Nevin's Data "Points"

Call me old-fashioned, but at a time when it seems like everyone is advocating “automatic” solutions to get participants to do the right thing(s) about saving for retirement, I can’t help but wonder at the irony of participation solutions that don’t require a “participant” to participate. In the fifth in this series, IMHO offers another non-automatic alternative to help involve and engage participants. As always, I would appreciate your reactions, comments, and suggestions. == (5) Set up regular checkups When it comes to going to the doctor, I’ve always adhered to a very simple standard – if it ain’t broke, don’t. Of course, as one gets older, gains a family, and has greater responsibilities, one can – with the prodding of a caring wife, anyway – make exceptions to the strictest of rules. It was during one of those not-so-regular “regular” checkups years ago that I discovered that age, heredity, a bad diet, a busy/stressful occupation, and a relatively sedentary lifestyle can contribut...

Call me old-fashioned, but at a time when it seems like everyone is advocating “automatic” solutions to get participants to do the right thing(s) about saving for retirement, I can’t help but wonder at the irony of participation solutions that don’t require a “participant” to participate. In the fourth in this series, IMHO offers another non-automatic alternative to help involve and engage participants. As always, I would appreciate your reactions, comments, and suggestions. (4) Once you’ve built it, make them come. I spent most of my career working for companies that, once a year, put a hard push behind the support of a certain charitable campaign. That hard push included times when we were required to turn in pledge cards and, while the amount wasn’t mandatory, let’s just say it was pretty clear what the “right” amount was. However, adding insult to injury, either to reinforce our sense of charity or to create it, we also had to go to a meeting where we would have to watch a video...

Call me old-fashioned, but at a time when it seems like everyone is advocating “automatic” solutions to get participants to do the right thing(s) about saving for retirement, I can’t help but wonder at the irony of participation solutions that don’t require a “participant” to participate. In the third in this series, IMHO offers another non-automatic alternative to help involve and engage participants. As always, I would appreciate your reactions, comments, and suggestions. (3) Eliminate Self-administered “Risk Tolerance” Questionnaires A number of years ago at an offsite management meeting, I was introduced to the Myers Briggs Type Indicator. For those not familiar with MBTI, it is a personality inventory–-based on the theory that how we behave as individuals is due to basic differences in the way we, as individuals, prefer to rely on our perception and judgment. There are more than a dozen types, combinations that supposedly not only help you better understand yourself, but also the ...