Enabling premium account management services
In a survey conducted by J.P. Morgan, 60% of participants in defined contribution plans wish they could completely hand over retirement planning to an advisor.1 In addition to target date funds and managed services, Pontera offers participants a path to bespoke, in-plan guidance by enabling wealth advisors to rebalance and manage 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and more. By working with Pontera, advisory firms can provide a path to premium account management services for participants who need it.
Giving wealth advisory departments an edge
Financial firms with both plan and wealth advisory departments recognize how this comprehensive approach leads to higher customer satisfaction and retention. Why not empower your wealth managers with the ability to advise on plan accounts? It can have a big impact; studies show retirement accounts can grow up to 75% larger when professionally managed by financial advisors.1
Adding more value into plan sponsor proposals
Plan advisor expertise is critical in maximizing value for sponsors and their participants with plan lineups, fund access, and more. Another important value driver is participant support. Pontera is already enabling professional management services for the majority of employer-sponsored plan accounts. A customized and comprehensive in-plan wealth offering can be a significant value add to employees who may not be a fit for target date funds or AMA offerings.
Protect participant security
Providing in-plan advice has been an area of security and ERISA compliance concern. Without Pontera, financial advisors may resort to directly logging into the recordkeeper’s website on the client’s behalf to provide 401(k) management services. This practice creates substantial cybersecurity risk to the participant and the recordkeeper. Plan advisors can support wealth managers in applying secure and compliant practices with Pontera, which provides a secure barrier between the advisor and the participant’s account. The Pontera platform uses bank-level encryption, is SOC 2 certified by EY, and restricts advisor actions to in-plan management.
