Lawmakers Want To Help You Save More

Legislation to boost retirement savings looks like a go in Congress.

- Eileen Ambrose

There's not much that Republicans and Democrats in Congress agree on, but when it comes to retirement, members of both parties acknowledge that a lot of Americans aren’t saving enough. The problem is particularly acute for the 55 million workers who don’t have a 401(k) or other retirement plan through their job, which makes them far less likely to save.

Now Congress is considering legislation—the Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act of 2018— to encourage employers to offer more retirement savings options, while making it easier for workers to save more. Among the key proposals, the legislation would remove obstacles that have made it cumbersome and costly for small employers to band together to create a retirement multiple employer plan (MEP), says benefits lawyer Brian Pinheiro. With an MEP, small employers can slash recordkeeping and investment costs.