Designing for Distinction: Reflections on Our DC Symposium

What You Need to Know

A changing market regime. Workplace demographic shifts. Longer lifespans. These are among the reasons why defined contribution (DC) plan sponsors should strive to elevate their retirement plans to attract and retain talent—and help improve their retirement outcomes.

This backdrop framed AB’s annual DC symposium, Designing for Distinction: Creating a Leading-Edge Retirement Plan for Your Most Important Assets, a two-day gathering in Nashville, Tennessee that featured a rich agenda.

Executive Summary

AllianceBernstein (AB) hosted 50 senior executives comprising plan sponsors, consultants and other experts from the retirement industry.

Candid conversations featured deep dives into plan design to meet participant needs, the expanding investment opportunity set and the future of participant engagement through Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Participants are looking for more from their plans, and designs that support their unique needs, from their early working years to post-career endeavors. Their wish list often includes a path to financial security in retirement.

The first day of the program focused on delivering lifetime income: leveraging a comprehensive framework to evaluate solutions, understand plan demographics, dispel misconceptions and understand implementation workstreams.

On day two, attendees explored the legislative backdrop affecting US retirement policy, best practices for financial wellness programs, ways of integrating private assets into glide-path design, and the implications of innovations in technology and AI.

The views expressed herein do not constitute research, investment advice or trade recommendations, do not necessarily represent the views of all AB portfolio-management teams and are subject to change over time.

For plan sponsor or consultant use only. Not for inspection by, distribution or quotation to, the general public.

“Target date” in a fund’s name refers to the approximate year when a plan participant expects to retire and begin withdrawing from his or her account. Target-date funds gradually adjust their asset allocation, lowering risk as a participant nears retirement. Investments in target-date funds are not guaranteed against loss of principal at any time, and account values can be more or less than the original amount invested—including at the time of the fund’s target date. Also, investing in target-date funds does not guarantee sufficient income in retirement.