Simplification and saving

The daunting complexity of important financial decisions can lead to procrastination. We evaluate a low-cost intervention that substantially simplifies the retirement savings plan participation decision. Individuals received an opportunity to enroll in a retirement savings plan at a pre-selected contribution rate and asset allocation, allowing them to collapse a multidimensional problem into a binary choice between the status quo and the pre-selected alternative. The intervention increases plan enrollment rates by 10–20 percentage points. We find that a similar intervention can be used to increase contribution rates among employees who are already participating in a savings plan.

► Two companies simplified the retirement savings plan participation decision. ► Workers could join the plan at a pre-selected contribution rate and asset allocation. ► The simplification increased plan enrollment rates by 10–20 percentage points. ► A similar intervention increased contribution rates of low savers already in the plan.