Defined Contribution

We’re seeing more US defined contribution (DC) plan sponsors looking at a variety of ways to help their participants manage volatility—and the accompanying anxiety and doubts that can often push participants to abandon their long-term investing goals.

We’ve heard rumblings in Washington: to fix America’s retirement problem, some argue we need to replace the whole defined contribution (DC) system; others say it just needs some targeted changes. We agree with the latter. A good place to start is a sensible rethinking of DC plan menus.

Washington’s current inactivity poses a challenge for defined contribution (DC) plan sponsors, investment management providers and record keepers. We’ve heard rumblings of legislative, regulatory and perhaps even taxation changes…but what changes seem likely to happen?

What gets measured gets managed. What gets managed…gets better.

US defined contribution (DC) plan sponsors large and small are seeking ways to help plan participants achieve better outcomes. Over the last 30 years, compelling evidence has accumulated that suggests currency-hedged global bonds may be an important part of the solution.

Within US defined contribution (DC) target-date funds (TDFs), whether we’re considering customized TDFs for larger plans or packaged solutions for smaller plans, our research shows that having a bond allocation that is not US-centric can lead to better outcomes and enhance the effectiveness of the glide path.

At a time when plans are seeking to control risk and enhance returns, hedged global bonds can help improve outcomes for US defined contribution (DC) investors. Hedged global bonds have delivered better risk-adjusted results over time than US bonds. So how do we recommend plan sponsors incorporate global bonds, and what is the ideal allocation in core menus?

Many US defined contribution (DC) plan sponsors are seeking solutions aimed at reducing undue volatility—excess volatility without a commensurate increase in return—that can prevent a plan and its participants from achieving their long-term objectives. Our research suggests that hedged global bonds may be one solution.

The new frontier in US defined contribution (DC) plans involves qualified default investment alternatives (QDIAs) with a secure lifetime income component. Will such vehicles retain their safe-harbor protections? Yes.

The US Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued some tips to guide defined contribution (DC) plan sponsors when selecting a target-date fund as an investment option in their plan. The tips are sensible—one may be even a bit surprising. And they should probably be taken quite seriously, considering the source.

When it comes to planning for retirement, we’ve been setting US workers up to fail.