An Insiders' Perspective(s)

There’s nothing like the NAPA 401(k) Summit—particularly being at the NAPA 401(k) Summit after the many months and a worldwide pandemic that kept us all apart. 

Each year for the past four years we’ve taken advantage of that gathering (including in 2020 when we gathered “virtually”) to reach out[i] to the nation’s top retirement plan advisors to glean their perspective on a wide range of issues relating to their practice—and practices. 

This year’s Summit Insider was no exception—as we “consulted” with more than 500 retirement plan advisors and home office staff on a range of issues—the criteria in selecting—and rejecting—key business relationships, the things that are over-hyped—and the things that no one is talking about—but that everyone, at least in the eyes of these “Insiders,” should be. We also got some insights on retirement income, important features in choosing target-date funds, rollovers and outcomes. 

We’ve included a number of verbatim comments on what these “Insiders” wish that plan sponsors knew, or knew better. Sometimes those words are harsh, sometimes reassuring—but we asked advisors for their insights, and they were generous in doing so. I only wish we had room to share them all.

Key Findings

Among the key findings:

• Glidepath philosophy topped the criteria on selecting target-date funds, slightly outpacing 5-year performance.
• More than half of the advisors surveyed focus on measuring outcomes at the plan level during every plan review.
• Nearly two-thirds deliver financial wellness as a component of their current service offerings—another 17% do so through an external partner.
• ESG remains the most “overhyped” trend in the industry, outpacing robo-advice and MEPs/PEPs by a significant margin.
• Portability was deemed the most influential/compelling factor to respondents’ plan sponsor clients in considering a retirement income solution. It was also the most cited factor influencing advisor considerations.
• Client support and market intel were tied as the most-valued support from the DC wholesaler partners.
• Service was—still—the dominant criteria in selecting a TPA partner.  
• Rollovers, the SECURE Act’s expansion of a retirement income safe harbor, including lifetime income disclosures on participant statements, managed accounts, and e-delivery were all rated as “positive game changers.” However, a third rated managed accounts as “much ado about not much.”
• Legislation to allow student loan repayment matching was cited as a positive gain changer by 7 in 10, and legislation to expand emergency savings accounts drew “positive game changer” support of 60%. 
• The Labor Department’s fiduciary (re)proposal? A plurality (43%) said it was “too soon to say.” Which, as we’re still waiting for it, seems reasonable (if not obvious). 
• Recordkeeper consolidation was viewed as a negative game changer by nearly half (46%), though a quarter (23%) saw it as a positive.

As for what they wished plan sponsors knew more about, the list included “their roles and responsibilities,” the role(s) of other parties servicing the plan, fees, plan design, plan operations—oh, and “our roles,” of course. The verbatim quotes here are, as you might imagine, “priceless.”

A special thanks to the hundreds of retirement plan advisors who took the time to provide such thoughtful responses—and to the sponsors of this fourth edition of the Summit Insider. Which NAPA members can find in your mail—or online at https://www.napa-net.org/industry-intel/summit-insider.

- Nevin E. Adams, JD