Fund Company’s Report Finds Participants Who Did Nothing Had Their Best Year Ever

Special Report · Participant Behavior

Fund Company’s Report Finds Participants Who Did Nothing Had Their Best Year Ever

Top Quartile credits the discipline it took not to be consulted.

By Staff Fabricator · Research Desk

A dark-haired Top Quartile Capital executive proudly presents a chart titled Participant Behavior 2025. Five rising navy bars are each labeled Did Nothing, with a gold Record star above the tallest. — Top Quartile executives describe the final bar as a breakthrough.AI-generated satirical photo illustration

CHICAGO — Top Quartile Capital unveiled its annual participant-behavior report Thursday, finding that workers who made no changes to their retirement accounts had their best year ever.

At a hotel-ballroom presentation, executives revealed five increasingly tall bars labeled “DID NOTHING.” The tallest received a gold star.

“It takes a great deal of conviction to ignore this many emails,” said Elaine Voss, director of participant insights.

The report found that 93 percent made no trades and 58 percent never logged in. The firm described the findings as discipline and confidence.

Participants whose contributions rose automatically were praised for taking initiative. They were informed of their decision by mail.

The report will be published annually. Participants will not need to do anything.

Top Quartile’s Participant Progress Report

By the Numbers

92%

Skipped the financial-wellness webinar. A recording was sent so they could miss it at their convenience.

38%

Increased their savings. Most learned of their initiative by mail.

100%

Of unopened emails were delivered successfully.

$182,400

Average balance. The median was asked to wait outside.

0

Participants interviewed. The firm thanked them for their candor.

46

Pages explaining what participants didn’t do.

Around the Industry

Recordkeeper Releases Competing Report Finding Its Participants Also Did Nothing, Faster

By Staff Fabricator

Hartford, Conn. — Meridian Trust Services published its own participant-behavior study Thursday afternoon, finding that participants on its platform did nothing at a rate 4 percent higher than the industry.

The firm attributed the result to its portal, where the balance is four clicks away. “Fewer participants reach it,” a spokesperson said. “We think that’s protective.”

Penny (v2), the portal’s animated helper, was credited with a 9 percent reduction in completed logins.

Quick Takes

Insurer Reports Zero Complaints From Callers Still on HoldThe satisfaction survey begins after someone answers.
Plan Committee Requests Benchmark Against Plans Doing WorseAdvisor says he has a peer group for that.
TPA Reports Record Follow-Up Activity; Sponsor Reports No ContactThe emails remain in the same thread.

In Brief

Payroll Provider Adds “Call Your TPA” to List of Integrations

COLUMBUS — A payroll provider unveiled a new retirement-plan integration Thursday that displays the TPA’s phone number whenever a contribution file fails.

“Previously, clients had to look it up themselves,” a spokesperson said.

The TPA’s office directs callers back to payroll.

The feature is being marketed as a two-way integration.

Advisor’s New Client-Centered Website Features 14 Photos of Advisor

Kessling previews the new client-centered website.

ST. LOUIS — Advisor Brent Kessling unveiled a client-centered website Thursday featuring 14 photographs of Brent Kessling.

“We wanted it to feel personal,” said Kessling, pictured sailing, hiking, and standing in a vineyard.

Visitors can explore his philosophy, his process, and the journey that brought him here.

The “About You” tab redirects to “Meet Brent.”

Reader Poll

Have you reviewed your retirement account?

Yes12%

No34%

I read the email subject line19%

I have confidence35%

The confidence option was selected on respondents’ behalf.

The One True Thing

Staying invested and staying informed can coexist.

Automatic contributions and diversified default investments can help people save without frequent decisions. The default still needs to fit the person.

Reviewing savings, fees, investment mix, and progress toward a goal is different from trading in response to every market move. A higher balance alone does not establish that someone is saving enough.