At one time, the only way you could join your company's 401(k) plan, 403(b) plan, or 457(b) plan was to put pen to paper and sign yourself up by filling out the appropriate forms. Now, though, in an effort to help participants increase their retirement savings, more employers have begun enrolling their employees automatically.
According to the Plan Sponsor Council of America, 60% of all 401(k) plans offer an automatic enrollment feature.1 With automatic enrollment, you don't fill out a form to opt into your company's retirement plan; you only fill out a form to opt out of it.
At first glance, automatic enrollment sounds like a no-brainer — without doing anything, you're on your way to saving for retirement. But don't just assume that the investment decisions your employer has made on your behalf are right for you. Instead, take charge of your own retirement savings right now by following these four steps.
Step 1: Get the facts
If you work for a company that offers automatic enrollment, your employer will typically enroll you once you meet the retirement plan's eligibility requirements, and will begin to direct a certain percentage of your paycheck (your contribution rate) into the investment fund the company has chosen as its default.
Don't make the mistake of thinking you have to stick with the default elections your employer has chosen for you. Once you've been automatically enrolled, you can increase (or decrease) your contribution rate, move money from one investment option to another, or even opt out of the plan altogether. You may even have the right in some cases to request a refund of amounts automatically withheld from your pay.
Your employer is required to send you information about the plan provisions and your investment options, along with specific instructions on how to opt out if you choose not to participate in the plan. Read the documents you receive (including your plan statements), and ask questions about anything you don't understand before making any investment decisions.
Step 2: Consider your contribution rate
Like many people, you may be tempted to stick with the contribution rate your employer has chosen for you. But this contribution rate (typically 3% or 6%)1 may be less than you need to contribute to target your retirement savings goal. Find out, too, if your company offers matching funds (employers who offer matching funds to traditionally enrolled plan participants must offer the same match to automatically enrolled participants). If so, try to contribute at least enough to receive the full match. [401(k) plans with qualified automatic contribution arrangements (QACAs) are required to make a contribution on your behalf.]
Some plans may also include an automatic contribution increase feature that will periodically raise your contribution level until it reaches a certain amount (maximum permitted by law: 15%). Of course, you have the opportunity to opt out of this increase if you choose.
Step 3: Review your investment options
When you're automatically enrolled, your contributions are invested in the plan's default investment option (typically a fund that includes a balanced mix of investments). But investing in the default option may not be the best choice for you. Depending on how much you need to save for retirement, how far away you are from retirement, and your tolerance for risk, you may want to redirect some of your contributions into more aggressive options that, although more volatile, offer greater potential for long-term growth.
Note: Before investing in any mutual fund, carefully consider its investment objectives, risks, fees, and expenses, which can be found in the prospectus available from the fund. Read the prospectus carefully before investing. There is no guarantee that any investment strategy will be successful; all investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Investments seeking to achieve higher returns also involve a higher degree of risk.
Step 4: Check up on your plan at least once a year
Even if you've decided to stick with your company's default options for now, review your investment options at least once a year, keeping in mind the following questions: