Managing 401(K) Plans

The financial meltdown in 2008 is causing plan sponsors to make changes to their 401(k) plans in 2009. Hewitt’s recently released Hot Topics in Retirement 2009 noted that "there has been significant response and focus by plan sponsors in light of the recent market volatility, continued legislation, increased litigation, and higher employer costs—all amid a challenging economic environment."

So are 401(k) plans meeting employees’ retirement savings needs? According to Mercer, the answer is split. The New York employee benefits consulting firm polled 180 employers and found some strong differences in opinion about whether these plans are working and what can be done to address the obstacles to success.

401(k) plan sponsors are all too aware of the need to benchmark plan fees. But what is the best way to do so?

IRS Proposes New Safe Harbor Rules For Employers Facing Business Hardship The Internal Revenue Service on May 15 proposed rules that would permit employers affected by substantial business hardship to decide midyear to reduce or suspend nonelective contributions to 401(k) and 403(b) plans operating under safe harbor rules.

In response to congressional critics and groups concerned about Americans’ retirement security, the SPARK Institute (Simsbury, Conn.) has released three white papers in defense of employer-sponsored 401(k) plans.

Are You Outsourcing the Same 401(k) Tasks Your Competitors Are?

RETIREMENT PLANS—DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION, Chicago, July 13-15; Houston, TX, July 15-17; New York City, Aug. 17-19; Boston, Sept. 14-16; Louisville, KY, Oct. 7-9; San Jose, CA, Nov. 18-20. Contact: WorldatWork, 877-951-9191; fax: 480-483-8352; info@worldatwork.org; www.worldatwork.org.

In May, domestic stocks rose across the board, with the Wilshire 5000 Equal reporting a spectacular yield of 30.57 percent. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 and the Wilshire 5000 Value showed lesser upward yields of 2.95 percent and 4.09 percent, respectively. Foreign indices also rose, with the international MS EAFE gaining 8.13 percent as of May 31. Looking at yields over the long term, the barometer by which retirement holdings should be judged, the Wilshire 5000 Equal did well over the past 10- and seven-year periods. But diversification to limit overall risk is clearly needed. Over the 10-, seven-, five-, three-, and one-year periods, five-year Treasuries outperformed five-year GICs and bonds. At least one bond index came in second place across all of those time periods.