regard to missing participants, a topic of concern for plan sponsors.

LIMRA Webinar Features Michael Kreps’ Update on Auto Portability

America's 401(k) System is Unsustainable - Let's Fix It

On Earth Day 2019, as we focus on creating a sustainable and eco-friendly environment, it's worth considering how the application of similar principles would benefit our retirement system. America’s 401(k) system is unsustainable – urgently requiring an upgrade to effectively deliver on its intended goal – helping millions of Americans enjoy a timely and comfortable retirement. The good news is that we're beginning to see important signs of action that could ultimately address the problem.