At a glance
- PGIM's updated paper, "Breakeven Returns for Delayed Social Security Claiming," calculates the investment return a participant would need to earn to negate the effect of waiting.
- For advisors serving plan sponsors, the 80% without a claiming tool is an entry point that requires no insurer, contract or pricing negotiation.
- Separately, 62% of participants aged 55 to 65 said they were very or somewhat interested in a bridge annuity, according to the EBRI/Greenwald 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey.
20% of 401(k) plan sponsors offer a Social Security claiming tool, up from 13% in 2023, according to PGIM's 2025 DC Plan Sponsor Landscape Survey, as reported by PLANADVISER.
PGIM's updated paper, "Breakeven Returns for Delayed Social Security Claiming," calculates the investment return a participant would need to earn to negate the effect of waiting.
For advisors serving plan sponsors, the 80% without a claiming tool is an entry point that requires no insurer, contract or pricing negotiation. Those same sponsors are weighing a bridge annuity or income sleeve, expanding the advisor's role to vehicle selection, glide path and asset placement in the years before retirement.
Separately, 62% of participants aged 55 to 65 said they were very or somewhat interested in a bridge annuity, according to the EBRI/Greenwald 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey. The bridge described would fund income from retirement until Social Security begins, potentially as late as age 70.
Where the bridge annuity fits
A target-date fund could hold a lifetime-income sleeve in stable value in the years before retirement, without an upfront annuity purchase, to encourage conversion into lifetime income later.
PGIM's survey also found that in-plan lifetime income availability remains relatively low.
Reported by the Income & Annuities desk from PLANADVISER, PGIM 2025 DC Plan Sponsor Landscape Survey and EBRI/Greenwald Associates 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey. Published . Corrections