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

Michigan Office of Retirement Services – How Do I … ? campaign

The How do I…? campaign targeted all active participants in the State of Michigan 401(k) and 457 Plans, aiming to increase awareness of key retirement planning actions. The campaign covered topics such as understanding plan benefits, healthcare options in retirement, updating beneficiaries, increasing contributions over time, and accessing additional resources. While most content was delivered via email for easy future reference, the campaign also included dedicated healthcare guide webpages and social media posts to provide a more comprehensive view of participants’ retirement benefits.

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

Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) – Money MattERS Financial Literacy Initiative

To meet growing demand for financial education, the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) launched Money MattERS, a monthly digital newsletter, and a companion podcast, Money Talks. These resources deliver targeted content on State of Texas retirement benefits and the voluntary savings programs ERS oversees, helping members understand the full value of their employer-sponsored benefits and how to use them to build long-term financial security. ERS partnered with Empower, the administrator of the Texa$aver 401(k)/457 program, to provide reliable financial education, tools, and short-form videos tailored to members’ needs. By breaking down key financial concepts, the initiative aims to reduce financial stress, promote smart money management, and empower members to budget, manage debt, invest, and plan for a secure retirement.

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

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) – Dive Into Financial Wellness

BART offers its full-time employees access to a 457 Deferred Compensation Plan and a 401(a) Money Purchase Pension Plan through MissionSquare Retirement, serving approximately 12,270 participants with $1.5 billion in assets. To increase retiree engagement and promote proactive financial planning, BART launched “Dive Into Financial Wellness” in June 2024—an in-person event designed to empower participants to make informed decisions and confidently manage their retirement assets. Attendees connected with experts from MissionSquare, T. Rowe Price®, Galliard, Social Security, Medicare, and Bay Area Older Adults™, and received personalized guidance from Certified Financial Planner® Professionals and Retirement Plan Specialists. The free event featured educational presentations, one-on-one consultations, and networking over lunch. A multi-channel promotional campaign—flyers, postcards, emails, and an RSVP site—helped drive awareness and participation.

By Carly Abernathy|2026-01-15T09:38:44-05:00August 10th, 2025|Comments Off

NAGDCA Award Case Studies – Targeted Messaging

Presented by the City and County of Honolulu and Maryland Teachers & State Employees Supplemental Retirement Plans (MSRP).

By Carly Abernathy|2026-01-15T08:26:16-05:00November 14th, 2023|Comments Off

NAGDCA Award Case Studies – Financial Wellness

Presented by the City of Anaheim and the County of Los Angeles.

By Carly Abernathy|2026-01-15T08:32:21-05:00November 14th, 2023|Comments Off

NAGDCA Award Case Studies – Vendor Consolidation and Investment Menu Enhancement

Presented by Chicago Public Schools and the City of Seattle.

By Carly Abernathy|2026-01-15T08:34:16-05:00November 14th, 2023|Comments Off

Fees Guide: Recordkeeping Cost Drivers and Their Impact on Plan Expenses

The goal of the assessment is to highlight key drivers of recordkeeping fees. Plan characteristics can lead to vastly different fees and structures for plans with similar baseline demographics, such as the same asset level and number of participants. Beyond a plan’s core demographic profile, fees may be driven by the degree of customization a plan elects or requires. Customization may offer additional value to participants but may come at an additional cost which may or may not be justified by a higher fee. Auxiliary revenue sources to vendors such as the level of proprietary investments in plan design may also influence fees.

By Carly Abernathy|2024-04-01T14:16:49-04:00September 26th, 2023|Comments Off

case study