Judy Diamond Associates, Inc. Introduces the Six Diamond Metrics for Retirement Plan Performance

, the premiere publisher of pension and retirement plan data for the financial services market, has completed its recent internal study of the U.S. pension market and introduced a new standard measurement system for retirement plan performance -- the six Diamond Metrics.

Featured in the Fall/Winter 2006-2007 Edition of the King of Pension Funds database, the six Diamond Metrics of plan performance are: Total Rate of Return; Rate of Return vs. S P 500; Average 401(k) Contributions; 401(k) Participation Rate; Commission Rate; and Investment Management Rate.
After extensive research, these metrics were determined to best quantify plan performance and best identify underperforming plans that need assistance.

"We were surprised to discover that the majority of retirement plans underperform the S P 500," says Dan Cole, Director of Research and Development at Judy Diamond Associates.
Based on data from Form 5500 annual financial reports, 495,000 plans underperformed the S P 500 during their most recent available plan year. Furthermore, the study reports a low 67 percent for participation rates.

"In light of the impending Social Security and retirement crisis, it's critical that people get the most out of their plans," Cole continues. "Hopefully, publicizing below-market plan returns and low participation rates will convince companies to demand better performance from their brokers, and foster the kind of competition that leads to higher returns for employees."
Based in Washington, DC, Judy Diamond Associates, Inc.

has been publishing employee benefits data since 1960, and is recognized as a national leader in health, welfare, and pension prospecting information and analysis.