The Pew Charitable Trusts recently released a report highlighting the significant growth of retirement assets in active auto-IRA programs, with the total surpassing $1 billion.
Auto-IRAs, initially introduced by Oregon in 2017 through its OregonSaves program, have expanded to include six other states: Illinois Secure Choice (2018), CalSavers (2019), MyCT Savings (2022), Maryland Saves (2022), Colorado SecureSavings (2023), and RetirePath Virginia (2023).
These programs were developed in response to the concerning statistic that only around half of private sector workers in the United States have access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan. For those without this option, saving for retirement becomes challenging.
The auto-IRA initiatives require employers who do not offer retirement plans to facilitate payroll deductions for their employees’ state-sponsored IRAs. While employees are enrolled by default, they do have the opportunity to opt out if they choose.
Interestingly, some financial services firms have expressed skepticism towards auto-IRAs, likely due to concerns about potential business impact. However, these worries may be unfounded. The majority of workers without access to retirement plans are employed by smaller companies and earn lower incomes, making them outside of the target market for the financial services industry. Additionally, it is unlikely that firms with existing retirement plans would abandon them in favor of enrolling employees in state programs without any employer match.
More Small Businesses Could Offer Retirement Plans with State Auto-IRA Programs
One of the potential benefits of state auto-IRA programs is that the relatively small administrative costs and hassle of participating could actually encourage firms to establish their own retirement plans. This could be especially true for businesses that are on the fence about offering a plan.
Recent studies have shown that the establishment of these state retirement programs could play a significant role in promoting retirement saving. In fact, a survey conducted to determine why small employers do not offer retirement plans found that the presence of state-sponsored programs did not make firms less likely to offer their own plan.
Among firms already offering a retirement plan, approximately 70% stated that they would continue to do so even if their state introduced a mandate for auto-IRAs. Surprisingly, among firms that did not currently offer a plan, almost 60% claimed that a mandate would actually make offering their own retirement plan more attractive. This aligns with the findings of a 2017 Pew survey.
In addition to survey responses, a recent study utilizing Form 5500 data and individual-level census data demonstrated that auto-IRA mandates increased the probability of firms offering a retirement plan by 0.8 percentage points. Furthermore, it was found that these mandates increased the likelihood of a worker participating in an employer plan by 1.1 percentage points.
By implementing state auto-IRA programs, more small businesses could potentially be encouraged to offer retirement plans, increasing retirement savings for workers across the country. These studies suggest that the benefits of these programs may outweigh any potential drawbacks.
The Significance of Auto-IRAs in the Retirement Planning Landscape
Auto-Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) have consistently shown promising results, further reinforcing preceding research that emphasizes their ability to work in harmony with, rather than displace, the private market for retirement plans.
A Positive Outlook for Auto-IRAs
The findings of recent studies provide significant statistical evidence that supports the effectiveness of auto-IRAs. These accounts serve as valuable complements to the existing landscape of retirement planning options.
Embracing Auto-IRA Initiatives
With such compelling results, it becomes increasingly important for the financial services industry to rally behind these auto-IRA initiatives. Embracing these solutions can lead to enhanced retirement security and improved financial well-being for individuals across various demographic groups.