All Resources

Understanding Oregon's State Mandates for Retirement Plans: Options and Compliance

Retirement State Mandates

Oregon State-Mandated Retirement Plan Options

Help clients in Oregon understand their state's retirement mandates and explore alternative solutions that meet both satisfy legal requirements and align with clients' needs. 

Why State Governments Are Requiring Small Businesses to Offer Retirement Plans

Retirement State Mandates

Why States Mandate Retirement Plans

Help clients understand the necessity of state-mandated retirement plans and explore their options to comply with these mandates.

Understanding CalSavers: California's Retirement Savings Program for Your Clients

Retirement State Mandates

CalSavers Retirement Program Details

Help clients understand California's CalSavers Retirement Savings Program and explore alternative options to satisfy state mandate requirements.

Understanding Illinois Secure Choice: A Guide for Financial Advisors

Retirement State Mandates

Complying with Illinois Secure Choice

Help clients understand the Illinois Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program and explore alternative options to meet their retirement plan needs. 

Understanding Minnesota's State Mandates for Retirement Plans: Options and Compliance

Retirement State Mandates

Minnesota State-Mandated Retirement Plan Options

Help your clients in Minnesota navigate the state's mandated retirement program and discover alternative solutions that not only satisfy legal requirements but also align with their business goals. 

Understanding Maryland's State Mandates for Retirement Plans: Options and Compliance

Retirement State Mandates

Maryland State-Mandated Retirement Plan Options

Help your clients in Maryland understand the state's mandated retirement program and explore alternative solutions that satisfy both the mandate and their business needs. 

Understanding Nevada's State Mandates for Retirement Plans: Options and Compliance

Retirement State Mandates

Nevada State-Mandated Retirement Plan Options

Help clients in Nevada understand the state's mandated retirement program and explore alternative solutions that satisfy legal requirements and meet their business goals. 

Understanding Hawaii's State Mandates for Retirement Plans: Options and Compliance

Retirement State Mandates

Hawaii State-Mandated Retirement Plan Options

Help clients understand Hawaii's state-mandated retirement program and explore the alternative solutions to satisfy the mandates as well as meet their business needs.

Understanding State Mandates in Illinois for Retirement Plans: Options and Compliance

Retirement State Mandates

Illinois State-Mandated Retirement Plan Options

Help clients understand Illinois' state-mandated retirement program and educate them on the key features and benefits of the program as well as available alternatives.

Driving Better Retirement Outcomes with Targeted Messaging

Engage Clients · Employer education · Case study

Leveraging Targeted Messaging for Enhanced Savings Rates

Help clients understand the power of targeted messaging to improve retirement savings outcomes. Guide clients through the use of behavioral finance principles and A/B testing to create effective participant communications.

Integrated Financial Wellness Programs for Advisors: Improve Client Outcomes & Strengthen Relationships

Engage Clients · Plan design & capabilities · Participant education · Employer education · Build my brand · Products and Services

How Financial Wellness Programs Elevate Your Advisory Practice

Through Ascensus, advisors can offer a fully integrated financial wellness program powered by Financial Finesse. This holistic financial wellness benefits program combines retirement plan administration with fundamental financial education and coaching. It is designed to help improve employee financial well-being by addressing daily finances, such as debt and budgeting, so they can save more effectively for retirement.

SECURE 2.0 and Retirement Planning: What Advisors Need to Know in 2026

Engage Clients · Relationship management · Article

Retirement Plan Updates for 2026: What Advisors Need to Know

Learn more about this year’s SECURE 2.0 changes and how to use them to differentiate your practice and deliver better client outcomes. 

Even as we settle into a new year, the retirement planning landscape continues to shift in response to a changing regulatory and policy environment, market volatility, inflation pressures, and numerous other factors. These changes can bring more complexity—and more opportunities—for advisors and their clients. And while advisors can’t control the markets or changing demographics, they can understand and navigate policy shifts in a way that helps drive the best possible outcomes for their clients.

The first step toward leveraging these policy shifts is understanding what’s changed. Enhanced contribution limits, a Roth-only catch-up requirement, evolving withdrawal strategies, and expanded incentives for small businesses are all redefining how advisors can support clients through this tax season and beyond. 

Navigating NQDC Plan Enrollment: Key Considerations for Advisors

Engage Clients · Plan design & capabilities · Article

NQDC Plan Key Considerations

Guiding clients through Nonqualified Deferred Compensation (NQDC) plan enrollment requires a careful review of several important factors. As an advisor, you can add significant value by helping plan sponsors and participants understand the complexities of these plans, including recent regulatory changes.

This guide provides key considerations to help you support your clients during this critical period, ensuring they can make informed decisions that align with their financial goals.

Why financing NQDC plans with corporate-owned life insurance (COLI) makes sense

Engage Clients · Plan design & capabilities · Article

Boost NQDC Value with COLI

Financial advisors seeking to deliver more value to plan sponsors while diversifying their own business can leverage COLI as a financing solution for nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plans, without disrupting their existing recordkeeping relationship. 

How advisors can increase nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plan participation during enrollment

Engage Clients · Plan design & capabilities · Article

Help Clients Increase NQDC Participation

Advisors play a key role during NQDC plan enrollment, which can be a critical time for plan sponsors. Despite their many benefits, participation rates in NQDC plans remain low (typically 20–25%*), often due to limited employee understanding. This creates a valuable opportunity for you to support your clients by educating employees and helping drive stronger engagement.

How advisors can help clients get the most out of nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plans

Engage Clients · Plan design & capabilities · Article

Evaluating NQDC Providers to Optimize Outcomes

Grow your advisory business by learning how to guide clients in selecting and optimizing nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plans for retention and growth.

Benefits of Reviewing Clients’ Nonqualified Deferred Compensation (NQDC) Plans

Engage Clients · Plan design & capabilities · Article

Why Review Clients’ NQDC Plans?

Discover how providing a free plan diagnostic for employers offering nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plans can help grow your business.  NQDC plan reviews can identify issues with the sponsor’s current plan and help them decide to change providers.

Debunking Common Myths About Nonqualified Deferred Compensation (NQDC) Plans

Engage Clients · Plan design & capabilities · Article

Debunking Common NQDC Myths

Learn the truth behind common myths about nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plans and how advisors can use them to grow their business.

Benefits of Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans for Clients

Engage Clients · Plan design & capabilities · Article

Enhancing Executive Benefits with NQDC

Help clients navigate tax burdens and enhance their retirement savings with nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plans, which complement traditional 401(k) offerings by providing higher-earning employees with competitive retirement packages. Discover the advantages of pairing NQDC plans with safe harbor 401(k) plans to meet your clients' unique needs.

How Advisors Can Maximize Client Engagement Using the Latest Compensation, Retirement, and Benefits Insights

Engage Clients · Plan design & capabilities · Insights

Compensation, Retirement, and Benefits Trends Report

In an uncertain economic landscape, balancing compensation, retirement, and benefits programs is crucial for clients looking to attract and retain talent. Leverage insights from Ascensus' annual Compensation, Retirement, and Benefits Trends Report to guide your clients in understanding their program’s competitive position and making informed decisions for the year ahead.

2024 Newport/PLANSPONSOR NQDC Trends Survey Report: Enhance Your NQDC Program, Boost Executive Retention, and Stay Competitive

Growth Strategies · Expand my practice · Insights

2024 Newport/PLANSPONSOR NQDC Trends Survey Report

Recent changes in the nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plan landscape present new opportunities for employers. Tap into the latest trends—and use them to your advantage.

Maximize Nonqualified Plans with COLI: Tax-Efficient Funding for Key Talent

Growth Strategies · Expand my practice · Article

Boost NQDC Plans with COLI

Discover how Corporate-Owned Life Insurance (COLI) can enhance nonqualified deferred compensation plans. Learn how COLI offers tax advantages, reduces plan costs, and supports long-term financial security for your clients. 

How Workplace Retirement Plans Can Accelerate Your Advisory Practice Growth

Growth Strategies · Expand my practice · Article

Workplace Retirement Plans: Distraction or Accelerator?

Discover how integrating retirement plans into your practice can enhance client relationships, capitalize on growing demand, and protect your business from competitors

Enhancing Retirement Plans: Applying NQDC Solutions to Overcome 401(k) Testing Challenges

Engage Clients · Plan design & capabilities · Article

Resolving 401(k) Testing Issues with NQDC Plans

Help your clients navigate nondiscrimination testing issues with their 401(k) plans by recommending Nonqualified Deferred Compensation (NQDC) plans and guiding them through the benefits of these plans.

What are the Best Retirement Plans for Clients Beyond a 401(k)?

Growth Strategies · Expand my practice · Article

Selling Beyond the 401(k)

For financial advisors, recommending sophisticated retirement plans beyond the standard 401(k) can unlock significant growth for your practice and provide superior value to your clients.

Proactively recommending options beyond the 401(k) helps you build stronger, long-term client relationships and defend against competitors. This guide explores four powerful retirement plan solutions to expand the possibilities for your small business clients.