Moving the Needle

What do the data say about the role MEPs and PEPs can play in getting more people access to employer-provided retirement accounts?

About half of U.S. private sector workers are covered by an employer-sponsored retirement plan. How many employers might consider joining a pooled plan in order to provide this benefit? Data below from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College explores the numbers.


Reasons for Not Planning to Offer a Retirement Plan, 2023

Cost
52%
Admin burden / barriers
38%
Employee prefer wages
33%
High employee turnover
37%
Revenue stability / business size
60%
Source: Center for Retirement Research (2023)

Number of PPP Filings, January 2020 – October 2023

2020
24
2021
142
2022
81
2023
66
Note: As of October 17, 2023. Source: U.S. Department of Labor (2023b).

Likelihood of Joining a MEP, PEP, or Group of Plans as an Alternative, 2022

  • Very likely
  • Somewhat likely
  • Not too likely
  • Not at all likely
Source: Transamerica Institute (2023)

Total 401(k) Costs as a Percentage of Plan Assets, by Asset Size

PS-Feb24-OSC6-chart_p2.png

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Plan assets 10th percentile Median 90th percentile
<$1mm 0.20 1.02 2.40
$1mm – $10mm 0.47 0.96 1.56
$10mm – $50mm 0.40 0.72 1.09
$50mm – $100mm 0.32 0.57 0.83
$100mm – $250mm 0.17 0.46 0.66
$250mm – $500mm 0.17 0.41 0.59
$500mm – $1b 0.18 0.37 0.54
>$1b 0.13 0.26 0.43

Notes: Total plan cost includes asset-based investment management fees, asset-based administrative and advice fees, and other fees from the Form 5500 and audited financial statements of ERISA-covered 401(k) plans. Total plan cost is computed only for plans with sufficiently complete information.
Source: BrightScope and Investment Company Institute (2023)


Familiarity with Different Retirement Plans, 2023

Very/ somewhat familiar
Not too familiar/ Never heard of
401(k)
87%
13%
SIMPLE
51%
49%
SEP
37%
63%
MEP/PEP
21%
79%
Source: Center for Retirement Research (2023)

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