Background

Orange County Library System in Florida has taken a practical, evolving approach to strengthening its retirement plan — one shaped by both operational realities and a strong commitment to employee outcomes. Serving a workforce of more than 500 eligible participants across 15-plus locations, plan administration has historically required significant coordination by OCLS.

At one point, managing the plan across as many as 10 separate systems created a heavy administrative burden. Manual processes were often required, limiting efficiency and reducing visibility into plan activity.

Working together with MissionSquare, OCLS has focused on simplifying plan administration by advancing streamlined processes and consolidated systems, allowing staff to spend more time supporting employees rather than managing systems.

Impact

This partnership has grown through consistent collaboration and a shared focus on making continuous improvements. Ongoing conversations enable the organization to explore new ideas, refine processes, and adapt as needs evolve. Some changes — such as streamlining loan repayment processes and aligning administrative workflows — have helped reduce manual effort and improve consistency. As with any transition, these improvements have required coordination and adjustment, but they have contributed to a more manageable and sustainable approach to plan administration.

Driving Participant Behavior: For a geographically dispersed organization like Orange County Library System, in-person engagement has been a meaningful driver of participant behavior. Retirement Plans Specialists regularly visit branch locations and offer one-on-one support, meeting employees where they are. These conversations have helped bridge a critical gap — moving employees from uncertainty about retirement planning to a clearer understanding of their options. In many cases, this has translated into action: employees asking more questions, engaging more regularly, and making adjustments to increase their savings.

Targeted Education Campaigns: Positive behaviors were reinforced through targeted campaigns. One example is outreach following employee pay increases, encouraging participants to allocate a portion of those increases toward their retirement savings. Paired with access to in-person guidance, these efforts have helped employees take incremental steps — building the habit of increasing contributions over time in a way that feels manageable and aligned with their financial situation.

Ongoing Plan Enhancements: The plan itself continues to evolve alongside these engagement efforts. Enhancements such as the addition of Roth contribution options and features designed to provide flexibility during unexpected life events have been thoughtfully introduced, with education to support understanding and use. These are not one-time changes, but part of an ongoing effort to refine the plan — responding to what employees need while maintaining a long-term focus on retirement readiness.

Outcomes

Key indicators of a strengthened OCLS retirement plan include:

• 54% increase in employee contribution rates over time,* particularly following targeted campaigns including a contribution increase campaign.
• 53% increase in account balance*
• Adoption of more contribution options, including Roth contributions.
• Higher participant engagement driven by consistent in-person interactions across multiple library locations.
• Greater use of plan features aligned to real-life needs, including emergency access options.
• Increased participant confidence in understanding and managing retirement decisions.

The partnership between Orange County Library System and MissionSquare reflects an ongoing, practical effort to keep improving the plan. By continuing to collaborate, reduce administrative complexity, and expand meaningful employee engagement, we can help build a retirement plan that is easier to manage and more effective for the people it serves.

[b3-regular]*For period 2021-YTD 2026.[/b3-regular]

[b3-regular]At the time the case study data was collected, OCLS was a client of Mission Square Retirement and was not compensated for participating in the case study. This case study is representative of the client’s experience at the time data was collected. Case studies are not representative of the experience of all clients and are not a guarantee of future performance or success.[/b3-regular]