The Way Forward

Pointing The Way Forward

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
- Lao-tzu, Chinese philosopher (604 BC - 531 BC)

While the troubled economy controls the headlines, millions of retirement plan participants are left wondering, “What in the world happened, and what do I do now?” These American workers saw years of asset accumulation dwindle in a matter of months, and now they’re looking for help in rebuilding their savings. We need to point the way for your participants to get back on track.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. has launched The Way Forward, an informational series to highlight programs we are doing to harness our resources to help the customers and the communities we serve. For J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services specifically, The Way Forward encompasses our efforts to help participants navigate the waters of this unprecedented time. The series highlights what your participants can do to stay on track for retirement given today’s challenging market environment. Retirement plan participants have questions surrounding their retirement and how to plan for it going forward. Our goal is to provide up-to-date information to help address the unique issues your participants face today.

Using our Audience of One® philosophy, our experience with changing participant behavior and our interactions with your participants over the last year, our Participant Communications and Education Team has developed a comprehensive multimedia program to address this very unique situation.

The Way Forward is being released to participants online and features podcasts, webcasts and videos, as well as articles and tools. The program also includes face-to-face education programs that will be held in Dallas, Chicago, Phoenix and New York. The content is specifically divided into two categories: One category is geared toward Generation X and Y participants (participants between the ages of 25 and 40), and the other focuses on participants age 50 and older who are facing special circumstances given their time to retirement.

To keep participants focused on their goals or to help them to refocus, the content returns to fundamentals around objectives, time horizon and risk tolerance. Also, the program affirms the benefits of defined contribution plans: They still have tax advantages, are convenient and easy and, particularly in these markets, they afford the benefit of dollar-cost averaging. The content will be updated periodically, and the key messages in The Way Forward include:

• keep it in perspective
• let it grow
• opportunities in any economy
• saving strategies for life events
• the effects of market movements
• thinking long-term
• searching for stability
• planning tools including online resources and using an advisor
• withdrawal and distribution strategies
• looking forward

The recession presents a unique opportunity to rethink how we communicate with our participants and how we help them make the best choices given their circumstances. As a J.P. Morgan client, your participants will automatically have access to this new service, and you will receive tools to promote its availability. Stay tuned for more information on the release of The Way Forward, or contact your J.P. Morgan representative to learn more.

For questions regarding your personal 401(k) plan, contact your 401(k) plan provider.

IRS Circular 230 Disclosure: JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates do not provide tax advice. Accordingly, any discussion of U.S. tax matters contained herein (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, in connection with the promotion, marketing or recommendation by anyone unaffiliated with JPMorgan Chase & Co. of any of the matters addressed herein or for the purpose of avoiding U.S. tax-related penalties.