2025 Top Retirement Plan Adviser: Steven Puckett

Steven Puckett

This year, PLANADVISER followed up with advisers on the 2025 Top Retirement Plan Advisers listing to get to know them better. These are the responses from Steven Puckett of Fiduciary Pension Partners in Westfield, New Jersey.

PLANADVISER: What does it take to be a successful retirement plan adviser in 2025? 

Puckett: Success in 2025 requires a dynamic blend of adaptability, expertise and innovation. Every client is different, and providing tailored guidance that aligns with each organization’s goals remains a top priority at Fiduciary Pension Partners. 

Keeping pace with legislative and regulatory changes is critical. Our firm stays informed to ensure our clients understand how evolving rules may impact their plans. Just as important is staying ahead of product innovation to help improve participant outcomes. 

Our team also embraces new technologies—particularly artificial intelligence—to streamline operations, enhance efficiency and deliver deeper insights. Advisers who continue to evolve alongside the industry are best positioned to drive meaningful value for their clients. 

PLANADVISER: Has the focus or character of your practice shifted meaningfully over time to respond to evolving client demands, market pressures, or the emergence of new technologies? 

Puckett: Over time, FPP has placed a stronger emphasis on participant education to meet evolving client needs and market challenges. We recognize that empowering plan participants is essential to achieving better retirement outcomes. To that end, our firm offers group education sessions tailored to each client’s workforce, as well as complimentary one-on-one meetings to all plan participants for more personalized guidance. 

Additionally, we continuously update our YouTube channel with educational videos designed to address common participant questions and concerns. We take pride in ensuring participants know we are accessible and supportive—whether they are navigating heightened market volatility or just beginning their retirement journey. This commitment reflects our broader focus on holistic plan success that benefits both clients and their employees. 

PLANADVISER: What are the most challenging aspects of the job? What are the most enjoyable? 

Puckett: One of the most challenging aspects of being a retirement plan adviser is navigating external forces beyond our control—such as geopolitical events, regulatory shifts, market volatility and global conflicts—that can significantly impact our clients’ plans and participants. These variables require constant vigilance and thoughtful guidance to help clients adapt and stay on course.  

At the same time, those very challenges are part of what makes the work so rewarding. Each day presents a new set of circumstances and opportunities to solve problems in a way that makes a real difference. One of the most fulfilling aspects of the role is listening closely to clients and then designing, tailoring and implementing retirement plan solutions that align with their goals. Helping clients feel confident and prepared for the future is what we pride ourselves on at Fiduciary Pension Partners. It is at the core of how we serve and support every client relationship. 

PLANADVISER: How do you foresee the retirement plan industry evolving in the coming decades? Will your practice look much the same in 10 years, or do you see significant evolution coming? 

Puckett: In the decade ahead, the retirement plan industry will continue to emphasize expanding retirement plan access and promoting long-term retirement readiness. This is already evident in the growth of state-mandated retirement programs and rising demand for retirement income solutions, as participants seek greater financial security throughout retirement. 

A growing trend we are closely watching is the increased adoption of pooled employer plans, which offer adopting employers key benefits such as reduced fiduciary risk, potential cost savings, and simplified plan administration and compliance. 

At Fiduciary Pension Partners, we stay ahead of these changes by actively participating in industry events and ongoing training. While technology and plan structures will continue to evolve, our firm remains grounded in our core values—delivering personalized service, clear guidance and trusted relationships. That client-first philosophy will continue to define how we support plan sponsors and their participants in the years ahead. 

PLANADVISER: For the plan sponsor looking for a new plan adviser, describe what makes your firm stand out.

Puckett: Fiduciary Pension Partners is a conflict-free, independent registered investment adviser focused exclusively on retirement plan consulting. What sets our firm apart is the level of service and structure we provide. FPP delivers white-glove support through a consultative approach rooted in what we call the four-legged stool: governance, benchmarking, vendor management and education. These pillars form the foundation of every client relationship.

We also take a goals-based approach—working closely with each plan sponsor to align retirement plan strategy with broader organizational and employee objectives. Our team is dedicated to simplifying plan oversight while helping organizations build retirement programs that are effective, compliant and aligned with long-term success.

Click to see the list of 2025 Top Retirement Plan Advisers

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