Financial Education

Transitioning from DB to DC: What You Need to Know

Justin Held, CEBS
 

In my years compiling benchmarking data for the International Foundation, one of the most notable trends has been the decreasing prevalence of employer-sponsored defined benefit (DB) pension plans. In the 2011 Employee Benefits Survey, 57% of responding organizations offered a DB pension […]

Should You Invest in Cryptocurrency?

Alyssa Hodder, GBA
 

What are the risks and rewards of investing in cryptocurrency? A recent International Foundation webcast featuring Giles Anderson, director, sales and relationship management with Fidelity, and Philipp Meyer-Brauns, head of investment solutions analytics and vice president with Dimensional, explored some of the […]

Eight Financial Wellness Strategies for Reaching the Financially Vulnerable

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS
 

Financial wellness programs have gained prominence as an employee benefit and can be effective in reducing financial stress among workers. But it’s not always that easy to get employees to use them. That’s particularly true among populations that have a greater incidence […]

Five Critical Retirement Planning Decisions You Need to Consider Today

Five Critical Retirement Planning Decisions You Need to Consider Today

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS
 

Retirement planning is an important exercise for everyone. And when you have only a modest retirement nest egg, there is little room for error when planning for how to make those savings last. So what are the most important items for preretirees […]

The State of Defined Contribution Retirement Plans in 2021

The State of Defined Contribution Retirement Plans in 2021

Justin Held, CEBS
 

The number of organizations offering defined contribution (DC) retirement plans has increased over the past two years, making them the primary retirement vehicle for an increasing share of the U.S. workforce. The International Foundation’s 2020 Employee Benefits Survey showed that 87% of […]

Using Financial Education to Overcome Inequalities

Using Financial Education to Overcome Inequalities

Robbie Hartman, CEBS
 

“The well-known business argument for financial wellness programs is the payback of at least $3 for every $1 invested by increasing worker productivity and retention,” said Rebecca Sudano, senior vice president and partner with BDO Canada Limited. In addition, financial wellness programs […]

Three Steps Plan Sponsors Can Take to Bolster Retirement Security

Robbie Hartman, CEBS
 

The retirement security of defined contribution (DC) plan members is greatly influenced by their saving and investment choices as well as the timing and performance of financial markets. But plan sponsors and trustees still have an opportunity to positively influence the retirement […]

COVID-19 Highlights the Need for Workplace Emergency Savings Programs

COVID-19 Highlights the Need for Workplace Emergency Savings Programs

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS
 

About 31% of people in the United States have faced negative economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent report from the Commonwealth Fund. Those economic effects include being unable to pay for basic necessities like food, heat or rent, […]

Three Steps to Help Employees Improve Their Financial Standing

Three Steps to Help Employees Improve Their Financial Standing

Robbie Hartman, CEBS
 

Financial concerns—including potential job loss, income reduction, and gaps in retirement and emergency savings—were rampant among U.S. and Canadian workers even before COVID-19, but the economic challenges of this global pandemic have greatly increased the uncertainty. Employers and plan sponsors can help […]