Virtual live and on-demand sessions work for 401(k) education, and new research from Schwab Retirement Plan Services finds participants are taking advantage.
Worker attendance at educational sessions about 401(k) plans and other financial topics reached new heights in 2022, with virtual live and on-demand sessions driving the most participation, according to the new data, released today.
Participant attendance was up by 5.4% year-over-year, with virtual live meetings accounting for 65% of attendance, while 28% of participants went to on-demand meetings and 7.4% attended in person.
“As remote and hybrid work arrangements become permanent realities for many, it’s now easier for workers to integrate virtual education sessions into their schedules,” said Marci Stewart, Director, Communication Consulting and Participant Education for Schwab Workplace Financial Services. “At the same time, workers are also looking for more interpersonal opportunities to connect and learn, making virtual live and onsite in-person sessions good opportunities for employers to deliver that engagement.”
More than 80% of the sessions that Schwab offered in 2022 took place virtually. Of the workers who attended Schwab’s education sessions last year, 65% chose to attend virtual live meetings instead of watching on-demand sessions, up from 57% in 2021. Workers started returning to onsite meetings too, as 7.4% chose this format in 2022, up from a far smaller 1% in 2021 when the pandemic kept most people out of the office. Cancellations and reschedules were down by nearly 10% last year compared to 2021.
The findings echo those in a T. Rowe Price report released in March, which found 401(k) participants consumed nearly three times more digital retirement educational content in 2022 than in 2021.
Proven outcomes
Participant confidence and actions following sessions show the effectiveness of the virtual approach. More than 90% of participants agreed or strongly agreed that they felt better prepared to take the next step in their financial journey as a result of the information presented in a virtual event. And more than half of participants took action following a 1:1 engagement after an event in 2022, up from 37% in 2021. One of the top actions they took was increasing their contribution to their 401(k), with 18% of participants doing so in 2022, up from 11% in 2021.
To meet the growing demand for educational content, Schwab announced it is more than doubling the number of events through its Participant Webcast Series this year compared to 2022. “We are excited to provide participants with more opportunities to choose impactful, relevant financial education in their preferred format when and where they want it,” said Stewart.
Driving engagement in diverse communities
Sessions that covered more general planning and preparedness topics drew high attendance in 2022, and employers and their employees also voiced more desire for group-specific education.
Schwab introduced several events focused on women and investing, which became the most-attended webcast topic last year. Other group-specific topics included investing trends in the Black community and financial essentials for the LGBTQ+ community. Schwab also launched a Spanish webcast hub last year that has fully translated events and hosted live events in Spanish to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage month in September.
“Employee resource groups foster an inclusive environment and reach diverse communities,” said Stewart. “They also provide the opportunity for employees to learn from people they identify with, which participants tell us is important to the success of their educational journey. Providing relatable financial lessons is one of the most meaningful ways we can support our clients and drive more meaningful engagement.”
SEE ALSO:
• 5 Notable Participant Behaviors Identified in T. Rowe Price 401(k) Report
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.
