Define your plan's aims and guidelines. This formal IPS shapes criteria for investments, fostering a strategy that supports fiduciary duties and ensures compliance.
Build lasting relationships
Understanding your clients’ unique needs, defining clear investment strategies, and maintaining fiduciary standards are fundamental in today’s retirement landscape. By focusing on these key areas, you can support compliance, enhance participant engagement, and build strong client relationships.
Define clear investment strategies
Establish comprehensive policies and structures to guide investment decisions and ensure compliance.
Enhance participant engagement
Understand and address participant needs to boost satisfaction and retirement preparedness.
Lead with fiduciary excellence
Elevate your fiduciary role by mastering compliance, innovating risk management, and driving exceptional governance practices.
Laying the groundwork
Creating a plan committee for success
Establish a committee to share fiduciary tasks. Clear roles, regular reviews, and structured processes help reduce risk, improve decision-making, and enhance plan outcomes overall.
Measuring plan effectiveness
Going beyond participation rates, track how well the plan aids true retirement readiness. Aligning sponsor aims with real outcomes can elevate participants’ financial independence.
Engaging participants
Guide participants on their financial journey
Discover our digital library filled with financial planning strategies, market insights, and investment concepts to empower participants at every stage of life.
Defining your participant service steps
Identify how best to serve employees and improve retirement readiness. Outlining participant support ensures consistent engagement and aligns with plan sponsor objectives.
Feedback with employee survey
Gather honest input from employees to see if the 401(k) meets their needs. Address gaps, refine offerings, and gauge the value they place on available retirement benefits.
Beyond retirement plans: Optimize benefits
Business owners invest heavily in benefits yet may see limited appreciation. Bridge that gap by ensuring offerings align with workforce needs, maximizing perceived and real value.
Maintaining fiduciary excellence
Understanding 404(c) checklist essentials
ERISA’s 404(c) can protect fiduciaries from participant-driven investment losses. Confirm disclosure, investment options, and processes to uphold compliance and manage liability.
Sponsor fiduciary compliance checklist
Keep track of essential ERISA duties with this sponsor-focused list. Proactively measure adherence, spot potential gaps, and refine processes for stronger plan governance.
Sponsor knowing 3(21) and 3(38) fiduciary choices
Learn how 3(21) and 3(38) roles differ for ERISA plans. Properly delegate duties, reduce sponsor workload, and safeguard participant interests through prudent fiduciary management.
Reviewing and evolving
Year-end checklist for plan enhancements
Track annual services to confirm all obligations were met. Identify gaps, plan improvements, and prepare for the year ahead, ensuring consistent value for sponsors and participants.
Annual review agenda & discussion points
Structure annual reviews for deeper insights. Examine plan performance, participant engagement, and sponsor goals to confirm alignment and guide any needed adjustments.
Service summary worksheet for sponsors
Summarize key plan services delivered and highlight ongoing priorities. A collaborative review fosters continuous improvements for fiduciaries, HR teams, and participant outcomes.
Learn more about ACES
Our award-winning program equips advisors with innovative strategies and proven resources to excel in the ever-evolving retirement plan marketplace, enabling them to deliver greater value to their clients.