Paper by Choice: People of all ages prefer to receive retirement plan information on paper

The financial services industry has recently intensified its lobbying of Congress and the Administration to allow retirement plans to send out all legally required retirement plan documents electronically, unless the participant asks for paper.  AARP commissioned a national survey in October 2012 to determine how retirement plan participants prefer to receive information regarding their retirement plans -- on paper in the mail versus electronically by email.

Overall, receipt of plan information by paper via the U.S. mail is far more common than by electronic means.  Further, respondents also indicate an overwhelming preference for receiving these documents in paper format.  This preference for paper format applies to respondents of all ages.


Key Findings

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