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Program Design

As states move forward to create and implement retirement savings plans for private-sector workers, there are important considerations for consumers, employers, and taxpayers. Find the latest research and a breakdown by topic area here in this section.

Reimagining Retirement Savings - 2020

A Retirement Dashboard for the United States - October 2020

Who Benefits - February 2021

Not All Hybrids Are Created Equal - May 2021

State Automated Savings Programs - November 2022

Focus On… State Facilitated Retirement Savings Programs, Journal of Pension Benefits: Issues in Administration, Autumn 2022

Automatic enrollment and employer match: an experiment with the choice of pension plans - June 2020

State-Administered IRA Programs: Overview and Considerations for Congress - March 18, 2022

Pew Survey Explores Consumer Trend to Roll Over Workplace Savings Into IRA Plans - September 2021

Retirement Assets in State Automated Savings Programs Hit $1 Billion

Nation's first retirement savings interstate pact opens pathway for more state auto-IRA programs

Financial Health for All Ages - May 2017

Liquid Savings of Working Households Ages 50–64 2014

Facts and Fallacy about State-Facilitated Retirement Savings Plans - February 2017

As Inflation Edges Down, the Repercussions Linger: AARP Financial Security Trends Survey, January 2023

New AARP Research: Nearly Half of Americans Do Not Have Access to Retirement Plans at Work

AARP Research Insights on Financial Resilience

Studies Spotlight Racial, Ethnic Gaps in Retirement Savings

Payroll Deduction Retirement Programs Build Economic Security

Lower-Income Individuals Without Pensions: Who Misses Out and Why? (PDF) – 2014

How Financially Literate Are Women? An Overview and New Insights

The Older Workers and Retirement Chartbook Chapter 2. Retirement - 2022

Closing the gap in US retirement savings - 2022

New Research Finds Strong Support for State-Facilitated Retirement Programs for Workers Lacking Workplace Plans - November 2021

Liquid Savings of Working Households Ages 50–64 Catherine Harvey and William Shiflett — May 2017

Access to Workplace Retirement Plans by Race and Ethnicity Catherine Harvey — February 2017

A Retirement Dashboard for the United States - October 2020

Secure Choice 2.0: States Blazing a Path to Retirement Security for All - 2017

Structuring a State-Sponsored Retirement Savings Plan – 2015

Savings Arrangements Established by Qualified State Political Subdivisions for Non-Governmental Employees - 2016

Savings Arrangements Established by States for Non-Governmental Employees - 2016

Interpretive Bulletin Relating to State Savings Programs That Sponsor or Facilitate Plans Covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 - 2015

DOL Finalizes Regulation on State Automatic IRAs and Proposes Extension to Cities and Other Political Subdivisions - 2016

The Impact of ERISA on State-Sponsored Retirement Plan Designs - 2014

Five Tips for Successful Default Contribution Rates in Automatic Retirement Savings Plans - 2014

Impact of Five Legislative Proposals and Industry Innovations on Retirement Income Adequacy - January 2022

NASRA Issue Brief: State Hybrid Retirement Plans - July 2022

Estimated Offset Medicaid Cost Based on Increased Retirement Savings

Investment Platform: The Advantages of Placing Retirement Savings Assets in Pooled Accounts - AARP

Employer Liability Under a State-Sponsored Retirement Program

Consumer Knowledge about Social Security Claiming Decisions and the Role of Certified Financial Planners - 2015

Claiming Social Security: A Critical and Complex Decision for Retirement Security (PDF) – 2014

How Do Non-Financial Factors Affect Retirement Decisions? - 2016

Are Americans of All Ages and Income Levels Shortsighted About Their Finances? - 2015

Dog Bites Man: Americans Are Shortsighted About Their Finances - 2015

How Does Aging Affect Financial Decision Making? - 2015

What Do Subjectiive Assessments of Financial Well-Being Reflect? – 2015

Financial Literacy and Economic Outcomes: Evidence and Policy Implications - 2015

Financial Knowledge and 401(K) Investment Performance: A Case Study - 2015

Employee Financial Literacy and Retirement Behavior: A Case Study- - 2015

State Pension Funds and Corporate Social Responsibility: Do Beneficiaries' Political Values Influence Funds' Investment Decisions? - September 2020

Retirements at Risk: Many States Fall Short in Helping Mid-Career Workers Save - 2023

Most Small Employers Face Low Costs to Implement Automatic IRAs (PDF) - August 2009

Review of Potential Public Retirement Plan Options for Private Sector Employees/Employers in the State of Vermont - 2017

Building a Publicly-Sponsored Private Sector Retirement System: Lessons from Australia - 2016

Delivering on Publicly-Sponsored Private Retirement Accounts: Key Considerations for Successful Public-Private Partnerships - 2016

Consumer Protections in State-Sponsored Retirement Plans for Private-Sector Workers - 2014

State Automated Retirement Savings Programs Continue to Complement Private Market Plans - 2023

Retirements at Risk: Many States Fall Short in Helping Mid-Career Workers Save – July 2023

Retirement Plans for Workers in Private Industry, State and Local Government in 2022 - February 2023

Choosing Between A Defined Benefit And Defined Contribution Retirement Plan – September 2018

Improving Americans’ Retirement Outcomes Through the National Savings Plan - 2016

A Comprehensive Plan to Confront the Retirement Savings Crisis (PDF) - 2015

Facing Up to the Retirement Savings Deficit: From 401(k)s to Universal and Automatic Accounts (PDF) – 2011

Time to Address the Retirement Savings Crisis - 2012

A Safe and Secure Retirement for All Americans: Pension Reform in the United States (PDF) – 2010

Guaranteed Retirement Accounts: Toward Retirement Income Security – 2008

Guaranteed Retirement Accounts: Toward Retirement Income Security – 2007

State-Facilitated Retirement Savings Programs: A Policymaker's Guide to ERISA and the Tax Code for IRAs and 401(k)s, Benefits Law Journal, - 2021

FAQs about Retirement Plans and ERISA – 2023

SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 Makes Sweeping Changes to Retirement Savings Plans - 2022

SECURE 2.0 Brings Changes to Retirement Industry: Landmark Law Will Drastically Impact Saving for Retirement - January 2023

Appropriations Act Addresses Retirement Savings and Conservation Easements - January/February 2023