Washoe County – Investment Diversification Campaign

In July 2024, County staff identified the Sheriff’s Department as having the largest concentration of employees fully invested in the Stability of Principal investment option. Under the direction of the County’s Deferred Compensation Committee and staff, Voya conducted a targeted mailing to 257 affected accountholders within the Department. Following this outreach, the number of employees solely invested in the Stability of Principal option decreased to 196, resulting in 61 employees diversifying their portfolios—reflecting a 24% improvement in investment diversification within the Department. Encouraged by these initial results, the County chose to expand the diversification initiative to include all active and inactive participants in both the 457 and 401(a) Plans.

By Carly Abernathy|2026-01-15T09:37:50-05:00August 10th, 2025|Comments Off

State of California Savings Plus Program – 2024 Roadmap to Retirement Readiness Campaign

A national opinion poll revealed that 79% of Americans believe the nation faces a retirement crisis, with 55% concerned about achieving financial security in retirement. This highlights the critical need for robust retirement education and support. Financial literacy is essential for financial wellness, yet only 27% of Americans correctly answered five or more questions on a financial knowledge quiz. In response, Savings Plus launched a series of comprehensive financial education and communication efforts throughout 2024. These initiatives strategically aligned with key periods such as Financial Literacy Month and National Retirement Security Month, ensuring timely and relevant support. By leveraging multiple channels and industry campaigns, Savings Plus aimed to empower participants to make informed decisions about their retirement planning and overall financial wellness, ensuring they feel supported and confident in their financial journeys.

By Carly Abernathy|2026-01-15T09:37:50-05:00August 10th, 2025|Comments Off

Port of Seattle – Sail Towards Your Financial Future

The Port of Seattle offers full-time employees access to voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation and 401(a) Money Purchase Pension Plans through MissionSquare Retirement, serving over 4,000 participants with $400 million in assets. From March 4–25, 2025, the Port launched the Sail Towards Your Financial Future campaign to educate participants about key plan features and encourage smart retirement planning. The initiative promoted retaining assets in the plan, scheduling consultations with financial professionals, attending webinars, increasing contributions, and using financial wellness tools. Partnering with MissionSquare, the interactive Travel Campaign engaged participants through online resources, quizzes, and personalized support to boost awareness, improve engagement, and encourage proactive financial behaviors—all aimed at strengthening long-term retirement security.

By Carly Abernathy|2026-01-15T09:37:50-05:00August 10th, 2025|Comments Off

State of North Carolina – HILL (Health, Income, Longevity, Legacy)

DST has supported NAGDCA’s retirement savings initiatives since 2006, beginning with National Retirement Security Week and continuing through the expansion to National Retirement Security Month (NRSM) in 2020. In 2024, DST and Empower partnered to launch the HILL campaign—focusing on Health, Income, Longevity, and Legacy—to help North Carolina’s public servants take meaningful steps toward holistic retirement planning. The campaign encouraged participants to engage through social media, take action through educational opportunities, and increase contributions to better secure their future.

By Carly Abernathy|2026-01-15T09:37:50-05:00August 10th, 2025|Comments Off

Ohio DC – Employer Recognition Program

The Ohio Deferred Compensation (Ohio DC) Employer Recognition Program honors employers who excel in supporting their employees' retirement planning. This program acknowledges employers who show significant improvements in participation and contributions through educational initiatives. Recognition of both small and large employers include growth in new enrollments, increase in active participants, growth in SMarT Plan (Save More Tomorrow automatic contribution increase) enrollments, and increase in total contributions. Award-winning employers are featured on the Ohio DC website and in newsletters highlighting their dedication to their employees' financial futures. This recognition not only celebrates their efforts but also encourages other employers to adopt similar strategies, enhancing retirement preparedness for employees across the state.

By Carly Abernathy|2026-01-15T09:37:50-05:00August 10th, 2025|Comments Off

State of Missouri Deferred Compensation Plan – Scary-Smart Retirement Savings

To help bring awareness to National Retirement Security Month and [...]

By Carly Abernathy|2026-01-15T09:37:50-05:00August 10th, 2025|Comments Off

City of Oakland – Grand Prix Race Challenge

The City of Oakland offers a voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation Plan through MissionSquare Retirement to all full-time employees. As of 2024, the plan included approximately 4,477 participants and $687 million in assets. To boost engagement and promote long-term financial wellness, the City launched the Grand Prix Race Challenge during National Retirement Security Month. This interactive campaign used racing-themed elements—including a series of emails, a flyer, and a dedicated microsite—to inform participants about valuable plan resources such as access to Certified Financial Planner® Professionals, Retirement Plan Specialists, educational webinars, and available financial services. Participants from different bargaining groups competed by completing engagement activities—like attending webinars or meeting with plan advisors—to earn points and race toward the finish line. The competition added a fun and motivational element while reinforcing key retirement planning behaviors.

By Carly Abernathy|2026-01-15T09:37:50-05:00August 10th, 2025|Comments Off

State of Indiana Hoosier START Deferred Compensation Plan – Leader Campaign: Empowering State Leaders for Enhanced Employee Retirement

The Hoosier START Leader Campaign was designed to empower state leaders with the tools they need to effectively communicate the value of Indiana’s Hoosier START 457(b) and 401(a) retirement plans. Built on the idea that understanding benefits can boost employee morale, the campaign addressed a common challenge with auto-enrolled plans—low engagement—by equipping managers and agency leaders to actively promote participation. By positioning leaders as plan advocates, the campaign received strong positive feedback and revealed a clear need for continued support beyond onboarding. In response, the program introduced comprehensive guides, digital tools, and personalized assistance to help leaders confidently communicate plan benefits. This strategic shift created knowledgeable internal champions, leading to greater employee engagement, improved savings behaviors, and stronger plan retention. The campaign ultimately helped strengthen the connection between employees and their retirement benefits, building a more informed and financially secure workforce.

By Carly Abernathy|2026-01-15T09:37:50-05:00August 10th, 2025|Comments Off

County of Los Angeles – Using NRSM 2024 to help current and future retirees live large in LA

For its 2024 National Retirement Security Month (NRSM) campaign, the County of Los Angeles aimed to move the needle on key retirement metrics—enrollment, contributions, and asset allocation—while placing special focus on supporting retired participants. The goal was to highlight the importance of continued engagement and planning at every stage of the retirement journey, from enrollment through retirement and beyond. In collaboration with Empower, the County launched a multi-faceted campaign featuring a series of webinars tailored to different phases of retirement: enrollment, contribution increases, pre-retirement, and, for the first time, retiree-specific planning. Each session included actionable steps to help participants strengthen their financial future. The campaign theme, “Living in LA,” tied messaging to the iconic energy of Los Angeles, helping bring retirement planning to life through creative emails and promotional materials. In-person outreach by local Retirement Plan Counselors during NRSM further enhanced engagement by providing employees with personalized guidance and support.

By Carly Abernathy|2026-01-15T09:38:43-05:00August 10th, 2025|Comments Off

State of Hawai‘i – 2024 Hybrid Benefits Fairs

The Island $avings Plan supports the holistic well-being of Hawai‘i’s public employees—addressing both physical and financial health—through its comprehensive Employee Benefits Fairs. Given the geographic challenges of reaching participants across multiple counties and islands, the Plan’s Board of Trustees revived its pre-COVID tradition of hosting two annual Fairs, with a modern upgrade: hybrid delivery. In 2024, Board staff partnered with Empower to refine the hybrid format, hosting two events on Hawai‘i Island in July and one on O‘ahu in November. Customized communications were developed with county-specific details provided by local employers and shared statewide. Each Fair offered in-person attendees a one-stop-shop to connect with Plan and State representatives, while live-streamed workshops ensured access for virtual participants. A post-event Lookback page featured digital resources, additional information, and recorded sessions, extending the impact and accessibility of the events. Strong coordination among Plan and State partners was key to the success of the hybrid model.

By Carly Abernathy|2026-01-15T09:38:43-05:00August 10th, 2025|Comments Off

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