The awards recognize companies and other institutions for outstanding efforts to educate employees about how to invest their defined contribution plan assets wisely for retirement.
Entrants must be companies or other institutions sponsoring defined contribution plans that give employees investment choice. The entries must be submitted by the plan sponsor, although the educational materials may have been developed with the help of outside suppliers.
The awards will be presented in three categories:
Printed material - initial educational brochures.
This category includes brochures and booklets prepared to introduce existing employees to the investment options of a new or modified plan, or to introduce new employees to the investment options of an existing plan.
Printed material - ongoing educational communications.
This category focuses on regular (e.g. monthly, quarterly, etc.) communications with employees about the defined contribution plan. These regular communications must include continuing education materials dealing with the investment process.
Video programs.
This category is for videotaped educational programs, whether introducing a new plan or new plan features or introducing an existing plan to new employees. The materials must deal significantly with the investment process.
The entries will be judged on the effectiveness and completeness of their educational messages with regard to investing. The judges will be seeking those programs that best encourage employees to participate in the plan and to begin saving early for retirement, and that best educate about, and encourage, sound investment practice. The entries should have a clear discussion of such concepts as risk and return, diversification, compounding, the impact of inflation on accumulated assets and the risk and return characteristics of each investment alternative offered. Successful entries will have strong identification with the plan sponsor.
Entries must be accompanies by a letter containing evidence of the effectiveness of the program, e.g., an increase in the percentage of employees participating or a change in the average employee's asset mix.
The entries will be judged in three size categories: fewer than 1,000 employees; 1,000 to 5,000 employees; and more than 5,000 employees.
The first-, second- and third-place winners of the 1995 awards may not enter the same materials in the 1996 competition. New materials may be entered.
NOTE: Please complete and return this entry form together with examples of your educational materials. This form may be photocopied. Please use a separate envelope and entry form for each category entered. (Materials will be returned only if accompanied by an appropriately sized self-addressed envelope.)
The deadline for entries is Oct. 1.
The awards will be presented at Pensions & Investments' Defined Contribution Conference, Jan. 23-24, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, New York.
Plan sponsor/company name: (r)LD_¯
Address: (r)LD_¯ City: ________________________ State: ____________ Zip____________
Formal name of plan for which the entry is being submitted: (r)LD_¯
(r)LD_¯
Name, title and phone number of the person overseeing your company's defined contribution plan education program:
Name: (r)LD_¯
Title: (r)LD_¯ Phone: ____________/(r)LD_¯
If your educational materials were developed with the aid of external suppliers, please identify the companies and their locations: (r)LD_¯
(r)LD_¯
How many employees does your institution or company have in the U.S.?
Fewer than 1,000___________ 1,000 to 5,000: ____________ More than 5,000____________
What percentage of your employees participate in your defined contribution plan? ___________% What was the participation rate before you began your education program? ___________%
Approximately what percentage of your work force is: White collar? ____________% College educated? ____________%
For which category is this entry being submitted (please check)
Printed material - initial educational brochures ____________
Printed material - on-going educational communications ____________
Video ____________.
Please send your entries to:
Michael Clowes, editor, Pensions & Investments, 220 E. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. 10017-5846.
