Plan Design Policy & Regulation Target-Date Solutions White Paper

Thinking Forward: Reimagining Retirement Resilience

Reflections on Our DC Symposium

July 06 2026
1 min read

What You Need To Know

The defined contribution (DC) plan sponsor’s expanding role spans fiduciary oversight, market awareness, product expertise, decision-making and participant engagement. Meanwhile, participants’ needs are increasingly complex, requiring solutions for both savings and sustainable retirement income.

This was the backdrop for AllianceBernstein’s third annual DC symposium, Thinking Forward: Reimagining Retirement Resilience, held at our headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, and which featured a rich agenda.

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“Plan sponsors are stepping into participant money stories written a long time ago…”
“Retirement is personal, so variations should make sure it’s outcome-oriented for the individual…”
“Focus should be on participants converting accumulation to income for the rest of their lives…”
“Designing plans now requires technical expertise and a willingness to overcome behavioral resistance...”
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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.