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In today’s competitive financial advisory market, offering strong investment strategies alone may not be enough to differentiate your practice. Employers are increasingly seeking advisors who offer holistic retirement plan solutions—plans that not only manage assets but also enhance employee engagement and encourage healthier financial habits.

Pooled employer plans (PEPs) are a type of retirement plan designed specifically to eliminate some of the barriers that have traditionally kept smaller businesses from offering a retirement savings plan, and make it easier for more Americans to participate in an employer sponsored retirement plan. 

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.

Discover the untapped potential of small business retirement plans and learn how these plans can expand your advisory practice to drive growth.

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. 

Help clients maximize the effectiveness of their bank-owned life insurance (BOLI) programs with these six best practices. Learn how to structure a BOLI program, understand regulatory and tax rules, review due diligence procedures, verify credit quality, monitor market conditions, and find a comprehensive provider.

Join the Elite Advisor program to enhance your advisory practice and reward your commitment to quality, transparency, and service excellence. This exclusive program offers advanced support, dedicated service, and unique opportunities to help you scale your business, position yourself as an expert, and grow your client base. 

Explore the concept of "getting there" both personally and professionally, and how it aligns with helping clients achieve their retirement goals. 
 
Our Advisor Stories series showcases real-world insights and strategies from successful advisors.

Learn how partnering with the right service provider can provide the expertise needed to grow your advisory practice.

Our Advisor Stories series showcases real-world insights and strategies from successful advisors.

Leverage advanced technology, expert insights, and comprehensive plan solutions to drive efficiency, improve outcomes, and amplify your retirement practice with Ascensus.

Enhance your advisory practice with the Elite Advisor program, offering exceptional support, advanced tools, and expanded opportunities to drive growth and client satisfaction. 

Address common employer concerns about starting a retirement plan and learn solutions to overcome them. 

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With high interest rates persisting over the past few years, it's crucial for advisors to review and enhance clients' Bank-Owned Life Insurance (BOLI) policies to improve performance, credit, and risk-weight characteristics. Learn two proven strategies to help your clients optimize their BOLI portfolios.

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

Your growing retirement plan business requires actionable insights to inform client meetings, drive strategy, and demonstrate value to your clients. Explore the benefits of becoming an Elite Advisor—access a holistic view of your business, complete with analytics and recommendations for improved results.

Learn how BOLI programs can help clients offset employee benefit expenses, achieve higher returns, and improve credit characteristics, and discover how partnering with an expert in institutional insurances can help you navigate the complexities of BOLI while growing your long-term, sustainable revenue.

Leverage innovative solutions and data-driven insights to expand your advisory practice, enhance client experiences, and achieve stronger retirement outcomes. 

Scale your retirement plan business efficiently by recommending pooled employer plans (PEPs) to clients, leveraging economies of scale and simplified administration.

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.

Expand your advisory practice by integrating retirement plans, leveraging the SECURE 2.0 Act and state mandates to meet growing demand and enhance client relationships.

CoPilot 3(38) is a streamlined retirement plan solution built for owner-only businesses. It combines automated plan administration with 3(38) fiduciary investment management, helping reduce oversight responsibilities. Advisors can offer clients a professionally monitored plan aligned to small business needs.

Daily Value Individual(k) is a retirement plan option built for owner-only businesses that want daily valuation and broad investment access. With streamlined administration and an open-architecture investment platform, this 401(k) solution supports a flexible approach to managing investments for owner-only clients. 

The Balance Forward Individual(k) is a flexible solution for owner-only business clients that want full control over how their retirement assets are invested. With this option, clients manage their account directly through their broker-dealer, while Ascensus provides the plan documents, compliance support, and recordkeeping services.

SEP and SIMPLE IRAs offers small businesses an easy, affordable way to provide retirement benefits without the administrative complexity of a 401(k). These plans give you straightforward options to support clients who want low-cost setup, predictable responsibilities, and valuable tax advantages.

Help your clients enhance employee financial well-being with Financial Wellness Essentials. This program offers personalized coaching, education tools, and engagement strategies that support long-term retirement readiness and help employees build financial resilience.

The Raymond James CoPilot 3(38) 401(k) solution helps you strengthen your advisory role by pairing 3(38) investment oversight with streamlined plan administration. With Raymond James managing investment selection and Ascensus providing recordkeeping and compliance support, you can offer clients a 401(k) plan that reinforces your value as a trusted partner to small business clients.

Use this resource to help clients understand the value of the Raymond James CoPilot 3(38) 401(k). This turnkey solution simplifies plan management, provides professional 3(38) investment oversight, and offers employees access to a well-supported retirement plan experience.

Explore how CoPilot Individual(k) with American Funds gives you a turnkey retirement solution tailored for owner-only clients. With no asset minimums, transparent pricing, and a professionally managed investment lineup, this plan makes it easy to offer a high-quality 401(k) option while reducing the administrative lift in your practice.

Use this resource to help small business clients understand the value of CoPilot Individual(k) with American Funds. With a curated investment lineup, transparent pricing, and streamlined administration, this overview explains how the plan works and why it may be a good fit for owner-only businesses looking for a professionally supported retirement plan.

Financial advisors often guide small business owners through critical decisions about retirement plans. Understanding the differences between SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, and 401(k)s can help you recommend the best option based on business size, budget, and growth goals.

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.

To maintain a competitive edge in your practice and deliver lasting value, integrating innovative wealth strategies with retirement-focused solutions is essential. Addressing both immediate and long-term goals strengthens client relationships, while also highlighting your expertise in comprehensive financial planning. This dual approach not only enhances client outcomes but also positions your practice as a reliable partner in navigating the complexities of financial and retirement strategies.

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. 

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.

Discover how Multiple Employer Plans (MEPs) and Pooled Employer Plans (PEPs) offer cost-effective, low-risk retirement solutions for clients of all sizes to help close the retirement gap.

Pooled employer plans (PEPs) are gaining traction, but persistent myths can cloud advisor-client conversations. Learn how PEPs can simplify administration, reduce fiduciary risk, and help advisors offer flexible, cost-effective retirement solutions.

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

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.

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

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.

Help clients navigate state-mandated retirement programs and explore alternative qualified plan options to meet their business needs. 

Dive into the key factors to consider when evaluating a 401(k) plan provider, ensuring that the chosen recordkeeper aligns with client needs and business goals. From understanding fee structures to assessing customer service, learn what to look for when evaluating providers to make informed decisions that benefit your clients and their employees. 

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

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

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

Scale and amplify your retirement practice by building your personal brand and leveraging Ascensus' resources and expertise.

Use these tips to encourage younger generations to start saving for retirement — enhancing your advisory practice and fostering long-term client relationships. 

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.

Help retirement plan sponsors understand their fiduciary responsibilities, positioning yourself as an essential advisor and resource. 

Understand what retirement plan sponsors look for in a financial advisor to effectively showcase your value and grow your business.

Help clients find simple opportunities to save more money, positioning yourself as a supportive and effective advisor.

Learn how mastering technology, offering comprehensive resources, and prioritizing two-way communication can help you build trust with clients as an advisor.  

Enhance your advisory practice by bridging the financial literacy gap among clients, positioning yourself as a valuable resource and trusted advisor. 

Prepare for new client meetings by anticipating key questions and providing thoughtful answers to build trust and establish long-lasting relationships.

Boost your financial advisory practice by dedicating a few hours each week to marketing activities, leveraging community engagement, social media, and thought leadership content.

Guide clients to stay on track with their retirement savings goals, fostering retirement confidence and long-term financial success. 

Managed account programs offer personalized solutions to improve retirement readiness for plan participants. Share the key aspects of managed accounts and how they can enhance retirement outcomes with plan sponsors, and learn how it can help you scale your practice. 

Learn how writing effective prospecting emails—focusing on client needs and establishing value—can help you grow your 401(k) business.

Help your clients confidently navigate their investment journey by understanding and managing their risk tolerance, positioning yourself as their trusted financial guide.

Expand your book of business by leveraging easy prospecting methods and partnering with specialized providers to offer 401(k) plans to clients.

Enhance client retention and grow your advisory practice by building strong relationships through effective communication and personalized engagement.

Guide clients through cybersecurity best practices and assessment strategies, helping protect their retirement plans against cyber threats.