ACCESS MY ACCOUNT: Plan ParticipantPlan Sponsor

DON’T CELEBRATE TOO QUICKLY

Retirement plan participants continue to:

  • Invest too much money in stable investments and money market funds;
  • Transfer money to last year’s winners (chasing performance);
  • Rely too heavily on Target Date Funds (TDFs), which are heavily weighted towards bonds, especially in the years leading up to retirement.

Are Target Date Funds really the best option for 401(k) plan participants?

At Burke Group, we believe in a different type of TDF called “Teaching Diversification Fundamentals.” We recognize that, while it may be good to offer Target Date Funds as part of an investment lineup, it is more important to teach investment basics and diversification to plan participants so they can make educated decisions about their investments over their entire career.

I’ve helped a dozen clients switch from Defined Benefit to Defined Contribution plans as their primary benefit plan offering for their staff. I have been on the front lines, slowly converting employees from non-savers with pension benefits managed for them to first time savers in charge of investing on their own. Employees in this position are terrified of picking their investments and they need a lifeline. I truly believe, under these circumstances, that Target Date Funds make savers out of employees who might otherwise pass on the opportunity to save.

However, too often, the industry does what seems suitable versus what our Fiduciary compass tells us we should do. Auto-enrolling and defaulting employees to TDFs do not fulfill our fiduciary obligations. There is a place for Target Date Funds in 401(k) plans, but only after we have provided meaningful education for employees.

Let’s make sure we are “Teaching Diversification Fundamentals” in addition to offering TDFs in retirement plans.

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Brian J. Schiedel

Principal – Retirement Plan Consulting

Brian Schiedel is responsible for monitoring daily valuation recordkeeping services, ensuring that transactions meet strict procedural guidelines, and providing compliance and other consulting services for Burke Group’s retirement plan clients. He serves as the direct Relationship Manager for more than 30 retirement plans.

Prior to joining Burke Group, he obtained his bachelor’s degree in management science from the State University of New York at Geneseo. He has also obtained the Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) designation through the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA).