One of the most important developments in the history of U.S. retirement plans continues to unfold and will keep getting more interesting in the months ahead. Called "automatic enrollment," it creates a compelling need among 401(k) plans for services that you can provide, starting with education of plan decision-makers now.

The "automatic enrollment wave" will give many plans in your market an incentive to change vendors. It also will create two attractive "safe harbors" that can free plans and their fiduciaries from cumbersome discrimination tests, top-heavy rules and investment liabilities. Under federal law enacted in August, a new structure-of-choice has been defined for "Qualified Automatic Contribution Arrangements" (QACAs).

If any retirement plan idea has ever been "all-American apple pie," it is this one. Congress, the Department of Labor, and almost every leading trade association agree that QACAs are the right medicine for America's sagging personal savings rate and "retirement readiness" problems.