As I wrote in a previous article, 401k automated portability is an idea whose time has come. To achieve that vision, how will we get from the present state to full automation of the plan-to-plan roll-in process?
This article, as well as the video below, offers readers a roadmap for the progression from “tired” to “wired” and finally, to the “inspired” state that will eventually characterize 401k roll-ins.
Tired: Do-it-yourself roll-ins
If you’re one of those hardy souls who’ve attempted to roll-in a prior employer’s 401k balance into your current employer’s plan, you understand how difficult the process can be. Do-it-yourself, or “DIY” roll-ins are generally confusing, highly manual, non-standard and are perceived by most participants as not worth the effort or risk.
The types of problems that frequently occur in a DIY roll-in are numerous. We’ve documented two ‘horror stories’ in our Tales from the Roll-In Front Lines series, part 1 and part 2. In fact, the difficulties encountered performing DIY roll-ins largely explain why so few 401k plan-to-plan consolidations are attempted.
Unfortunately, this is the grim reality that confronts the vast majority of 401k participants today.
Wired: Assisted roll-ins
Thankfully, there’s a best practice available now that dramatically improves both roll-in outcomes as well as the participant experience of the roll-in process.
The assisted roll-in isolates participants from complexity by pairing workflow technology with expert assistance. By working with a roll-in specialist, participants can rely upon their access to specialized workflow tools, as well as their in-depth experience with roll-ins, both of which are vital to overcoming typical obstacles, increasing accuracy and speeding the process.
The assisted roll-in has been a game-changer for job-changing participants, who no longer need to concern themselves with the many vagaries of roll-ins. While there’s still underlying complexity, the roll-in process—from a participant’s perspective—is dramatically simplified.
As a result, those participants with access to the Assisted Roll-In undertake roll-ins more frequently and generate far more successful roll-ins to their current 401k plans.
Finally, because the Assisted Roll-In uses workflow technology to automate or simplify manual processes, incremental improvements are possible through selected automation & standardization.
Inspired: Automated roll-ins
When it arrives, full automation of 401k plan-to-plan roll-ins will owe a huge debt to auto portability.
Auto portability was designed to fully automate the process of locating, matching and securely transferring participants’ small balances from an old plan to new plan, and it’s easy to see how elements of auto portability’s automation could transform the roll-in process for all participants, all balances.
The automated roll-in will fundamentally transform plan-to-plan portability by:
- Utilizing the infrastructure, data security, data exchange and operating standards established by auto portability
- Leveraging auto portability’s network of recordkeepers that have agreed to common rules and protocols for electronic account transfers between plans
- Providing participants with multiple, easy-to-use service channels that promote:
- e-Consent
- Identification of former plan accounts
- Notification & tracking of roll-in status
The road ahead
When it arrives, the automation of 401k roll-ins will seem like an overnight success. However, those of us who’ve spent many years building solutions, helping overcome regulatory hurdles and advocating for their use know that changes in the retirement sector can often move at a glacial pace, requiring an unusual degree of persistence to bring them to reality.
While we acknowledge the tremendous progress that’s been made, we’ll stay focused on the road ahead and won’t rest until the desired future state is reached—where participants can seamlessly move their 401k plan balances from employer to employer.
Tom Hawkins is Senior Vice President, Marketing and Research with Retirement Clearinghouse, and oversees all key operational aspects of this area, including RCH’s web presence, digital marketing and plan sponsor proposals. In other roles for RCH, Hawkins has performed product development, helped lead the company’s re-branding, evaluated and organized industry data, and makes significant contributions to RCH thought leadership positions.