(What Were) The Top Five Clicked ASPPA Connect Stories of 2022?

There was a LOT going on this year — and you rewarded our hard work in bringing you the latest news and trends by clicking, sharing, and occasionally commenting on our content.  What were the top five clicked-on stories of 2022?

Oddly, the fifth-most clicked on story of 2022 — was actually written/posted in March 2021.  It was a piece contributed by now-NTSA Executive Director Nate Glassey before he was — NTSA Executive Director, and it had to do with:

5. Coronavirus-Related Distributions: Repayments and Reporting

While the timing and volume of clicks might seem unusual, thanks to the Internet, SEO and search - many of our stories have a shelf-life well beyond their initial appearance in ASPPA Connect — this one, perhaps more than most.

But our fourth-most clicked story was more typical:

4. Record Increases Projected for 2023 Retirement Plan Limits

In fact, as we noted earlier this week the lives (and experiences) of ASPPA Connect readers are often shaped by limits – on contributions, benefits, and hours in the day.  This story — a late July projection by Mercer on the expected limits (based on a July reading of inflation impact on the COLA adjustments — wasn’t far off the mark(s).  

And, ironically, about 50% more clicks than the actual announcement (though arguably it was also “out there” and viewable for a much longer period of time). 

The third-most clicked story of 2022 also considered the impact of certain limits — an updated version of a Congressional Research Service report on:

3. A Fresh Look at Those the WEP Affects, Proposals to Change it

That CRS report “Social Security: The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP),” concerned the WEP and the GPO — benefit formulas that reduce Social Security benefits for workers and their eligible family members if the worker receives (or is entitled to) a pension based on earnings from employment not covered by Social Security. 

Indeed, the topic was so hot in 2022 that another update — this one in September 2022 was the SECOND-most clicked on story of 2022:

2. CRS Updates Report on Windfall Elimination Provision to Reflect Pending Legislation

And the top-clicked on story of 2022 was another article that appeared months ahead of the actual announcement of changes in contributions and benefits:

1. Record Increases Forecast for 2023 Contribution and Benefit Limits

Based on projections put forth by Milliman, noted that, using the Internal Revenue Code’s cost-of-living adjustment and rounding methods, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) through May and estimated CPI-U values, the consultancy projected that the contribution limits for 401(k), 403(b) and eligible 457 plan elective deferrals (and designated Roth contributions) would increase from $20,500 this year to $22,000 in 2023. The 415(c) DC plan maximum annual addition was projected to increase from $61,000 to $66,000 in 2023, and the 414(q)(1)(B) highly compensated employee and 414(q)(1)(C) top-paid group limit were projected to increase from $135,000 to $145,000.   

All of which turned out to be close, but short of the impact that inflation ultimately had on those limits.

Thanks for all your support, clicks, shares and comments throughout 2022!