2026 PLANADVISER Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year

The PLANADVISER Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year finalists and winners demonstrate leadership and a commitment to excellence in serving retirement plan sponsors and participants and contributing to the retirement plan adviser industry.

This year, advisers are being recognized for their excellence in the following areas:

• Closing the Coverage Gap — Micro/Startup Plans
• Closing the Coverage Gap — MEPs/PEPs*
• Inclusivity and Career Development
• 403(b) Plan Service
• Plan Participant Service
• Plan Sponsor Service

*Multiple Employer Plans/Pooled Employer Plans

For Plan Sponsor Service, Plan Participant Service and 403(b) Plan Service, we accept nominations from plan sponsor clients only. For the other categories, we take nominations from adviser partners across the industry, including recordkeepers, asset managers, other advisers and product providers. Self-nominations are prohibited.

Recognition in all categories is given to individuals, except in Inclusivity and Career Development, in which teams may be recognized.

Nominees are judged on a mixture of qualitative and quantitative measures, including tenure in the business; retirement plan business as a percentage of practice revenue; answers to essay questions; compliance records; and willingness to serve in a fiduciary role to clients’ plans. Finalists are interviewed by judges before a winner is selected.

For 2026, we received 89 nominations, and 29 finalists were selected. The list of finalists can be seen below.

The 2026 Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year finalists will be recognized, and winners announced, at PLANADVISER’s annual Industry Leader Awards celebration in May.