Products August 7, 2020

ICMA-RC Expands Virtual Financial Planning Services for Retirement Plan Participants

The move will expand the availability of the firm’s Certified Financial Planners to working and retired participants.

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ICMA-RC has announced that it has enhanced its Guided Pathways Services program by expanding its financial planning and consultation services to better meet the needs of more working and retired participants. This will expand the virtual availability of ICMA-RC Certified Financial Planner (CFP) professionals. These CFPs will address the financial standing of a participant’s entire household, including that of their spouse or significant other.

According to a June COVID-19 research brief by the Center for State and Local Government Excellence (SLGE), sponsored by ICMA-RC, only 23% of public sector respondents currently work with a financial professional, but 53% strongly or somewhat agree that they can get the help they need to make smart financial decisions during the pandemic.

“ICMA-RC is always looking for innovative ways to support our clients, especially during times like we are facing today, when clients need more help than ever before,” says Lynne Ford, CEO and president of ICMA-RC. “This expanded service offering to meet our clients where they are will allow us to strengthen our relationships with both working participants and retirees by providing them with more targeted and comprehensive financial planning guidance they may have missed out on in the past.”

The firm will conduct the consultations via phone, online, email or mobile device. ICMA-RC will also be holding national webinars on various topics that participants can access.

Products August 7, 2020

Nationwide to Waive Fees for Eligible Retirement Plans

The goal is to help sponsors address COVID-19’s impact.

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Nationwide Retirement Plans has announced a temporary financial relief program for plans that move to Nationwide this year.

“We recognize companies, families and individuals are facing financial challenges right now due to the pandemic, and we’re here to support plan sponsors and their participants to help ease their burden during these challenging times,” says Eric Stevenson, president of Nationwide Retirement Plans. “We want to help businesses balance the costs of offering retirement plans with the vital need for their employees to prepare for a secure retirement—a challenge that has been exacerbated by recent market volatility and uncertainty.”

The fee waiver is available on Nationwide’s flagship Flexible Advantage retirement plan solution, beginning August 1. If eligibility criteria are met, Nationwide will waive its portion of the plan’s asset fee for 90 days from the date of the first deposit to Nationwide.

Nationwide first debuted Flexible Advantage in 2011. It offers a variety of investment options without proprietary fund requirements, alongside what the firm calls fee transparency, fee-based compensation and comprehensive support. Nationwide developed the offering for advisers who are predominantly fee-based and earn 60% or more of their revenue from retirement plans.

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