For many years, defined benefit plans—also known as pension plans—have had a significant part in attracting people to government work. And while pensions still exist, they have been scaled back, largely in response to budget pressures and plan reforms. As such, employees need to understand the important role a defined contribution plan has in improving their retirement readiness.

In this paper, we outline several ways that government employers can work with their plan provider to engage employees with a holistic education program that removes barriers and improves outcomes.