In today's society, it has become the norm rather than the exception for American workers to live paycheck to paycheck, struggling just to make ends meet. Shockingly, a third of Americans have $500 or less saved, while 8.5% have between $501 and $1,000, and 11.4% said they have no savings. This lack of financial preparation leaves them vulnerable to unexpected expenses and places them at a higher risk of financial strain.

Hub International Limited (Hub), a leading global insurance brokerage and financial services firm, announced today that it has acquired the assets of AFS 401(k) Retirement Services, LLC (AFS 401(k)) and AFS Financial Group, LLC (AFS Financial, and together with AFS 401(k), AFS). 

Employee benefits have never been more important than they are today. The past couple of years highlighted the need for organizations to provide holistic benefits packages to attract and retain talent.

As we look to the future, it's clear that benefits will remain a fundamental aspect of the employer-employee relationship. With that in mind, we’re excited to invite you to our Annual Employee Benefits Symposium, where we'll be discussing the latest trends and innovations in this space. In this post, we will explore what to expect at our 2023 Employee Benefits Symposium:

One of the most important things you can do to help your employees is to encourage them to participate in their workplace retirement savings plan. October is National Retirement Security Month (NRSM), and it’s the perfect time to educate your employees about the significance of planning for their future financial security. In this blog post, we’ll discuss why NRSM should matter to your employees and how you can help them prepare for retirement.

As you might recall from our executive summary report, the SECURE 2.0 Act included several important changes to retirement plan rules. One of those changes, scheduled to take effect in plan years beginning on or after 01/01/2024, involves high-income earners making age 50+ catch-up contributions. Currently, anyone age 50+ can elect to make catch-up contributions as pre-tax or Roth. The Act requires catch-up contributions for anyone who earns $145,000+ in 2023 (indexed in future years) to be made as Roth contributions. There was also a technical error in The Act language that could inadvertently eliminate the ability of anyone to make catch-up contributions altogether.

As advocates for company-sponsored retirement plans and benefits, we are constantly seeking new ways to improve employee benefits and engagement for our clients and prospective partners. That's why we are excited to share our latest trends report, which compiles some of the most innovative ideas and initiatives from our Annual Employee Benefits Symposium,held last fall (2022). This event brings together some of the industry’s brightest thought leaders.

The impact of financial anxiety on the American workforce has been revealed in Franklin Templeton's recent study, "Voice of the American Worker". The study highlights the challenges employees face due to the current economic climate and the importance of financial wellness in job satisfaction. Throughout the study, it exposed that this financial concern has reversed the pandemic’s “Great Resignation” to “the Great Return” and is reshaping employee benefits expectations. The study highlights that financial wellness is a critical component of job satisfaction, and employers can improve retention rates by providing their employees with the necessary financial tools and personalized solutions. To address this, employers can offer resources that enhance wellness across all dimensions - financial, physical, and mental.

As an employer with a company-sponsored retirement plan, you have a fiduciary responsibility to act in the best interests of your employees. This includes ensuring that the plan is administered in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. In recent years, there has been an increase in lawsuits filed by participants against plan sponsors alleging breach of fiduciary duty, among other claims. These lawsuits can be costly and time-consuming, so it is important that everyone take steps to protect themselves.

Here are three ways an employer with a company-sponsored retirement plan can improve their fiduciary oversight and minimize risk of litigation:

ARLINGTON, VA — AFS 401(k) Retirement Services has been named to the National Association of Plan Advisors’ list of the nation’s top defined contribution (DC) Advisor Teams with Assets under Advisement over $100 Million.

For retirement plan employers, 401(k) nondiscrimination testing is one of the most critical functions of operating a healthy retirement plan—and it’s also an important mandate of ERISA. Here’s a look at some commonly asked questions and need-to-know terms and concepts, as well as how this important task affects your company’s retirement plan.