The Total View: 2006 Retirement Plan Trends

One of the most comprehensive reports of its kind, The Total View provides insight on the changing retirement landscape based on an analysis of proprietary data of the Principal Financial Group^®, the nation’s 401(k) leader* and total retirement solutions innovator.

Based on data for the 2005 calendar year, this 2006 report provides a look at retirement program trends among 2.4 million employee participants from approximately 30,000 full-service retirement plan clients of The Principal^®. It covers the four most common retirement plan designs: defined contribution, defined benefit, nonqualified and employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). Because plan data did not vary significantly from the previous year, this report focuses on key trends such as the move towards total retirement solutions and advanced “do-it-for me” options for participants.

A more comprehensive report will be developed later in 2007 (containing 2006 data). Moving forward, comprehensive reports showing extensive data comparisons will be published on an every-other-year basis, with condensed reports being published in the alternate years. For a look at both the 2005 and 2006 reports, please view the links below.

All information and charts not sourced are based on data from retirement plans served by The Principal.

Download The Total View: 2006 Retirement Plan Trends (PDF: 374 KB) or view the report by sections:

Total Retirement Approach (PDF: 75 KB)
Defined Contribution Plans (PDF: 96 KB)
"Do It For Me" Solutions (PDF: 62 KB)
To Roll Over or Not to Roll Over (PDF: 82 KB)
Employee Stock Ownership Plans (PDF: 88 KB)
Defined Benefit Plans (PDF: 81 KB)
Nonqualified Plans (PDF: 85 KB)

Download the 2005 report (PDF: 4.3 MB) or view the report by sections.

Insurance products and plan administrative services are provided by Principal Life Insurance Company. Securities are offered through Princor Financial Services Corporation, 800-247-4123, member SIPC, and/or independent broker/dealers. Securities sold by a Princor Registered Representative are offered through Princor®. Princor and Principal Life are members of the Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, IA 50392.

*The Principal ranks number one in total plans for all asset sizes among fully bundled 401(k) providers-2006 Spectrem Group analysis of fully-bundled 401(k) providers (companies that provide both administrative and investment services).