Sponsoring a retirement plan is one of the most meaningful things you can do for your employees — and one of the most consequential obligations you carry as an employer. Most plan sponsors and their ERISA attorneys share the same concerns: no independent oversight, no dedicated investment advisor, no clear fiduciary process. That’s where we come in.
Fiduciary process and
compliance
A documented, defensible process that demonstrates you’re doing the right thing.
Independent oversight that reduces your personal exposure as an individual fiduciary.
Scrutiny of plan fees to ensure costs are reasonable and competitive.
Independent guidance and advice in your best interest.
Best-practice options and support that helps participants make confident decisions.
A properly maintained Investment Policy Statement, a foundational requirement many plans lack.
The companies we serve care deeply about their employees’ financial futures and want their retirement plan to reflect that. You may be a strong fit if you want to:
Every company has different needs. Our tiered service model ensures you get the right level of guidance from comprehensive, customized fiduciary support to efficient, streamlined oversight. The table below outlines what’s included at each level.
| Feature | MAX SERVICE Higher touch & custom Typical size: $10m+ | STANDARD SERVICE Medium touch Typical size: $2-10m | BASIC SERVICE/WATCHDOG No or Low touch Typical size: <$10m |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-Step Fiduciary Process | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | ✔︎ Limited/client implement |
| Fiduciary Education | ✔︎ (Live or Video Recording) | ✔︎ (Video Recording) | ✔︎ (Video Recording) |
| Fulfill Fiduciary Responsibility* | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | ✔︎ |
| Reduce Fiduciary Liability* | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | ✔︎ |
| Avoid 401(k) Product Company Conflicts | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | ✔︎ |
| Structure Design & Problem Solving | ✔︎ | ✔︎ Projects of larger scope | ✔︎ Project options available |
| Live Fiduciary Support as needed | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | X |
| Sample Minutes & Committee Charter | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | ✔︎ |
| Investment Policy Statement | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | ✔︎ Standardized, w/option |
| Custom TDF/TAF or Vanguard TDF | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | ✔︎ Vanguard TDF only |
| Individual Asset Class Options | ✔︎ Optional from inside TDFs | ✔︎ Optional from inside TDFs | ✔︎ Client select/monitor*** |
| Work w/Record-keeper to Support Plan Design | ✔︎ | ✔︎ Limited | X |
| Plan Transition Support | ✔︎ | ✔︎ Limited | ✔︎ via Record-keeper only |
| Record-keeper Recommendations | ✔︎ Vetted list or paid search | ✔︎ Vetted List | ✔︎ Vetted list or client choice |
| Fiduciary & Participant Reports | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | ✔︎ Standardized |
| Fiduciary Committee Meetings | ✔︎ 2-4/year customized | ✔︎ 1-2/year | ✔︎ One-to-many video |
| Employee Education | ✔︎ Custom, in-person / video | ✔︎ Semi-custom, live video | ✔︎ Standardized video recording |
| Advisory Fee | ✔︎ $25k minimum | ✔︎ $10k or 15k min.** | ✔︎ $2k: Under $2m; $4k: $2-5m; $6k: >$5m-$10m; $8k: >$10m-$20m |
Additional details available. TDF = Target Date Funds. TAF = Target Allocation Funds. For all service engagements, The Advisory Group serves as an ERISA Section 3(38) investment manager which mitigates the burden of investment liability for the plan sponsor. Max and Standard service fees based on a tiered fee schedule, inquire for details. Custom TDF’s require enabled record-keeper and utilized standardized custom glidepath. Watchdog details subject to change. Pricing is annual. RK = Outside record-keeper, separate fee. Basic fee if plan >$10m = varies.
*Fiduciaries also have responsibilities outside of advisory engagement.
**Standard Service level custom TDF minimum fee $15k.
***Basic Service monitored individual mutual fund options: Additional $4k fee per year for standardized list and basic reporting from advisor, and/or $2k/year for basic reporting for funds that are outside of standard lists, if desired.
| MAX SERVICE Higher touch & custom Typical size: $10m+ |
|---|
| 5-Step Fiduciary Process |
| ✔︎ |
| Fiduciary Education |
| ✔︎ (Live or Video Recording) |
| Fulfill Fiduciary Responsibility* |
| ✔︎ |
| Reduce Fiduciary Liability* |
| ✔︎ |
| Avoid 401(k) Product Company Conflicts |
| ✔︎ |
| Structure Design & Problem Solving |
| ✔︎ |
| Live Fiduciary Support as needed |
| ✔︎ |
| Sample Minutes & Committee Charter |
| ✔︎ |
| Investment Policy Statement |
| ✔︎ |
| Custom TDF/TAF or Vanguard TDF |
| ✔︎ |
| Individual Asset Class Options |
| ✔︎ Optional from inside TDFs |
| Work w/Record-keeper to Support Plan Design |
| ✔︎ |
| Plan Transition Support |
| ✔︎ |
| Record-keeper Recommendations |
| ✔︎ Vetted list or paid search |
| Fiduciary & Participant Reports |
| ✔︎ |
| Fiduciary Committee Meetings |
| ✔︎ 2-4/year customized |
| Employee Education |
| ✔︎ Custom, in-person / video |
| Advisory Fee |
| ✔︎ $25k minimum |
| STANDARD SERVICE Medium touch Typical size: $2-10m |
|---|
| 5-Step Fiduciary Process |
| ✔︎ |
| Fiduciary Education |
| ✔︎ (Video Recording) |
| Fulfill Fiduciary Responsibility* |
| ✔︎ |
| Reduce Fiduciary Liability* |
| ✔︎ |
| Avoid 401(k) Product Company Conflicts |
| ✔︎ |
| Structure Design & Problem Solving |
| ✔︎ Projects of larger scope |
| Live Fiduciary Support as needed |
| ✔︎ |
| Sample Minutes & Committee Charter |
| ✔︎ |
| Investment Policy Statement |
| ✔︎ |
| Custom TDF/TAF or Vanguard TDF |
| ✔︎ |
| Individual Asset Class Options |
| ✔︎ Optional from inside TDFs |
| Work w/Record-keeper to Support Plan Design |
| ✔︎ Limited |
| Plan Transition Support |
| ✔︎ Limited |
| Record-keeper Recommendations |
| ✔︎ Vetted List |
| Fiduciary & Participant Reports |
| ✔︎ |
| Fiduciary Committee Meetings |
| ✔︎ 1-2/year |
| Employee Education |
| ✔︎ Semi-custom, live video |
| Advisory Fee |
| ✔︎ $10k or $15k min.** |
| BASIC SERVICE / WATCHDOG No or Low touch Typical size: <$10m |
|---|
| 5-Step Fiduciary Process |
| ✔︎ Limited/client implement |
| Fiduciary Education |
| ✔︎ (Video Recording) |
| Fulfill Fiduciary Responsibility* |
| ✔︎ |
| Reduce Fiduciary Liability* |
| ✔︎ |
| Avoid 401(k) Product Company Conflicts |
| ✔︎ |
| Structure Design & Problem Solving |
| ✔︎ Project options available |
| Live Fiduciary Support as needed |
| X |
| Sample Minutes & Committee Charter |
| ✔︎ |
| Investment Policy Statement |
| ✔︎ Standardized, w/option |
| Custom TDF/TAF or Vanguard TDF |
| ✔︎ Vanguard TDF only |
| Individual Asset Class Options |
| ✔︎ Client select/monitor*** |
| Work w/Record-keeper to Support Plan Design |
| X |
| Plan Transition Support |
| ✔︎ via Record-keeper only |
| Record-keeper Recommendations |
| ✔︎ Vetted list or client choice |
| Fiduciary & Participant Reports |
| ✔︎ Standardized |
| Fiduciary Committee Meetings |
| ✔︎ One-to-many video |
| Employee Education |
| ✔︎ Standardized video recording |
| Advisory Fee |
| ✔︎ $2k: Under $2m; $4k: $2-5m; $6k: >$5m-$10m; $8k: >$10m-$20m |
Additional details available. TDF = Target Date Funds. TAF = Target Allocation Funds. For all service engagements, The Advisory Group serves as an ERISA Section 3(38) investment manager which mitigates the burden of investment liability for the plan sponsor. Max and Standard service fees based on a tiered fee schedule, inquire for details. Custom TDF’s require enabled record-keeper and utilized standardized custom glidepath. Watchdog details subject to change. Pricing is annual. RK = Outside record-keeper, separate fee. Basic fee if plan >$10m = varies.
*Fiduciaries also have responsibilities outside of advisory engagement.
**Standard Service level custom TDF minimum fee $15k.
***Basic Service monitored individual mutual fund options: Additional $4k fee per year for standardized list and basic reporting from advisor, and/or $2k/year for basic reporting for funds that are outside of standard lists, if desired.
Our institutional-quality, proven process applies industry best practices to help you manage a prudent investment process, understand and fulfill your fiduciary responsibility, and improve outcomes for your employees. You focus on your business, and we make sure your plan is working the way it should.
A native San Francisco firm serving plan sponsors nationwide
Specializing in $10M–50M, with options for smaller plans
Professional services, law firms, healthcare & family-owned businesses