Retirement Plan Services

 

A financially secure future is highly valued by employees and represents significant responsibility for plan sponsors. Athens Benefits works with employers to deliver retirement plan solutions that maximize efficiency, reduce fiduciary liability exposure, and maintain essential plan compliance. We provide guidance for investment selection, review and communication, and local support for ongoing needs.

Athens Benefits is the first NRP (National Retirement Partners) member firm in Northern California. As part of this nationwide organization with members serving over 3,500 retirement plans with assets in excess of $35 billion, we have access to extensive resources and expertise including benchmarking analysis, open architecture plan analysis and design, investment due diligence, and comprehensive employee communications formats. With these vast resources as tools, our services include:

Plan Due Diligence

Each key element of your qualified retirement plan is reviewed to identify potential opportunities; to support fiduciary responsibilities, reduce workload and cost; and to maximize plan effectiveness and suitability to established goals.

Ongoing Fiduciary Support

  • Due Diligence meetings with Investment Committee to review available funds, current fund performance, and discuss ongoing plan success options
  • The Fiduciary Monitoring Report, a proprietary investment review using software reports from Zepher Style Advisor, and Principia.
  • Due Diligence minutes prepared for all Investment Committee meetings
  • Annual Market Summary
  • Due Diligence Audit and Contract Analysis
  • Vendor Service and Pricing Review
  • Expense and Revenue Analysis

Employee Communications

  • Clear, concise, and successful communication programs focusing on employee education and plan visibility.
  • Quarterly employer newsletter and Capital Markets Commentary.
  • On-site enrollment and investment education meetings.
  • Targeted communication initiatives encouraging employees to save for retirement by focusing on their individual needs.
  • Webinar and video conferencing available for remote locations.

Compliance

Ensuring that your plan remains in compliance with Department of Labor and IRS requirements while meeting corporate objectives is an important aspect of the Athens partnership. We accomplish this through:

  • Customized 404(c) Compliance toolkit to simplify complicated rules and ensure all legal requirements are met.
  • Plan design recommendations to align plan goals and objectives with the latest legislation and regulations.
  • Customized Due Diligence file to assist in developing a plan IRS/DOL documentation file.
  • Compliance and Fiduciary Calendar, providing an overview of the plan year and assistance with tracking and reminders for upcoming plan activities.
  • Investment Policy Statement, a definitive statement outlining investment-related responsibilities and prudent management.

Extensive Plan Options

As part of an integrated plan design, Athens Benefits can support a wide range of programs including:

  • 401(k) Employee Deferral Plans
  • 401 (a) Employer Profit Sharing Plans
  • Defined Benefit Plans
  • Cash Balance Plans
  • Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOPs)
  • Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plans