PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 31

2017 DC SURVEY: PLAN BENCHMARKING
MES
REFERENCE
W
Putting plan metrics into perspective
hen examining plan design, there are two sets of considerations for plan sponsors.
There are the plan design elements and decisions that govern how the
plan will work for plan participants, and there are the fiduciary elements and
decisions for which plan sponsors and other fiduciaries carry a significant responsibility.
Both sets are important in determining the success of a retirement plan, but in
different ways. Results of the 2017 PLANSPONSOR DC Survey: Plan Benchmarking indicate
that some best practices in plan governance have stalled, and plan design decisions
appear to balance both impact and cost.
Plan Governance
According to survey findings, adoption of some perceived best practices in plan governance
that are often cited as means to protect plan fiduciaries have leveled off. This may
seem surprising to those who have seen the increase in litigation against plan sponsors.
Why would fiduciary best practices decline if plan sponsors are aware of the litigation and
interested in protecting themselves?
One recognized best practice, the existence and use of investment committees, is
trending down. Based on survey responses, nearly every defined contribution plan with
more than $50 million in assets has an investment committee. By contrast, 16.6% of the
$5 million to -$25 million segment do not have investment committees. With retirement
plan menus becoming more complex, and with the increased use of alternatives and overlays,
an investment committee broadens the bandwidth of a plan sponsor and helps it stay
up to date on investment news.
Art by Red Nose Studio PLANSPONSOR.com November-December 2017 31

http://www.PLANSPONSOR.com

PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017

Seeking Value
2017 DC Survey: Plan Benchmarking
2017 Research Year in Review
Owning a Piece of the Firm
Breaking Up With a Fund
Reporting Requirements
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - Cover1
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - Cover2
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 1
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 2
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 3
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 4
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 5
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 6
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 7
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 8
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 9
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 10
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 11
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 12
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 13
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 14
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 15
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 16
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 17
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 18
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 19
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 20
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 21
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - Seeking Value
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 23
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 24
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 25
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 26
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 27
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 28
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 29
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 2017 DC Survey: Plan Benchmarking
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 31
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 32
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 33
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 34
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 35
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 36
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 37
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 38
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 39
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 40
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 41
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 42
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 43
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 44
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 45
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 2017 Research Year in Review
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 47
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 48
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 49
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 50
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 51
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 52
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 53
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - Owning a Piece of the Firm
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 55
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 56
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 57
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - Breaking Up With a Fund
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 59
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - Reporting Requirements
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 61
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 62
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 63
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - 64
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - Cover3
PLANSPONSOR - November/December 2017 - Cover4
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/march_april_2024
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/january_february_2024
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/november_december_2023
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/september_october_2023
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/july_august_2023
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/may_june_2023
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/march_april_2023
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/december_2022_february_2023
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/october_november_2022
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
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/december-january_2021
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/october-november_2020
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/august-september_2020
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/june-july_2020
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
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/august-september_2019
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
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/august-september_2018
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
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/october_2017
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/september_2017
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com