What to know before adopting an in-plan student loan benefit

Knowing this, many companies are asking: Should the student debt benefit remain outside of the employer-sponsored retirement plan, be integrated into the plan, or should it combine both?

Providing a student loan reimbursement program or including the benefit within a retirement plan holds promise for employers looking to enhance their financial wellness offerings, according to a new commentary from Vanguard.

Plan sponsors may create an integrated financial wellness experience that focuses on student loan debt, recommending solutions to lower payments through refinancing and/or prioritizing the debt among other financial imperatives.

Vanguard sees the benefits of offering a student loan repayment program and has partnered with a third-party vendor to provide such services as a component of our comprehensive financial wellness programs both within and outside the 401(k) plan.

However, we believe plan sponsors should consider several factors, including cost, administrative complexities, and the current saving behaviors of their participants, before selecting an in-plan student loan benefit for their employees.