Non-profit organizations that sponsor 403(b) plans have an opportunity to find out how their retirement program compares to others across the nation by participating in the 2014 Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA) 403(b) Plan Survey.

The sixth annual survey, sponsored by the Principal Financial Group®, features relevant questions on key market topics. Non-profit organizations that participate will receive a free copy of the survey report and an invitation to a webinar that provides an in-depth discussion of the results.

"This is the only survey that provides this kind of in-depth and essential information on how 403(b) sponsors are managing their retirement programs," said Bob Benish, executive director of PSCA. "Based on the high attendance at our webinar last year, we know 403(b) sponsors are eager to compare their plans with those across the nation. The more sponsors who participate, the deeper and more valuable the benchmarking information."

The 2014 PSCA Survey results will be available in May and will provide valuable benchmarking data on:

  • Plan education
  • Investment options
  • Participation and contribution rates
  • Participant retirement readiness
  • Administration practices
  • Plan expenses

The short survey, at http://www.psca.org/403b_survey_2014, has been streamlined and will take less than 15 minutes to complete. To make it even easier to complete for plan sponsors who participated in 2013, PSCA is pre-populating responses from last year into the survey.

Sponsors must submit the survey by March 14, 2014.

Valuable information for financial professionals and third party administrators
"When the results are available, financial professionals can meet with clients who completed the survey, attend the free webinar and help with benchmarking. This could provide an opportunity for the financial professional to make recommendations," said Aaron Friedman, national tax-exempt practice leader, The Principal. "Financial professionals and third party administrators can build relationships and add value by notifying their 403(b) clients of this opportunity to receive free third-party research."

For questions on the survey, or to request hard copies of the survey questionnaire, please contact PSCA at research@psca.org. For more news and insights from The Principal, connect with us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ThePrincipal.

About the Plan Sponsor Council of America
The Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA) is a nonprofit association that provides services, best practice information, and advocacy to defined contribution plan sponsors. Members have access to a broad range of resources and programs that address the varying needs of both small and large companies. Membership includes 1,200 companies ranging in size from Fortune 100 firms to small, entrepreneurial businesses, and non-profit organizations.

About the Principal Financial Group
The Principal Financial Group® (The Principal®)1 is a global investment management leader offering retirement services, insurance solutions and asset management. The Principal offers businesses, individuals and institutional clients a wide range of financial products and services, including retirement, asset management and insurance through its diverse family of financial services companies. Founded in 1879 and a member of the FORTUNE 500®, the Principal Financial Group has $483.2 billion in assets under management2 and serves some 19.4 million customers worldwide from offices in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the United States. Principal Financial Group, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PFG. For more information, visit www.principal.com.

Links:
http://www.psca.org/403b_survey_2014
http://eventcenter.commpartners.com/se/Meetings/Playback.aspx?meeting.id=622701

Bob Benish and PSCA are not an affiliate of any company of the Principal Financial Group.
© 2014 Principal Financial Services, Inc.

1 "The Principal Financial Group" and "The Principal" are registered service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member of the Principal Financial Group.
2 As of Dec. 31, 2013.

Principal Financial Group
Terri Hale, 515-283-8858
hale.terri@principal.com
or
PSCA
Robert Benish, 312-419-1863
bob.benish@psca.org