Fidelity Investments announced today that its defined contribution (DC) business, which includes 401k plans and 403b plans, added $90 billion in sales to its platform in 2021, driven by strong sales across every market.
In a statement, the company said an important driver behind its sales results is Fidelity’s positive working relationship with the advisor/consultant community, which helps provide employers with the information they need to make the best decision for their organization and workforce.
“As an independent advisor who specializes in retirement plans, the relationship we have with Fidelity is a critical component to the proactive and targeted retirement savings guidance we provide to employers and their employees,” said Alex Assaley, Managing Principal, AFS 401(k) Retirement Services. “The retirement plan landscape continues to evolve and, as more emphasis is made on the 401k, we are focused on ensuring clients have the people, technology and resources they need in place to create and improve retirement plans for America’s workers.”
Fidelity’s DC growth was revealed as part of a wider announcement about significant growth across its integrated benefits platform. During 2021, Fidelity helped 1,900 businesses across the U.S. add more than 2,100 products to their benefits platform, representing $146 billion in assets. The new products include 401k, 403b, company stock and defined benefit plans, as well as health savings accounts (HSA), student debt repayment and workplace giving programs.
New clients represent a broad variety of industries and markets across every geography in the country and vary in size from start-ups with several dozen employees to large-scale corporations with workforces in the tens of thousands.
Fidelity’s growth has been 100% organic. Additional factors cited by the company that contributed to 2021’s growth include:
- Helping employers integrate workplace benefits that address critical employee health and financial needs, such as student debt repayment plans and HSAs, on a single, unified platform.
- Growing demand among employers for a benefits provider that can deliver a high level of service and support in the extremely challenging business environment created by the pandemic.
- Fidelity’s ability to provide products and solutions for employees at every life stage, ranging from retirement income solutions for pre-retirees to financial education for young employees who are just starting out.
- Technology enhancements across Fidelity’s platform, specifically the enhanced use of cybersecurity, cloud computing, AI and predictive analytics, that help create a more efficient, accessible and secure experience for clients and their employees.
“In today’s challenging economic environment, organizations are looking for an experienced, trusted benefits provider that has the strength, scale and expertise to design and deploy a benefits platform that delivers value to their workforce, as well as can help them attract and retain talent,” said Kevin Barry, president, Workplace Investing, Fidelity Investments. “As the benefits landscape continues to evolve, we will continue to innovate, adapt and invest in our offerings to meet the ever-changing needs of our clients.”
DoorDash, Anthem among new clients
Following are examples of new clients that joined Fidelity’s benefit platform in 2021:
- San Francisco-based DoorDash, a technology company that connects consumers with their favorite local and national businesses in more than 7,000 cities across the U.S., Canada, Australia and Japan, added Fidelity’s 401k to their platform.
- Anthem, Inc., a leading health company dedicated to improving lives and communities, and making healthcare simpler, added Fidelity’s 401k platform and Student Debt Repayment programs.
- Penn Medicine, the nation’s first hospital and nationally recognized leading academic medical center choose Fidelity for retirement plan administration.
- AVANGRID, one of the leading sustainable energy companies in the United States, added Fidelity’s 401k, Stock Plan Services, Student Debt Repayment and HSAs to their benefits platform.
- Toast, which joined Fidelity’s Stock Plan Services platform prior to their IPO last fall and also added Fidelity’s 401k to their platform, provides a single platform of software as a service (SaaS) products and financial technology solutions that support restaurants across point of sale, operations, digital ordering and delivery, marketing and loyalty, and team management.
- Arconic Corporation is a leading provider of aluminum sheet, plate, and extrusions, as well as innovative architectural products, that advance the ground transportation, aerospace, building and construction, industrial and packaging end markets. Arconic added Fidelity’s 401k and Stock Plan Services to their benefits platform.
“As more organizations recognize that the overall well-being of their employees goes beyond just retirement savings, we’re seeing a growing number of employers adding workplace benefits that can address the health, work and physical wellness of their workforce. Fidelity has made significant investments to support our expanding client roster, including hiring more than 1,000 new associates in 2021, and we look forward to continuing to support our clients and providing an optimal benefits experience for their workers,” Barry added.
SEE ALSO:
• Fidelity Launches Product to Help Near Retirees Convert 401k, 403b Funds into Guaranteed Income
• Retirement Savings Mostly Flat, But Some Bright Spots: Fidelity
Veteran financial services industry journalist Brian Anderson joined 401(k) Specialist as Managing Editor in January 2019. He has led editorial content for a variety of well-known properties including Insurance Forums, Life Insurance Selling, National Underwriter Life & Health, and Senior Market Advisor. He has always maintained a focus on providing readers with timely, useful information intended to help them build their business.
