Vanguard TDFs: Setting our sights on financial well-being

Today, participants are looking for more from their retirement plans. Saving for retirement is still vital, but they're looking to their employers to help them achieve financial well-being.
We at Vanguard believe that financial wellness programs should address an individual's unique needs and circumstances as they journey to and through retirement. This is especially critical when you consider that financial wellness programs can improve:

• Worker satisfaction.

• Employee productivity.

• Recruiting and retention.

• Stress levels in the workplace.¹

As more and more plan sponsors and participants recognize the importance of financial well-being, we're doing our part to help with our target-date funds (TDFs). In a recent webcast, Vanguard Principal and Head of Institutional Investor Services Matt Brancato shared how TDFs can help participants achieve financial well-being.

In the second video below, Matt joins Amber Czonstka, principal and head of Institutional Investor Advice and Client Experience, to discuss the evolution of Vanguard's TDF strategy and three key changes we're making in 2021.

Video transcript: The role of target-date funds in financial well-being 

Video transcript: The continued evolution of our target-date funds 

Watch the full target-date fund webcast.

¹ Financial Wellbeing Employer Survey. Employee Benefit Research Institute, 2020.

Notes:

• All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest.
• Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss.
• Investments in Target Retirement Funds are subject to the risks of their underlying funds. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative ones based on its target date. An investment in a Target Retirement Fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date.

Get ready for eDelivery.

Coming later this year, we can deliver certain documents to your employees electronically. Be ready to take advantage of eDelivery when it's available by submitting workplace email addresses for your employees. The plan website now offers two convenient options:

·  Option 1: Upload from the Employee tab

 Choose Upload Employee Emails to add addresses to a pre-populated list of plan participants. Or, select an individual to provide an address.

·  Option 2: Submit with contribution or census data

Include employee emails when submitting contribution or census data. Instructions highlighted in the file upload process will tell you how to add email addresses before submitting your file.

Note: Providing employee workplace emails will not automatically opt employees into eDelivery. However, taking this step today will facilitate a more seamless implementation later this year.

Drive participation—digitally.

You may be operating differently today, but your enrollment goals are still the same. Our digital enrollment solutions improve plan participation with less contact, waste, and cost. For example:

Online enrollment makes it fast and easy for employees to enroll from their desktop—without paper forms for you to process. To help employees register for their account and make the most of digital resources available, share the Digital Capabilities Guide, which can be found on the plan website under Resources > News & Communications.

As a reminder: If a plan has mobile enrollment enabled, employees can also enroll using the READYSAVE™ app.

Digital enrollment guides include essential plan details, motivational content, and planning tools—without hardcopies to print and deliver. If you automatically receive paper guides today, we'll send an email with a link to your digital enrollment guide about 45 days before the next plan entry date so you can make the switch.

Not sure if a plan can offer mobile enrollment or how to order digital enrollment

guides? Contact your Client Service Team to learn more.

Did you know? Automatic enrollment is the best way to enhance participation.

Add all eligible employees to the plan automatically and remove the biggest obstacle to employee saving: inertia. 

If your plan has this feature today, remind your employees about this valuable benefit. For additional materials and information, go to your plan website under Resources > News & Communications > Tools and Tips for a Successful Financial Wellness Program.

If your plan does not have auto enrollment, contact your Client Service Team to add this feature.

NEW! Now you can earn the CPSP credential in a live virtual classroom.

We're excited to share a new path to earn your Certified Plan Sponsor Professional™ credential. Expand your knowledge and validate your experience with the eight-week, instructor-led program featuring weekly live webinars and exclusive access to a robust plan administration resources portal. You will earn a valuable credential and the course is approved for 16 hours of HRCI^® and SHRM^® CE. 

Register before August 9 for the session beginning August 10. Learn more and register here.

Coming soon: Enhanced security for the plan website

Information security is one of our most important responsibilities. That's why we are adding multi-factor authentication (MFA) to the plan website later this year. When you log in, in addition to providing your user ID and password, you'll be asked to enter a single-use code you'll receive via text message or phone call.

No action is required at this time; although when we launch this feature, you and all other authorized users will be asked to complete a quick, one-time setup. Look for a message on the plan website letting you know when it's available.