Third Party Administration

Investment Advisory Services

A successful communication program is critical to the success of a company’s retirement plan. We review the wide variety of options available with the retirement plan committee and create the most appropriate program for the employee population. Consistent implementation of the plan increases employee understanding and participation while raising the profile and appreciation of the benefit.

A consistent process that leads to consistent results:

  • Diagnostic Plan Appraisal
  • Develop an Investment Policy Statement
  • Manager Investment Selection Process
  • Monitor and Measure
  • Periodic Trustee & Investment Committee Meetings
  • Employee Communication & Education
  • Custom Lifestyle Portfolio Management

Third Party Administration

We are your single point of contact. We work directly with your management team, plan advisor and other top retirement plan record-keepers to ensure a singular experience.

Strategic relationships with other top retirement plan record-keepers allow us the ability to find the perfect solution for any business.

Expert Plan Compliance Services and IRS/DOL Reporting

  • Customized plan design
  • Compliance Testing – Top-Heavy, Minimum Coverage, ADP/ACP, Maximum Deferral Test, Maximum Annual Addition Tests
  • Signature-Ready Form 5500 (Annual Reports)
  • Electronic Filing of Form 5500 and Related Schedules
  • Preparation of Summary Annual Reports
  • IRS Tax Reporting (Form 1099R)
  • Plan Level Trust Accounting
  • QDRO qualification and Approvals
  • Age 70 ½ Determinations
  • Distribution processing including helping participants with their choices

401(k) & 403(b) Plans

We have complete independence with no proprietary funds and without any restrictions on fund selections. Our open architecture retirement platform was developed in response to this growing need for professionally bundled solutions. It combines retirement plan administration and recordkeeping services with expanded plan options, taking the burden off your shoulders so you can focus your energy where it belongs.

This open architecture retirement platform can be matched to any grouping of investment options—including company stock and self-directed brokerage accounts. The result is greater investment choice and control that can be tailored to your needs.

Our open architecture retirement platform plan services include:

  • Complete independence with no proprietary investment requirements
  • Complete fee transparency
  • Open Architecture Broad investment choices from thousands of funds: We use low cost and no load mutual funds (such as Vanguard), Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Stocks, Bonds, CDs, and Money Markets
  • Unbiased and Objective Investment Advice
  • Company stock and brokerage windows are also available.
  • Custom plan designs for 401(k), 403(b), 401(a) and profit sharing plans
  • Dedicated client service professionals assigned to your account
  • 24/7 access to your account and reporting via our online portal
  • Multilingual Service Center to answer participant questions
  • Complete plan administration, compliance testing and tax reporting

Cash Balance & Defined Benefit Plans

Many owners and partners are looking for larger tax deductions and accelerated
retirement savings. Cash Balance or Defined Benefit plans may be the perfect solution
for them.

A Cash Balance plan is a defined benefit plan that specifies both the contribution to be credited to each participant and the investment earnings to be credited based on those contributions. Each participant has an account that resembles those in a 401(k) or profit sharing plan. Those accounts are maintained by the plan actuary, who generates annual participant statements.

Cash balance and defined benefit plans, also called pension plans, offer a pre-established benefit or account balance typically disbursed in a series of payments during retirement or as a single-sum payment at retirement.

Some of the benefits of establishing a Cash Balance/Defined Benefit Plan:

  • Increased Tax Deduction (as opposed to a stand-alone 401(k) or Profit Sharing Plan)
  • More Predictable Results (for Cash Balance Plans)
  • Higher benefit limits for owners and key employees
  • Enables owner or partner to fund a plan that generates as much as $220,000 in annual retirement income (as of 2018 year as announced by IRS)

ERISA & Actuarial Consulting

We work with ERISA (short for Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) attorneys and actuaries who have extensive background and experience working with 401(k) and 403(b) plans, defined benefit and cash balance plans, and ESOPs.

We can help you successfully navigate the complicated requirements that your plan is subject to and identify and correct any existing errors before they are discovered on audit.

We can help you:

  • Custom plan design and implement the right retirement program
  • Preparation of plan documents and amendments
  • Calculate on-going funding requirements for defined benefit and cash balance plans
  • Signature-Ready Form 5500 (Annual Reports)
  • Preparation of Summary Annual Reports
  • IRS Tax Reporting (Form 1099R)
  • Determine pre-and-post benefit plan options for mergers and acquisitions
  • Perform plan termination feasibility studies
  • Represent plan sponsors in connection with IRS and DOL audits
  • Perform due diligence, compliance and regulatory testing
  • Perform actuarial valuations and prepare required financial disclosures for both pension and non-pension post-retirement benefits

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

An employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) is a tax-qualified employee benefit plan that gives employees a greater stake in their company and an opportunity to reap the rewards of ownership. Like all other qualified plans, an ESOP is governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Unlike other qualified plans, ESOPs are designed to invest primarily in the stock of the sponsoring employer. In addition, ESOPs are the only qualified plan allowed to borrow funds to buy company shares.

Consulting Services

  • Develop ESOP Feasibility Study to help plan sponsor understand how an ESOP will impact their business issues
  • Prepare Repurchase Obligation Study to evaluate relevant indicators of your business performance and project your ESOP repurchase liability years into the future.
  • Provide Audit Assistance. We partner with accounting firms that audit the ESOP financial statements and government forms as part of our ESOP administration services, providing them detailed reports to improve the efficiency of their review process and minimize client expense.
  • Help you understand the 1042 treatment and requirements that allow a shareholder to qualify for a deferral of taxation from the proceeds of the sale of their shares to the ESOP.

Ready to Start A Conversation?

Speak with a Consultant today! We can help you.

  • Wealth Management
  • Create a Retirement Plan
  • Education fund planning
  • And other major financial considerations