Business UpdateAug 3, 2026, 10:01 AM
WTW Survey: US Employers Face Retirement Readiness Gap
AI Summary
WTW's 2026 Defined Contribution Survey reveals that U.S. employers face a significant "retirement outcomes gap," struggling to ensure their defined contribution plans effectively help employees retire on time and with confidence. While employers prioritize enhancing employee experience and improving retirement outcomes, many plans are not designed to meet these evolving objectives. The survey highlights that employers are retooling plan designs, evolving governance, and increasingly considering AI for analytics and personalized communications, though with reservations regarding fiduciary responsibilities.
Key Highlights
- 60% of U.S. plan sponsors have a working definition of retirement readiness.
- 69% of employers prioritize enhancing employee experience, 63% improving retirement outcomes.
- Half of sponsors indicate minor or moderate retirement plan design updates are needed.
- One in five sponsors plan to delegate future delivery support for DC plans.
- 3 out of 10 sponsors are planning to offer an in-plan retirement income solution.
- 79% of employers are willing to use AI for plan analytics, 73% for routine processes.
- 74% cite data privacy and security as the most common reservation for AI use.
Price Impact
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