Written by Slavic401k, a retirement plan partner to Aspen HR.
401(k)s are among the most widely used retirement savings vehicles in America, in part because millions of working adults have access to these defined contribution (DC) plans through their employer. However, 401(k)s are also very popular because many Americans can recognize the value inherent to these plans. At least that is what an updated report from the Investment Company Institute suggests after finding that a record 76 percent of surveyed U.S. households had favorable impressions of 401(k)s last year.
In fact, 41 percent of the households that expressed an opinion on 401(k) plans said that they had a “very favorable” impression. Such positive sentiment is not too surprising considering that nine in ten surveyed households with 401(k) accounts reported that they believe their DC plans have helped them prepare for their financial future and made it easier to set money aside for retirement. Further, nearly half (46 percent) of participants said that they believe they would likely not be saving for retirement currently if they did not have access to a 401(k).
Eighty-three percent of surveyed 401(k)-owning households also reported that they believe their DC plans can help them meet their retirement goals, and 86 percent said that the unique tax treatment of these plans is a big incentive to contribute. As expected, the vast majority (91 percent) of these respondents disagreed with a suggestion that the government should reduce or take away the tax advantages of 401(k)s, and 92 percent similarly reported that they do not want to see Uncle Sam lower the amount of money that individuals can contribute to a DC account each year.
Elsewhere in the report, 83 percent of respondents said that they are less worried about stock market volatility thanks to their paycheck-by-paycheck 401(k) contributions, and 87 percent of surveyed participants indicated that they believe their plan offers a “good lineup” of investment options. The latter is encouraging given that nearly all (96 percent) surveyed households with 401(k) accounts agreed that “having choice in, and control of” the investments in their DC plans is important.
At Aspen HR, we provide HR Managed Services via our PEO and ASO solutions to Asset Management firms, RIAs, and alternative investment funds. Our white-glove service model enables our clients to truly focus on their core business while becoming best-in-class employers. Our specific services include HR compliance and consulting, employee benefits (medical dental, vision, life, disability, 401(k), and payroll administration.
