401(k) Fund Monitoring Services

Investment monitoring fees typically range from 0.25% to 0.75% of plan assets annually, depending on plan size and service complexity. Many plan sponsors find that fees recovered through our benchmarking process and share class optimization exceed advisory costs. We provide transparent fee proposals showing exactly what services are covered and how our fiduciary support protects you from the $3.2 million average litigation settlement.

Three things set us apart. First, we generate over 90% of our revenue from corporate retirement plans, demonstrating true specialization rather than treating DC plans as a side business. Second, all our advisors can act as 3(21) or 3(38) named fiduciaries under ERISA, providing direct liability protection. Third, we're independently owned with no parent company pressure to recommend proprietary products. Our investment methodology evaluates over $120 billion quarterly using a proven 10-point scoring system.

Initial analysis typically takes 30-45 days from plan documentation review through recommendations. Quarterly monitoring reviews occur within two weeks of quarter-end, with Investment Committee meetings scheduled at your convenience. The process is designed to minimize demands on your time while providing comprehensive fiduciary oversight. We handle coordination with third party administrators and recordkeepers to implement any changes.

The Department of Labor and courts expect ongoing prudent monitoring as a separate fiduciary duty established in the Supreme Court Tibble decision. We conduct quarterly reviews to demonstrate procedural prudence and catch performance issues early. Annual monitoring is the minimum best practice, but quarterly analysis provides stronger audit protection and ensures investments consistently serve participants' best interest.

A 3(21) co-fiduciary provides investment recommendations and advice while plan sponsors retain final decision-making authority. A 3(38) investment manager has discretionary responsibility for selecting and monitoring plan investments, assuming greater liability but relieving sponsors of investment decisions. Both are named fiduciaries under ERISA. We can act in either capacity depending on how much fiduciary responsibility you want to delegate.

Our proprietary 10-point pass/fail scoring system evaluates multiple characteristics including fund style consistency, risk-adjusted returns against peer groups, expense ratios, fund manager tenure, and asset flows. We measure performance using institutional techniques applied to over $120 billion in retirement plan assets quarterly. Funds must meet established criteria across all factors to pass. Those consistently failing receive replacement recommendations with documented rationale.