participatejoomla

MythandRealityabout401(k)PlansComingUpShort:TheChallengeof401(k)PlansAliciaH.
MunnellandAnnikaSundénMyth:Withthepopularityof401(k)plans,manymoreworkerswillhaveatleastsomepensionwhentheyretire.
Reality:Despitethemeteoricriseof401(k)plans,lessthanhalfofworkersarecoveredbyanytypeofpensionplanattheircurrentemployer–afigurethathasn'tchangedsince1979.
Myth:Peoplesigningupfor401(k)sintheir30swillhavealotbuiltupforretirement.
Reality:Whileit'struethatmanyworkerscontributeatrelativelyyoungages,45percentcashoutwhentheychangejobs,meaningthattheyendupwithsignificantlylessretirementincome.
Myth:Alargepercentageofpeoplearetakingfulladvantageof401(k)s.
Reality:Oneinfivedonotparticipate,andonlyabout10percentcontributethemaximum.
Myth:401(k)senableemployeestosavesignificantlymorethantraditionalpensions.
Reality:In2004,thetypicalhouseholdheadapproachingretirementhad401(k)/IRAholdingsofonly$60,000.
Thisamountwouldgeneratelessthan$400permonthofannuityincomeinretirement.
Myth:401(k)sproducehigherreturnsforparticipantsthantraditionalpensions.
Reality:From1990to2002,traditionalplansearneda7.
4percentaveragereturncomparedto6.
9percentfor401(k)-styleplans.
Myth:Mostemployeesdiversifytheir401(k)investments.
Reality:About20percentofparticipantshave80percentormoreoftheirmoneyinstocks;another30percenthavealloftheirmoneyinmoneymarketorfixed-incomefunds.
Myth:Employeesinlarge401(k)planshaveamedianofover20investmentoptions–upfrom14in1995,andtheseaddedoptionshavebeenaboontoparticipantsReality:Researchindicatesthatproliferationoffundoptionsin401(k)sleadstoworsedecisions.
Myth:Ifindividualsmakegoodchoicesintheir401(k)sduringtheircareers,theydon'tneedtoworryaboutincomeinretirement.
Reality:Mostretiringworkerstaketheir401(k)distributionasalumpsum.
Withoutanannuity,theyriskeitherrunningoutofmoneybeforetheydieorunnecessarilyconstrainingtheirstandardoflivingbyclingingtothisnestegg.
Myth:Somepeoplejustwillrefusetosave,andthere'snothingyoucando.
Reality:Inonefirm,automaticenrollmentincreasedparticipationfrom49percentto86percentofeligibleworkers.
Forworkersearninglessthan$20,000,participationincreasedfrom20percentbeforeautomaticenrollmentto80percentafterwards.
Ifyouusethismaterial,pleasecite:Munnell,AliciaH.
andAnnikaSundén.
2006.
"401(k)PlansAreStillComingUpShort.
"IssueinBrief46.
ChestnutHill,MA:CenterforRetirementResearchatBostonCollege.
Forfurtherinformation,pleasecontactAndrewEschtruthat617-552-1729oreschtrut@bc.
edu.