Voya behavioral finance research
The introduction of auto-enrollment and auto-escalation of 401(k) plans has helped transform the retirement system, making it easier for employees to save earlier and save more over time. However, understanding and implementing the details of an auto-escalation process is of critical importance, as escalator features are crucial for helping enrolled participants save for their future and create financial wellness.
In our research paper, How to Auto-Escalate Your 401(k), learn what researchers found when studying auto-escalations of contribution rates, with key takeaways on how to improve plan design and communication.
Helping answer practical questions
Given the current labor market trends where we’re seeing a shortened tenure of employees, it’s imperative to get workers to the right savings rate sooner rather than later. However, in a world where we’re now hearing about and/or getting accustomed to “auto-everything,” practical questions are still unanswered.
- How does a plan sponsor design a successful auto-escalation plan?
- What increment should the escalator increase to?
- How often should that rate increase?
The paper details the results of research into those important questions, which employers can use to help optimize their own plan design.
The study
- Researchers experimentally varied whether an enrollee would see a default escalator of 1% or 2% and whether the start date of the 401(k)-contribution rate escalation was a year, six months or three months.
- These plans used an opt-in enrollment process, where employees needed to decide to enroll in the retirement plan or in auto-escalation, instead of automatic enrollment plans.
- The escalation choices of the enrollees were observed for several months.
About the Behavioral Finance Institute (BeFi)
Since its inception in 2016, the Voya Behavioral Finance Institute for Innovation has conducted research focused on improving the financial well-being and outcomes of those it serves. The Institute works with leading scientists and organizations to advance knowledge in areas closely aligned with Voya’s workplace strategy, which is centered on addressing customers’ health, wealth and investment needs through the workplace and institutions.