PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 4

PARTICIPANT ANALYSIS
Different Age, Different Stage
I
n plan sponsor discussions about retirement
plan participants' benefits,
tendency is to consider all participants
the
as a homogenous group. Yet, when delving
into data such as the 2023 PLANSPONSOR
Participant Survey-which had 971 fulland
part-time employee respondents
who currently participate in an employer
defined contribution plan-the group's
diversity becomes more clear.
The tables at right examine how
workers respond to two trade-offs based on
the person's age. The first set asks whether
the participant would prefer a $2,000
annual 401(k) employer contribution that
required him to save $4,000 or a $1,000
annual employer contribution requiring
no employee contribution. For the second,
in keeping with the trend of exploring
the demand for supplementary benefits
outside the retirement plan, participants
were asked whether they would prefer a
$1,000 contribution to a health savings
account or to an emergency fund.
Those aged 60 through 66, considered
pre-retirees, had the greatest preference
for deferring earnings to receive the
larger employer 401(k) contribution vs.
receiving the smaller sum outright. This
group is close enough to retiring to recognize
the importance of building retirement
savings. Yet, overall, every age group
preferred a $1,000 no-strings-attached
employer contribution.
Across all seven age groups, most
respondents preferred receiving $1,000
from their employer for emergency savings
vs. for an HSA. No single age group ranked
the HSA contribution first, but those aged
18 through 22, likely earning less than
the older groups and further away from
concerns about health, had the highest
preference for
setting aside emergency
funds, 62% vs. 38%.
For an employer, the key lies in understanding
the composition of your workforce
and customizing benefits structures
accordingly. -Judy Faust Hartnett
4 PLANSPONSOR.COM January - February 2024
Age 60 - 66
No-Strings 401(k) Contribution vs.
Larger One if Employee Contributes
$1,000 annual employer
contribution to your 401(k)
account whether you
contribute or not
Overall
Age 18 - 22
Age 23 - 29
Age 30 - 39
Age 40 - 49
Age 50 - 59
Age 60 - 66
59%
61%
58%
62%
61%
55%
52%
Age 67 or older 60%
Emergency Savings vs. Health Savings
$1,000 annual employer
contribution to an emergency
savings account
Overall
Age 18 - 22
Age 23 - 29
Age 30 - 39
Age 40 - 49
Age 50 - 59
56%
62%
58%
61%
53%
55%
52%
Age 67 or older 60%
Source: 2023 PLANSPONSOR Participant Survey
$1,000 annual employer
contribution to a health
savings account
44%
38%
42%
39%
47%
45%
48%
40%
$2,000 annual employer
contribution to your 401(k) account
that requires you to contribute at
least $4,000 to your account
41%
39%
42%
38%
38%
45%
48%
40%

http://www.PLANSPONSOR.COM

PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024

INSIGHTS
PARTICIPANT ANALYSIS
RULES & REGULATIONS
UPFRONT
What’s Around the Corner?
A Focus on Guaranteed Income
Navigating ESG
Are You on Track?
Demographic Shifts
Advice on Advice
Fiduciary Best Practices
2 Distinct Roles for When Sponsors Act
The DOL’s Not-So-New Fiduciary Rule
Continuous Good Service
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - Cover1
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - INSIGHTS
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 1
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 2
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 3
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - PARTICIPANT ANALYSIS
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 5
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - RULES & REGULATIONS
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 7
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 8
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 9
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - UPFRONT
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 11
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 12
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 13
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 14
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 15
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - What’s Around the Corner?
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 17
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 18
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 19
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 20
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 21
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - A Focus on Guaranteed Income
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 23
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 24
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 25
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 26
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 27
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - Navigating ESG
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 29
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - Are You on Track?
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 31
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - Demographic Shifts
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - Advice on Advice
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 34
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 35
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - Fiduciary Best Practices
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 37
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - 2 Distinct Roles for When Sponsors Act
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - The DOL’s Not-So-New Fiduciary Rule
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - Continuous Good Service
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - Cover3
PLANSPONSOR - January - February 2024 - Cover4
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https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/march_april_2024
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/january_february_2024
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https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/may_june_2023
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/march_april_2023
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https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/august_september_2022
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/june_july_2022
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/excellenceawards_2022
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/april_may_2022
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/february_march_2022
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/december_2021_january_2022
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/october_november_2021
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/august_september_2021
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/june_july_2021
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/april-may_2021
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/february-march_2021
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https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/april-may_2020
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/february-march_2020
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/december-january_2020
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/october-november_2019
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https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/june-july_2019
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/april-may_2019
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/february-march_2019
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/december_2018-january_2019
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/october-november_2018
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https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/june-july_2018
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/april-may_2018
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/february-march_2018
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/december_2017-january_2018
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/november_december_2017
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