Employers eyeing enhancements to nonqualified retirement plans, WTW survey finds

About this update from Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company

[{"type":"text","content":"Improving participant experience cited as top area of focus while investment options and risk mitigation strategies evolve\nARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of the seemingly endless battle to attract and retain talent, U.S. employers are making enhancements to their nonqualified retirement plans for key executives and highly paid employees, according to a new survey by leading global advisory, broking and solutions company WTW (NASDAQ: WTW). The vast majority of large U.S. employers currently offer nonqualified retirement plans to executives and high-income earners. These plans allow for pre-tax deferral of compensation, employer contributions and/or compensation amounts that cannot be captured in the qualified plan due to IRS limits. Nonqualified plans are typically not subject to rules governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. “Employer interest in nonqualified retirement plans is at an all-time high. In fact, we have helped clients implement more new plans and redesign existing plans in the past two years than in prior years,” said Chris West, senior director, head of Dallas Retirement, and leader of WTW’s Nonqualified Plans Specialty Group. “While employers have been investing time and effort into their nonqualified plans, many recognize they aren’t getting or providing the value intended. As a result, employers are looking to improve the employee experience through more focused communication and education as part of their redesign strategy.\" The WTW Nonqualified Retirement Benefit Survey found over half of respondents (55%) either made changes to their nonqualified defined benefit (DB) retirement plans in the past two years or plan to make changes in the next two years. Even more (75%) changed their nonqualified defined contribution (DC) retirement plans in the past two years or plan to do so in the next two years. The majority of employers are focused on improving participant experience with their DC plans (72%) and DB plans (56%). DC plan sponsors cited communication (52%), education (47%) and financial counseling (28%) as their key focus over the next two years. Six in 10 (60%) DC respondents and nearly half (47%) of DB respondents indicate they informally fund their nonqualified plan by setting aside an asset, often held in a Rabbi Trust, to provide a source for disbursements and...

More updates from Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company