11 trends shaping the future of plan design

As organizations plan for the remainder of 2026 and beyond, retirement plan strategies should be informed by more than tradition or intuition—they must be grounded in data and participant behavior. With workplace dynamics continuing to evolve, plan sponsors need clearer insight into how employees engage with benefits today and what design choices can drive better outcomes tomorrow. Research backed trends offer a roadmap for navigating this next phase of retirement plan design.

In our annual Workplace Outlook research report, we’re sharing 11 data-informed insights that can help talent and benefits leaders create a retirement plan strategy that supports both employee well-being and overall employer outcomes.