Retirement Plan Advisor Trends

The report will enable subscribers to:

GROW MARKET SHARE
Uncover the criteria plan advisors use when making recommendations and ensure your firm earns a place in their consideration set to grow market share

TRACK COMPETITORS
Track how your competitors perform on key brand, service and loyalty metrics

STRENGTHEN DC ADVISOR LOYALTY
Develop programs that match plan advisors’ expectations for service and support to build loyal relationships

Methodology

500 advisors across the National wirehouse, Regional, Independent,
RIA and Bank channels
Retirement plan advisors evaluated by DC AUM
Web-based survey
35 DC plan providers and 45 DC investment managers evaluated

Subscription Details

Survey fielded: August 2019
Publication: September 2019

Deliverables:

Detailed report including a summary of findings and strategic implications
Custom data cuts and survey work by senior analysts

Investment: $35,000

Areas of Inquiry

Plan Advisor Profile

Practice Overview:

Distribution of DC plan producers by DC AUM
Comparison of Emerging vs. Established producers
Number and size of DC plans managed
Most important aspects of plan advisor, sponsor and participant
support

Practice Overview:

Availability, types and components of financial wellness programs offered
Usage/interest in multiple employer plans, health savings accounts and
401(k) student loan matching
Impact of SECURE Act on DC advisory model

DC Plan Investment Design

Number and types of investment options recommended
Number of target date fund providers used
Target date fund selection criteria and brand recommendations
Types of qualified default investment alternatives (QDIAs) offered
Availability and types of retirement income solutions offered

DC Plan Provider & DC Investment Manager
Brand Equity

Awareness, impression and consideration of leading plan providers and investment managers
Performance on critical brand attributes that drive selection
Consideration of DC investment managers by asset class and product type
Strengths, weaknesses and growth potential of the leading firms
Brand engagement within the pastsix months across 12 types of contact

DC Plan Investment Design

Number of plan providers and investment managers used
Overall market penetration of the leading firms
Satisfaction with and loyalty to current DC plan providers and DC investment managers
Performance on critical service and support ratings that drive satisfaction and loyalty
Recent changes in DC plan provider and DC investment manager recommendations
Reasons to stop recommending DC plan providers and DC investment
managers

Services provided to DC plan sponsors and participants
• Impact of fee disclosure regulations
• Number of plan providers typically recommended
• Number and type of investment options typically recommended
• QDIA option used most often
• Target date fund recommendation