Designing for Distinction: Reflections on Our DC Symposium

19 August 2025
1 min read

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.

Participants have unrealistic notions about how much they can spend in retirement without running out of money…

Fiduciaries should prioritize doing the right thing for participants, not avoiding lawsuits…

Sponsors need to consider private assets to address the myriad risks retirement savers face...

AI is happening, and it’s going to change how we work…

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.