An Employee Benefits and Retirement Research Organization
EBRI (Employee Benefit Research Institute) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization focused on employee benefits, retirement security, healthcare benefits, and financial wellbeing. Founded in 1978, the organization conducts independent, data-driven research designed to help employers, policymakers, financial institutions, and workers better understand benefits-related issues and long-term financial security.
The organization is widely known for:
- Retirement and savings research
- 401(k) and workplace benefits analysis
- Healthcare and insurance studies
- Financial wellbeing surveys and forecasting.
Core Areas of Focus
EBRI focuses on:
- Retirement savings and income security
- Employee health and insurance benefits
- Financial wellbeing and workplace wellness
- 401(k), IRA, and pension research
- Healthcare affordability and policy analysis
- Benefits-related economic and workforce trends.
Its work includes:
- Research reports and issue briefs
- Surveys and forecasting models
- Policy analysis and testimony
- Industry benchmarking and data visualization.
Retirement and Financial Wellbeing Research
A defining feature of EBRI is its extensive research into:
- Retirement readiness and financial security.
The organization is especially known for:
- The Retirement Confidence Survey
- Workplace wellness research
- 401(k) and IRA database analysis
- Retirement healthcare cost projections.
Its research helps organizations:
- Evaluate benefits programs
- Understand workforce financial stress
- Improve retirement and healthcare planning.
Healthcare and Employee Benefits Analysis
EBRI also conducts research related to:
- Employer-sponsored healthcare
- Health savings accounts (HSAs)
- Healthcare affordability
- Insurance plan design and utilization.
The organization frequently analyzes:
- Medical cost trends
- Consumer healthcare behavior
- Wellness and benefits engagement
- Long-term healthcare costs in retirement.
Position Within the Benefits and Policy Landscape
EBRI operates within the broader ecosystem of:
- Employee benefits research organizations
- Retirement policy institutes
- Healthcare and financial wellbeing think tanks.
Its positioning emphasizes:
- Independent and objective research
rather than: - Advocacy, lobbying, or consulting.
The organization combines elements of:
- Research institute
- Policy analysis organization
- Benefits think tank
- Financial wellbeing research center.
Organizational Philosophy and Messaging
EBRI consistently emphasizes:
- Objective, fact-based research
- Long-term financial security
- Evidence-based policy analysis
- Employee wellbeing and retirement readiness.
Its broader philosophy reflects the idea that:
- Better research and data help organizations and individuals make stronger decisions about retirement, healthcare, and employee benefits.