More Employers Focusing on Lifetime Income

More employers are adopting lifetime income solutions, according to the 2019 Lifetime Income Solutions Survey by Willis Towers Watson.

Thirty percent of employers say have adopted one or more lifetime income solutions in this year’s survey, up from 23% in 2016. Additionally, 60% say they would consider offering their employees lifetime income solutions in the future.

“Employer concern about their employees being financially ready for retirement has never been greater,” says Dana Hildebrant, director of investments at Willis Towers Watson. “And while many employers are making headway to help workers save more, their efforts to transform individual savings into a consistent flow of income that will last a lifetime remain a work in progress. The increased adoption of lifetime income solutions is an exciting step in the right direction.”

Asked why they are adopting lifetime income solutions, 74% said it is because they are concerned about an aging workforce and increasing longevity, up from 45% in 2016. Seventy-four percent said it is due to their focus on retirement readiness, and 46% said it is due to the shift from defined benefit (DB) to defined contribution (DC) plans.

Among those that offer a lifetime income solution, the most common is systematic withdrawals (80%), followed by lifetime education and planning tools (70%) and in-plan managed account services (44%). Only 17% offer an in-plan asset allocation option with a guaranteed minimum withdrawal or annuity component. Fifteen percent support out-of-plan annuities, and 15% offer in-plan deferred annuity investment options.

“While it is encouraging more employers are embracing various lifetime income solutions, it’s disappointing relatively few have adopted what the industry sees as more effective income-generating solutions, such as annuities and other insurance-backed products,” Hildebrant adds. “However, employer interest in these options may pick up steam as they better understand the value and associated benefits.”

The survey also found 41% of employers that are currently offering a lifetime income solution are considering an in-plan asset allocation option with a guaranteed minimum withdrawal to be implemented in 2021 or later, 31% are considering an in-plan annuity option, and 23% are considering an out-of-plan annuity.

Willis Towers Watson, in “Lifetime Income Solutions: Progress, With Work Ahead,” says that perhaps the most practical approach to offering workers annuities is to embed them in target-date funds or balanced funds. Today, 4% of survey respondents offer such a solution.

Asked why they do not offer insurance-backed solutions, 75% of employers say they are too complex for them and their recordkeepers to administer. Sixty-one percent said fees are too high, 60% said the products themselves are too complex, 58% said they fear there may be restrictions in portability for departing employees, 55% said they are not transparent, and 52% said workers just are not demanding these options.

“Policymaking is uncertain at this time, but the wheels appear to be in motion for more regulatory support for all stakeholders as it relates to lifetime income,” Willis Towers Watson says in its report. Seventy-seven percent of sponsors want a specific safe harbor that lessens the burden of overseeing an annuity provider. Fifty-seven percent of sponsors are waiting to see if other sponsors adopting lifetime income solutions, 52% want a wider range of guaranteed products, and 33% want to see investment-only products.

Willis Tower Watson’s findings are based on a survey of 164 companies conducted in May and June.