Participation in the employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) and 401(k) plan was low, and the firm’s participant education program needed to be improved and enhanced. There was no coordinated communication between the plans, and participants didn’t understand the plans’ advantages.
Case Study: Construction
Optimizing participant education and plan design to improve participant outcomes
The Challenge
The Recommended Solution
Automatic enrollment into the 401(k) plan, with automatic escalation, is recommended, as is the implementation of a coordinated education plan for both the ESOP and the 401(k). The strategy would create positive outcomes for plan participants by driving increased deferrals.
Group meetings would be held multiple times throughout the year at each of the company’s five main locations, along with webinars for employees at remote locations.
One-on-one meetings would also be made available to participants, allowing them to sit down with retirement experts to boost their confidence in their financial health.
Targeted communications to participants older than 50 assist them in achieving
their retirement goals. Helping participants retire on time would also save the company money in the long term by reducing the higher costs associated with employees age 65 and older.
To help soon-to-be-retirees prepare for the transition, meetings with participants who are within five years of retirement, as well as with their spouses, would help couples make these important decisions together.
CLIENT PROFILE:
INDUSTRY TYPE: Construction
GEOGRAPHY: Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 420
PLAN TYPE: 401(k) / ESOP
“Allowing participants to sit down with retirement experts would boost their confidence in their financial health.”
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Expected Results
- Participation after enrollments increased.
- The number of employees on track to retire successfully increased.
- Multiple well-attended meetings were held per year at various locations.
- Webinars were offered for remote employees.
- Employee action plans included steps to better participant outcomes, including:
- increasing deferral contribution
- diversifying investments
- taking advantage of Roth contributions
- electing for do-it-for-me investments
- paying down high-interest debt
*Disclaimer: Each individual firm’s situation is unique. The case study illustrated is for educational purposes.
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