Retirement Insights

Discover our Guide to Retirement, updated annually to provide you with an effective framework for supporting retirement planning conversations with clients.

The Social Security Fairness Act became law in early January 2025. With its passage, the monthly retirement benefits of an estimated 3.2 million workers may increase, some payments by a sizeable amount. Sharon Carson, our Retirement Strategist, answers frequently asked questions about how this rule change may affect some of your clients.

The 2024 election and Inauguration Day are now behind us. With the new administration expected to take a “de-regulatory” stance, and the 119th Congress in place with a narrow Republican majority, retirement industry professionals and plan sponsors alike are curious as to what this year will bring in terms of retirement plan legislation, regulation and litigation.

Human impulse being what it is, New Year’s resolutions tend to be forgotten not long after they’re made. Retirement plans deserve a better fate! Michael Conrath, Chief Retirement Strategist, recommends using annual portfolio reviews to help clients gauge the likelihood of affording their desired lifestyle in retirement.

As we look toward 2025 and beyond, three pivotal trends are set to redefine the DC plan space: • the dual focus on low-cost options and active fixed income • the integration of alternative and real assets in target date funds (TDFs) • the rise of hybrid default solutions that combine target date funds with guaranteed income

Every fall, the Social Security Administration announces cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) that will determine beneficiaries’ monthly payments for the following year. These annual adjustments, based on inflation data in the Consumer Price Index, have long been the practice. However, many beneficiaries don’t fully understand the bottom-line impact to their monthly benefits check—especially if Medicare premiums are automatically deducted from their benefit amount. Sharon Carson, our Retirement Strategist, provides answers to clients’ frequently asked questions.

As 2024 draws to a close, financial markets are adjusting to a shifting macroeconomic environment. Inflation’s recent decline from its post-pandemic highs and the Federal Reserve’s subsequent pivot from restrictive to more accommodative monetary policy herald what could be an extended period of sustainable growth. While this recalibration may take several quarters—if not years—to fully run its course, we see several reasons for providers of defined contribution (DC) plans to be optimistic about the current investment outlook.