Retirement Plan Services
How We Help You.
A retirement plan sponsor is held to a fiduciary standard of care with respect to a retirement plan.
We help plan sponsors fulfill their ERISA fiduciary obligations.
Plan Design and Installation Assistance.
Plans come in many types. My mission is to assist you in your quest for a plan that seeks to achieve the goals you have established for your company. Whether your primary objective is to reward key employee performance or provide a comprehensive benefit for all of your employees, I am available to help you review various design and administration alternatives for your consideration:
- Profit Sharing (traditional, integrated, age-weighted, and cross-tested)
- 401(k) (Traditional, Safe Harbor, and individual)
- Defined Benefit (Traditional and Fully Insured)
- Cash Balance
I also make available to you information and resources that you can use to guide you to understanding important plan design challenges such as elective and matching contributions, vesting, Qualified Default investment options, and voluntary and automated enrollment. When a custom plan design is desired, you have access to a menu of unaffiliated third party service providers whom you may screen and select to assist you in creating a custom plan that matches the needs of your participants.
Provider Search
Selecting a suitable investment provider for your plan is important. Evaluating the services and expenses of multiple providers can be complicated and overwhelming for a plan sponsor.
Let me streamline the process for you with powerful resources which can provide:
- Customized reports featuring multiple providers
- Comparative analysis of features and costs
- Industry benchmarking
If you decide to convert your plan to a new vendor platform, I can assist you by:
- Providing vendor materials regarding the new product and services
- Providing educational information relative to investment alternatives that you are considering and the appropriateness of mapping
- Acting as a liaison between you and the investment record keeping and service providers
Investment Selection and Monitoring
An established investment strategy is critical for a retirement plan. A written Investment Policy Statement will assist you in fulfilling your duties as a plan fiduciary. Analytical tools are available to assist you in evaluating whether you are meeting your obligation as a plan fiduciary by evaluating, selecting, monitoring and replacing investment options to meet the plan's investment policy requirements.
These tools include:
- Sample Investment Policy Statement (IPS)
- Investment Fund Performance Report
I also make available the following investment related educational services:
- Asset allocation. I provide educational resources for plan participants to utilize in order to set their own appropriate mix of asset classes and investment styles to address the needs of their investment goals and life stage challenges.
- Manager evaluation and selection. Plan sponsors have access to third party tools to help them research, evaluate and select a diversified, cost, effective lineup of active and passive investment options.
- Qualified Default Investment Alternative (QDIA) evaluation. I can provide research assistance and information that enables plan sponsors to evaluate QDIA options available under their investment platform so that they may select QDIA options which meet the suitability requirements for participants who either do not make investment elections or enroll automatically.
- Investment Reviews. I can deliver quarterly or annual reports regarding the plan's investments so that plan sponsors may evaluate performance, risk characteristics and expenses of such investment options, and provide information on alternative funds selected by plan sponsors to assist them in determining whether changes may be appropriate.
- Retirement income planning. I am available to provide investment education and tools to pre-retirees or those approaching age 70½ to assist them evaluate their retirement income needs and implement strategies for managing, spending, and investing voluntary or mandatory distributions from their retirement accounts.
- Participant-level services. I am available to provide investment education and tools to participants to help them evaluate their retirement savings goals and implement appropriate contribution and investment decisions.
Employee Education
- Education Policy Statement (EPS). I am available to assist plan sponsors craft an EPS specifically for their company.
- Employee enrollment. I am available to lead, co-present, and arrange enrollment meetings and provide vendor approved online and printed educational materials to encourage participation.
- Participant plan fee education. I can provide information regarding plan fees and communicate the plan's requirements for requesting additional information about plan fees and expenses.
- Retirement Readiness. I am available to provide periodic education programs addressing the employee's larger financial concerns, such as retirement planning and college costs.
- Retirement Planning. I can help participants make appropriate contribution and asset allocation decisions.
- ERISA 404(c) education. I can make available to participants information provided by third party vendors on the plan's investment options.
Services to Plan Sponsors
- Fiduciary audits. I am available to assist plan sponsors with their review of the plan so that they may assess whether they are in compliance with ERISA's fiduciary requirements and assist them in identifying areas that may require attention.
- Documentation. I can assist plan sponsors to establish an Inspection Ready ERISA file to properly store appropriate files and document specific decisions regarding their retirement plans.
- Plan benchmarking. I am available to compare a plan's services, investments, features, and fees versus those of comparable plans in similar sized organizations.
- Fiduciary education. I can make available educational resources to help plan sponsors
i) understand and meet their fiduciary obligation for reviewing fees and services,
ii) identify procedures for tracking the receipt and evaluation of ERISA 408(b)(2) disclosures, and
iii) meet the plan participant 404(a)(5) fee disclosure requirements.
- Participation communication requirements. I can assist the plan sponsor in developing procedures to satisfy their obligation to respond to participant requests for additional information.
- Fee reporting and analysis. I can help obtain detailed listings and explanations of all fees paid by the plan and participants to all service providers, advisors, and investment companies, and help identify appropriate opportunities for cost savings.
- ERISA 404(c) compliance review. I am available to assist plan sponsors with understanding the broad range requirements of 404(c) and developing an appropriate participant education and communication strategy.
Information and reports are provided as a general guide to educate plan sponsors, but are not intended as authoritative guidance or investment, tax or legal advice. Each plan had unique requirements, and you should consult your attorney or tax advisor for guidance on your specific situation. In no way does advisor assure that, by using the information provided, plan sponsor will be in compliance with ERISA regulations.
For a complementary review of your qualified plan, please call me at 414-235-5844 or 262-391-8542 for an appointment today.
Theodore G. Baer, CFP®, CIMA®, AIF®, MBA
Email: ted.baer@lpl.com
Cell: 262-391-8542
Fax: 414-369-6630