Thomas Hawkins
As Retirement Clearinghouse's Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, Tom Hawkins oversees RCH's marketing and research initiatives, including development of original content, RCH's internet presence, digital marketing and industry research, and is a Certified Blockchain Expert.
Consolidation Corner Blog
Consolidation Corner is the Retirement Clearinghouse (RCH) blog, and features the latest articles and bylines from our executives, addressing important retirement savings portability topics.
How Socially Responsible Corporations Will Solve the 401(k) Cashout Crisis
Every year a silent, slow-motion train wreck occurs in America’s 401(k) system, when millions of job-changing workers prematurely cash out billions of dollars in retirement savings, a phenomenon known in retirement industry lingo as “cashout leakage."
The New Age of DC Plan Portability
A recent survey of defined contribution (DC) plan sponsors found that interest in retaining assets for retirement is on the rise. That finding, paired with certain provisions of the SECURE Act of 2019, suggests that DC plans are on a path to becoming “decumulation vehicles” for American retirees. While these developments are encouraging, persistently high levels of cashout leakage, increasing missing participants and other factors produce understandable pessimism regarding the future of DC plans.
The Auto Portability Imperative
The Most Promising Policies to Reduce 401(k) Cashout Leakage
Cashout leakage, a long-standing problem in America’s defined contribution system, is a silent crisis that unnecessarily robs millions of Americans of a comfortable, timely or secure retirement. Plagued by misunderstanding and neglect, it’s vitally important to understand the problem and to take decisive action to curb it. The fourth of a five-part series, this article addresses policies with the most promise to reduce the 401(k) cashout leakage problem.The Magnitude of the 401(k) Cashout Leakage Problem
Cashout leakage, a long-standing problem in America’s defined contribution system, is a silent crisis that unnecessarily robs millions of Americans of a comfortable, timely or secure retirement. Plagued by misunderstanding and neglect, it’s vitally important to understand the problem and to take decisive action to curb it. The third of a five-part series, this article addresses the magnitude of the 401(k) cashout leakage problem.
The Demographics of 401(k) Cashout Leakage
Cashout leakage, a long-standing problem in America’s defined contribution system, is a silent crisis that unnecessarily robs millions of Americans of a comfortable, timely or secure retirement. Plagued by misunderstanding and neglect, it’s vitally important to understand the problem and to take decisive action to curb it.
Spotlight on Cashout Leakage: The Fundamentals
Cashout leakage, a long-standing problem in America’s defined contribution system, is a silent crisis that unnecessarily robs millions of Americans of a comfortable, timely or secure retirement. Plagued by misunderstanding and neglect, it’s vitally important to understand the problem and to take decisive action to curb it.
The first of a five-part series, this article addresses the fundamentals of cashout leakage.
How Auto Portability Serves Participants’ Best Interests: Part 5
In this series, I identify five key reasons why an auto portability program serves the best interests of plan participants.
Previously: In Part 1, I examined the dramatically improved participant outcomes that will result from a program of auto portability. In Part 2, I described how auto portability, by enhancing and extending automatic rollover programs, represents an enhanced standard of participant care. In Part 3, I presented evidence that the adoption of auto portability could lead to a reduction in plan expenses. In Part 4, I addressed how auto portability could enhance 401(k) participants’ financial wellness.
In part 5, my final installment of the series, I explain how auto portability can mitigate retirement-related cybersecurity risks.
How Auto Portability Serves Participants’ Best Interests - Part 4: Auto Portability Enhances Participants' Financial Wellness
In this five-part series, I identify five key reasons why an auto portability program serves the best interests of plan participants. Previously:
- In Part 1, I examined the dramatically improved participant outcomes that will result from a program of auto portability.
- In Part 2, I described how auto portability, by enhancing and extending automatic rollover programs, represents an enhanced standard of participant care.
- In Part 3, I presented evidence that the adoption of auto portability could lead to a reduction in plan expenses.
In Part 4, I address how auto portability could enhance 401(k) participants’ financial wellness.
LIMRA Webinar Features Michael Kreps’ Update on Auto Portability
On April 16th, as part of their Strategic Issues Webinar Series, the LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute delivered the webinar Regulatory and Legislative Trends Impacting the U.S. Retirement System. The LIMRA webinar featured presenter Michael Kreps, Principal, Groom Law Group, and was moderated by Judy Zaiken, Corporate Vice President, LIMRA.