Sponsors busy with retirement program changes, survey says

Almost all retirement plan sponsors — 96% — surveyed by two Mercer consulting firms changed one or more of their retirement programs within the last three years or are contemplating changes. Among the changes mulled are freezing defined benefit plan accruals, closing DB plans to new entrants and increasing or restructuring matching 401(k) plan contributions. Of changes already made, 26% of defined benefit plan sponsors shifted to a hybrid plan, including cash-balance plans, from a traditional DB plan. Also, 68% of defined contribution plan sponsors started catch-up contributions for their plans. Other DC changes included increasing limits on employee elective deferrals; increasing matching contributions or adding a discretionary match. The results are from a survey of 242 employers by Mercer Human Resource Consulting and Mercer Investment Consulting.