Skip to content
Search

Price Perspective - In Depth

Considerations for Plan Sponsors

Constructing More Effective Defined Contribution Investment Lineups

Craig Keim, CFA, Head of Investment Platforms and Services

Executive Summary

  • With defined contribution (DC) plans now serving as the primary vehicle for retirement savings in the U.S. and concerns continuing about workers’ ability to reach their retirement goals, the structure of investment lineups has never been more important.
  • Regulatory and fiduciary issues play important roles in shaping today’s investment lineups. Adhering to Section 404(c) provides some liability protection for plan sponsors, and offering a qualified default investment alternative (QDIA) may also provide fiduciary relief. In any case, every investment option comes with monitoring obligations.
  • Understanding cultural and employee demographics can help guide the construction of a lineup, particularly when it comes to the number and variety of options. As well, the presence of a defined benefit (DB) plan and the company’s preference for a "paternalistic" or "individualistic" culture can help define an appropriate lineup.
  • Research and industry trends, especially in the field of behavioral finance, are leading the way toward investment lineups that can achieve more positive retirement savings outcomes for participants.

This Paper Discusses Seven Key Best Practice Considerations:

  1. Offer asset allocation products such as target date options as the default option.

  2. Offer either a stable value or money market investment option.

  3. Consider expanding the fixed income offerings beyond U.S. Investment Grade.

  4. Provide the full opportunity set of U.S. equities, but keep the number of options low and minimize any overlap.

  5. Offer a diversified international equities option.

  6. Minimize sector and other specialty investment options.

  7. Consider a self-directed brokerage approach to appeal to highly engaged participants.

Price Perspective

Read the Full Article

Read the Full Article
As DC plans continue to grow in prominence as the sole retirement income source for many participants, plan sponsors are facing important decisions about how to construct lineups.

 

2016-AX-17129

 

T. Rowe Price does not select investment options for retirement plans or provide investment advice with respect to that selection. This material is provided for general and educational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal, tax, or investment advice. This material is not individualized to the needs of any benefit plan, nor is it intended to serve as the primary basis for an investment decision.

T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc., distributor, T. Rowe Price mutual funds.

Download

Latest Date Range
Audience for the document: Share Class: Language of the document:
Download Cancel

Download

Share Class: Language of the document:
Download Cancel
Sign in to manage subscriptions for products, insights and email updates.
Once registered, you'll be able to start subscribing.

Change Details

If you need to change your email address please contact us.
Subscriptions
OK
You are ready to start subscribing.
Get started by going to our products or insights section to follow what you're interested in.

Products Insights

GIPS® Information

T. Rowe Price ("TRP") claims compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®) and has prepared and presented this report in compliance with the GIPS standards. T. Rowe Price has been independently verified for the twenty four-year period ended June 30, 2020, by KPMG LLP. The verification report is available upon request. A firm that claims compliance with the GIPS standards must establish policies and procedures for complying with all the applicable requirements of the GIPS standards. Verification provides assurance on whether the firm’s policies and procedures related to composite and pooled fund maintenance, as well as the calculation, presentation, and distribution of performance, have been designed in compliance with the GIPS standards and have been implemented on a firm-wide basis. Verification does not provide assurance on the accuracy of any specific performance report.

TRP is a U.S. investment management firm with various investment advisers registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, and other regulatory bodies in various countries and holds itself out as such to potential clients for GIPS purposes. TRP further defines itself under GIPS as a discretionary investment manager providing services primarily to institutional clients with regard to various mandates, which include U.S, international, and global strategies but excluding the services of the Private Asset Management group.

A complete list and description of all of the Firm's composites and/or a presentation that adheres to the GIPS® standards are available upon request. Additional information regarding the firm's policies and procedures for calculating and reporting performance results is available upon request

Other Literature

You have successfully subscribed.

Notify me by email when
regular data and commentary is available
exceptional commentary is available
new articles become available

Thank you for your continued interest