Re: “Plans brace for shift into stable value” by John D'Antona Jr., Pensions & Investments, Oct. 13, page 3:
We are an employee benefits firm in Cleveland that focuses on retirement plan and health-care benefits. I am the head of our retirement platform and have been holding employer/employee group and individual meetings regarding their retirement plans. Yes, I'm seeing with our clients similar reaction to shifts in assets, but not to the degree that Mr. D'Antona wrote.
Through our platform we spend a lot of time on education of the plan administrator, but most importantly to the employees. We've been so effective that as early as mid-October, 60% of the employees that I spoke to or met with increased their saving deferral percentages and looked toward an increase in equity exposure.
The article is vital to employers that sponsor a retirement plan of some sort; however, it should also address education to the employees especially with constant discussions on QDIA, or qualified default investment alternatives, and 404(c).
William Braunlich
Retirement platform director
Quality Benefits Agency Inc.
Independence, Ohio
