5 developments reshaping the retirement landscape this year

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With gas prices approaching $6 a gallon in places like California, consumer prices at their highest levels in 40 years and a war raging in Ukraine, investors approaching retirement are understandably concerned about their retirement savings.

Scroll down for more on these stories and other developments that are reshaping the retirement landscape.

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Bloomberg Creative Photos/Bloomberg Creative

Worried about inflation? Here are 6 takes for retirement portfolios

As inflation rises and takes its toll on gas prices, consumer goods and other daily necessities, advisors are concerned about influences on their clients’ retirement portfolios.

“Inflation is having a big impact on people’s retirement planning, and the old-school way of selling your stocks at 65 and moving into safe bonds will probably not be enough to get you through retirement,” said Joe Camberato, CEO of small business financing company National Business Capital.

However, advisors, analysts and wealth managers see no reason for panic and have a variety of strategies to weather the storm.

Read more: Worried about inflation? Here are 6 takes for retirement portfolios
Government Accountability Office As Report Says Most Federal Agencies Don't Follow Security Procedures
Ting Shen/Bloomberg

403(b) plans a confusing mix of fees, products and regulators, study finds

University professors, school teachers and other public, healthcare and nonprofit workers are paying high fees for their ERISA 403(b) plans, said industry critics following the release of a new study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. 

“The GAO’s 403(b) report compiles a lot of information that shows how dysfunctional the 403(b) market is,” said Chris Tobe, industry critic, consultant and author of “Kentucky Fried Pensions.” “But a lack of understanding of profits in the industry has led to misleading, at best, data on fees.”

The latest findings add further fuel to the fire that it is time to review the level of transparency, oversight and fiduciary standards for the investment options and fee structures of 403(b) plans. 

Read more: 403(b) plans a confusing mix of fees, products and regulators, study finds
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Dennis Brack/Bloomberg News

401(k) ‘bridge’ to Social Security could help boost benefits

A “substantial minority” of employees would consider taking withdrawals from their 401(k) plans and delay claiming Social Security as long as possible to maximize their retirement benefit, according to a new study by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.

A retiree’s monthly check increases by 76% if the retiree waits until the full retirement age of 70 rather than claiming Social Security at the earliest possible age of 62. In the interim, the retiree uses a 401(k) ‘bridge’ strategy to replicate their future benefit. 

“Advisors can do their clients a big favor by de-emphasizing the link between the employment termination date and claiming Social Security,” said TIAA financial planning strategist Robert Stevens.

Read more: 401(k) ‘bridge’ to Social Security could help boost benefits
Retirees As U.S. Rule To Protect Retirement Savers Vanishes
David Paul Morris/Bloomberg

Annuities in retirement plans? Revived bill aims for a leap

U.S. Reps. Donald Norcross (D-NJ) and Tim Walberg (R-MI) are looking to reinvigorate the dormant cross-party Lifetime Income for Employees (LIFE) Act, which allows companies to make annuities the default option in 401(k) plans when no specific investment is specified.

While annuities are often positioned as investment products, they are technically insurance contracts, with a high upfront fee balanced against future regular income payments. However, opinion on them is divided.   

David Stone, the co-founder and CEO of RetireOne, said that the bill “will help plan participants have better access to a pension-like guaranteed income stream for life.” 

David Marotta, president and CEO of Marotta Wealth Management, begs to differ. “A lot of this stuff is just trying to confuse the public, and the legislation will, too,” Marotta said.

Read more: Annuities in retirement plans? Revived bill aims for a leap
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Lisa J Godfrey

How Vanguard’s tax-bomb target-date funds slammed wealthy investors

Wealthy retail investors in Vanguard’s target-date funds got an unpleasant surprise earlier this year when they received large, and in some cases six-figure, tax bills as a result of Vanguard corporate clients moving assets from their higher-cost target-date funds into cheaper alternatives.

While corporate clients tend to hold target-date funds in tax-deferred 401(k) plans or IRAs, individual clients often keep them in taxable brokerage accounts, meaning they face capital gains taxes whenever the fund sells assets.

Now, three angry clients are taking Vanguard to court alleging a breach of fiduciary duty. The suit is seeking class-action status, as well as hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation.

Read more: How Vanguard’s tax-bomb target-date funds slammed wealthy investors
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