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The ROTH Retirement Account, named for Senator William Roth, was introduced as part of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. The main feature of a ROTH account is that contributions are made with post-tax dollars as opposed to pre-tax; this means that any withdrawals, including earnings on the investments, are tax-free in retirement. This advantage can be particularly attractive for those individuals who anticipate being in a higher tax bracket later in life. However, this needs to be weighed against the uncertainty about whether and for how long this tax status will be truly protected. Can you safely invest in a ROTH account and really expect tax-free withdrawals ten, twenty, or thirty years down the line?

How Long Do I Need to Keep All of This Paperwork? Today, we’re going to share our position on what may seem to be a black-and-white (if not also mundane) retirement plan-related topic - that of record retention. It’s one that we’ve been asked about hundreds of times, and understandably so: For one thing, it involves a lot of files, whether hard copy or electronic. Also, the requirements and guidelines from various government agencies can often seem to conflict. Most importantly, though, it has gotten plenty of well-meaning plan sponsors into some hot water, both financially and legally. There have been numerous instances when it turned out the guidelines weren’t enough to protect employers from costly legal disputes. Read on to find out more.

For most Americans, the primary source of retirement savings comes through workplace plans. Despite perceptions that others may save through brokerage accounts or insurance policies, statistics show workplace plans are the cornerstone of retirement security. Individuals are 15 times more likely to open and fund a 401(k) at work than to set up an IRA independently, with over 56% of American workers participating in a workplace retirement plan.[1] These plans provide a clear path toward financial stability in retirement and reduce reliance on Social Security alone.

The use of automatic features in 401(k) plans has continued to climb in popularity over the past decade. In fact, auto features such as automatic enrollment and auto escalation are considered best practices in 401(k) plan design as ways to help boost participation and employee savings rates.[1] Many large 401(k) retirement plans offer auto features. However, small business plan sponsors have been slower to adopt them as part of their 401(k) plan design. If your company’s retirement plan design doesn’t currently include auto features, and/or if you’re thinking about implementing them, then keep reading.

Some provisions of SECURE 2.0 have already taken effect, and more will become effective soon. For plan sponsors, preparation is the key. Starting early allows for a thorough consideration of how SECURE 2.0 provisions may impact enrollment, contributions, and other aspects of your 401(k) plan. This will help you align your plan with regulatory requirements while continuing to meet both employer and employee needs.

Cyber-crime is on the rise worldwide. As a result, growing numbers of organizations are taking critical steps to protect their valuable electronic data from hackers and other cyber criminals — a process known as cybersecurity. It’s serious business, and a trend retirement plan sponsors and committees should pay attention to.