2a.
Adequacy of available annuity product types (i.e., variety, pricing, value of payments, lack of inflation protection, etc.)
2b.
Amount of retirement/saving plan assets of future retirees
2c.
Bequest motives
2d.
Challenges to offering an annuity, such as administrative cost/burden, or compliance with applicable rules (including QJSA, PBGC premiums, etc.)
2e.
Changes in plan design/features within plans
2f.
Changes in the availability and/or election of various payout options
2g.
Competitive pressures: attract workers, minimize/stabilize costs
2h.
Concerns and trust issues about annuity providers and/or employers ability to provide annuity
payments (i.e., solvency issues)
2i.
Concerns of higher-income DB participants about potential loss of benefits as a result of PBGC guarantee limits
2j.
Employee acceptance of the move from employer responsibility to employee responsibility
2k.
Household decisions about retirement income
2l.
Impact of laws and regulations on employer decisions (i.e., impact of ERISA or the tax code)
2m.
Individuals believe they can do better managing the money than with an annuity
2n.
Inertia-the real and/or perceived cost of changing the status quo in terms of options offered
2o.
Lack of consumer knowledge/understanding about annuitization and/or key risks they will face in retirement
2p.
Participants don't understand investments and/or how to invest their retirement savings
2q.
Participants' expectations about needs in retirement (e.g., income, expenses, longevity)
2r.
Participants' lack of understanding about the value of certain DB plan benefit features (e.g., early retirement subsidies)
2s.
PBGC guarantees on qualified DB annuity payouts
2t.
Preferences of owners/executives who start plans
2u.
Retirees/employees don't have adequate information to make benefit elections
2v.
The role of financial advisors
2w.
The taxation of distributions from various types of retirement plan vehicles
2x.
The value of lump sums from DB plans has increased
2y.
Trends in types of employer sponsored plans
2z.
Trends in workforce demographics and retirement
2aa.
Widespread media, investment community, and employee focus on account balances
2ab.
Worker preferences for the type of plan they want and /or how they receive benefits
2ac.
Workers/retirees already have annuity income (i.e., from social security, from a DB plan, from a spouse's plan)
2ad.
Other (Please describe below.)
