When considering short-term funding options, participants are often advised to avoid tapping into their 401(k) accounts through loans or hardship withdrawals, as early withdrawals can impede long-term retirement savings. However, the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 has introduced more penalty-free … Read More

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently released voluntary guidance emphasizing the importance of ethical and transparent use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace. Titled Artificial Intelligence and Worker Well-being: Principles and Best Practices for Developers and Employers, the … Read More

Americans believe they need nearly $1.5 million to retire comfortably, a number that has soared by more than 50% since 2020, according to Northwestern Mutual’s 2024 Planning & Progress Study. Yet the Employee Benefit Research Institute reports that only about … Read More

Many plan sponsors focus on external cybersecurity threats, such as hackers attempting to breach their systems, but disgruntled employees can also pose a risk. Recently, the Department of Labor (DOL) extended the scope of its cybersecurity guidelines to include all … Read More

The Federal Reserve’s recent 50 basis point interest rate cut, with more reductions expected by year’s end, may leave employees wondering what it means for their retirement savings — and their overall financial picture. Younger workers might question how this … Read More

By the second quarter of this year, the number of “401(k) millionaires” rose 2.5% from Q1, marking a record high according to Fidelity. At the same time, retirement savers overall experienced three consecutive quarters of growth — and that’s good … Read More

Although the costs of retirement benefits have generally decreased due to fee compression, smaller plans are still at a disadvantage. Smaller plans pay more per participant due to fixed costs, while larger plans benefit from economies of scale even with greater … Read More

Housing? Check. Life insurance? Check. Dining out? Check. For most retirees, these types of line items are fairly predictable and factored into their monthly budget. But when it comes to health care, the situation can change dramatically. These expenses are … Read More

Employees in the HR and benefits departments handle many responsibilities, such as managing a company’s health care benefits or supervising the retirement plan. As a result, it’s common for these employees to experience times of overwhelm, stress, and burnout. It … Read More

According to the results of a 2024 American Psychiatric Association mental health poll, 43% of adults reported higher subjective feelings of anxiety than they did the previous year. Respondents indicated feeling anxiety related to a number of issues, but high … Read More