Employee Benefit Research Institute

Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization based in Washington, D.C., that produces original research about health, savings, retirement, personal finance and economic security issues, including 401(k) and retirement plan coverage data,[2] post-retirement income adequacy,[3] health coverage and the uninsured,[4] and economic security of the elderly.[5][6]

Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI)
Founded1978
TypeIndependent research institute
Location
  • 901 D St. SW, Suite 802
    Washington, D.C. 20024
Key people
Barb Marder (President & CEO)
Budget
Revenue: $3,865,277
Expenses: $4,217,486
(FYE December 2020)[1]
Websiteebri.org

The EBRI is an independent institute, representing no particular special interest or ideological perspective.[7] Its membership includes a broad range of benefit-related organizations that often have differing policy goals.

As well, the EBRI maintains the largest 401(k) microdatabase in the nation that tracks individual 401(k) participant investment activity.[8] EBRI researchers have been frequently asked to testify about their research before Congress on a variety of retirement, health, savings, and economic security issues.[9]

History

The EBRI was founded in 1978 by a group of benefits-related companies following enactment of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the major federal law governing private-sector benefits. It is based on three principles: That employee benefit plans serve an essential function in the United States economy by providing citizens with opportunities to achieve financial security; an ongoing need exists for objective, unbiased information regarding the employee benefits system; and that its members’ common business interests will be furthered by having the Institute develop and disseminate such information.[10]

Publications

The EBRI’s research periodicals include EBRI Issue Briefs, Fast Facts, Infographics and EBRInteractives. In addition to its website, it publishes a variety of electronic products, such as a blog,[11] Twitter site and a LinkedIn site.

Policy stance

The Employee Benefit Research Institute does not take policy positions and does not lobby.

Policy research

The EBRI has tracked the decline of traditional "defined benefit” pensions and the growth of defined contribution (401(k)-type) retirement plans,[12][13] trends in retirement,[14][15] trends in employment-base health benefits,[16] and conducted public opinion surveys related to retirement and health benefits.

The EBRI publishes data on trends and characteristics of health insurance coverage and the uninsured,[17] and how the type of health plans offered to workers have been changing in the private sector.[18] It has also quantified the amount of money that single men, single women, and married couples will need to save to pay for out-of-pocket health care in retirement.[19]

In conjunction with the Investment Company Institute (ICI),[20] EBRI created and operates the EBRI/ICI 401(k) database,[21] the largest microdatabase of its kind in the nation tracking individual 401(k) participants.[22] EBRI also tracks the growing importance of individual-account retirement plans such as 401(k)s and individual retirement accounts (IRAs).[23]

Using its Retirement Security Projection Model, EBRI has published detailed analysis showing likely retirement income adequacy levels for Americans by age and income.[24] It has also reported likely results if deficit reduction efforts in Congress reduce or eliminate existing tax preferences for 401(k)s.[25]

The EBRI’s Social Security modeling allows it to quantify the impact of various reform proposals. Its 1998 analysis was the first in-depth look at the many administrative issues involved with adding private accounts to Social Security,[26] at the time a major policy proposal.

Surveys

The Employee Benefit Research Institute’s annual Retirement Confidence Survey,[27] which began in 1990, is the longest-running annual retirement survey of its kind in the nation. Its annual Workplace Wellness Survey asks questions to employees about workplace-based benefits.[28] The EBRI Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey provides national data on the growth of consumer-driven health plans and high-deductible health plans.[18][29][30]

Programs

Previously, through its Education and Research Fund (ERF), EBRI operated the Choose to Save national public education and outreach campaign,[31] and the American Savings Education Council,[32] a national coalition of public- and private-sector organizations that promote saving.

As part of its Choose to Save initiative, EBRI developed the Ballpark Estimate for ASEC,[33] a two-page worksheet that identifies a person’s general savings target for a comfortable retirement. It is used as the retirement calculator for federal employees on the Office of Personnel Management’s Federal Ballpark E$timate website[34] and also by the U.S. Thrift Savings Plan on its website.[35] In 2023, the Employee Benefit Research Institute relaunched a new version of its Ballpark E$timate online retirement planning tool.

References
  1. "Employee Benefit Research Institute" (PDF). Foundation Center. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  2. “Lessons From the Private Sector–Room for Debate,” New York Times, Feb 28, 2011. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  3. “70 is not the new 65,” Chicago Tribune, Sep 28, 2012. Retrieved Oct 31, 2012.
  4. “Employment-Based Health Coverage Is Waning,” Wall Street Journal, May 23, 2012. Retrieved Oct 31, 2012
  5. “Poor Old Americans,” Wall Street Journal, May 22, 2012. Retrieved Oct 31, 2012.
  6. “How Nursing Home Stays Ravage Finances,” U.S. News & World Report, June 16, 2012. Retrieved Oct 31, 2012.
  7. “EBRI turning 25,” Pensions&Investments, Aug 13, 2003. Retrieved Oct 31, 2012.
  8. "Younger Investors Aren’t Shy About Putting Stocks Into 401(k)s". Bloomberg News. Dec 21, 2011. Retrieved Nov 2, 2012.
  9. EBRI testimony – EBRI website. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  10. About EBRI – EBRI Website. Retrieved July 16,2021.
  11. EBRI blog. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  12. “Company Pensions Are as Passé as Gold Watches,” Archived 2013-10-23 at the Wayback Machine U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved Nov 3, 2012.
  13. “ERISA at 30: The decline of Private-Sector Defined Benefit Promises and Annuity Payments? What Will It Mean?” EBRI Issue Brief, May 2004.
  14. "Retirement is making people more miserable than ever before". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
  15. "Will Working Longer Rescue Your Retirement?". Retrieved 2016-07-07.
  16. “Fewer Employers Offering Health Benefits, Study Says,” The Hill, April 24, 2012. Retrieved Nov 3, 2012.
  17. “Employment-Based Health Coverage Continues Decline; Uninsured Rate Shrinks as Public Coverage Grows,” InsuranceNews.net, Sep 20, 2012. Retrieved Nov 3, 2012.
  18. “Satisfaction Levels Rising for CDHPs, Slipping for Traditional Plans,” Archived 2012-09-23 at the Wayback Machine WorldatWork Newsline, Aug 31, 2012. Retrieved Nov 3, 2012.
  19. “Start Saving Now: Retiree Health Care Costs Heading Higher,” CBS News MoneyWatch, Dec 1, 2010. Retrieved Nov 3, 2012.
  20. ICI website. Retrieved Nov 3, 2012.
  21. “Investor's Business Daily, Dec 20, 2014. Retrieved Dec 20, 2014.
  22. "Target Date Fund Use in 401(k) Plans Increasing". Financial Advisor. Dec 23, 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  23. “EBRI: DC Balances Account for More Financial Assets Despite Their Declines,” Pensions&Investments, Sep 26, 2012. Retrieved Nov 3, 2012.
  24. “Making Your Retirement Assets Last,” Wall Street Journal, Sep 5, 2012. Retrieved Nov 3, 2012.
  25. “Tax Reform Implications for Retirement Savings: Don’t Mess With My 401(k)!” Wall Street Journal, Nov 15, 2011. Retrieved Nov 3, 2012.
  26. “Individual Social Security Accounts: Issues in Assessing Administrative Feasibility and Costs,” EBRI Issue Brief, November 1998. Retrieved Nov 3, 2012.
  27. “One-third have almost no retirement savings,” USAToday, April 21, 2015.
  28. BenefitsPro, Feb 22, 2021. Retrieved July 16,2021.
  29. "MarksJarvis: Would you pick health benefits over a pay raise?". Retrieved 2016-07-07.
  30. “More Insured, Fewer Via Private Healthcare,” UPI, Oct 2, 2012. Retrieved Nov 3, 2012.
  31. Choose to Save website. Retrieved Nov 3, 2012.
  32. American Savings Education Council – Choose to Save website. Retrieved Nov 3, 2012.
  33. “The Best In…Financing Your Future,” Wall Street Journal, May 23, 2012. Retrieved Nov 3, 2012.
  34. “Federal Ballpark E$timate,” - U.S. OPM, Retirement Information and Services. Retrieved Nov 3, 2012.
  35. “How Much Should I Save (Ballpark Estimate)?” Archived 2012-10-16 at the Wayback Machine - Thrift Savings Plan website. Retrieved Nov 3, 2012.
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