What’s the Outlook for Retirement Savers in 2021?

Despite 2020's asset recovery, corporate defined benefit plan funded ratios remain stagnant due to persistent low interest rates, though early 2021 rate hikes offer a potential pathway to improve liabilities. Institutional investors are shifting toward private markets and active management to target returns in a low-yield environment while utilizing liability hedging to optimize capital allocation. Simultaneously, defined contribution balances surged driven by professional management, prompting legislative efforts to expand coverage and strategic initiatives to convert accumulated assets into sustainable retirement income streams.