Cowden Associates, Inc., the region’s leading independent actuarial and employee benefit consulting firm, today presented results from its first Tri-State 401(k) Plan Sponsor Survey. Results identify areas of 401(k) plan sponsorship and participation in need of improvement as the plans emerge as America’s primary retirement vehicle.

The survey provides a baseline for measuring the effectiveness of the Pension Protection Act, which was passed to make participation in 401(k) plans easier.