Shane Hanson
CEO, Freedom Fiduciaries
Business at a Glance as of 12/31/24
- Location: Boise, Idaho
- How many retirement plan assets do you have under advisement? $437M
- What is your median plan size (in assets)? $4.3M
- How many plans do you have under administration? 102
- How many participants in total do you serve? 11,000
- Parent firm: Not applicable
PLANADVISER: How is your team unique in the marketplace? How do you differentiate yourself from others?
Hanson: Our team at Freedom Fiduciaries is unique in its deep specialization in both ERISA compliance and innovative retirement plan solutions. We differentiate ourselves by adopting a holistic approach to retirement plan services, integrating cutting-edge proprietary technology with personalized advisory services. Our team’s commitment to ongoing education and adopting best practices allows us to offer personal and proactive service.
PLANADVISER: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received and from whom did it come?
Hanson: The best advice we’ve ever received was from a seasoned industry mentor, who said, “Always put the client’s needs first, and success will follow.” This simple, yet profound, guidance has shaped our approach to business and client relations, reminding us that our primary role as fiduciaries is to serve with a deep commitment to our clients’ best interests.
PLANADVISER: What type of plan sponsor is your typical client? Please describe your average service model and deliverables.
Hanson: Freedom Fiduciaries typically engages with plan sponsors who are deeply committed to their fiduciary responsibilities, value long-term partnerships and prioritize their employees’ secure retirement. Although our clients vary widely in location, size and industry, they all share these core values. Our service model is built around providing proactive, comprehensive guidance. Deliverables typically include customized plan design, compliance reviews, employee education programs and ongoing performance monitoring to ensure alignment with the sponsors’ objectives and regulatory requirements.
PLANADVISER: What are three of the most important issues your plan sponsor clients face with their company retirement plans? What actions do you take to assist them in overcoming those issues?
Hanson: The three prevalent issues our clients face are: managing payroll and data integration, navigating service provider relationships, and resolving operational challenges that arise. To address these, we provide strategic oversight and technology solutions to streamline payroll processes, offer rigorous service provider evaluations to ensure alignment with client needs and maintain an agile response system for timely issue resolution. Our approach is to simplify complexities and enhance the functionality and manageability of their retirement plans.
PLANADVISER: What’s your favorite book or podcast?
Hanson: My favorite book is “The Ultimate Gift,” by Jim Stovall. It tells the story of a young man who learns lessons about work ethic, the value of friends and family, the importance of learning, and the gift of giving through a series of tasks he must complete to inherit his grandfather’s fortune. This narrative aligns with our philosophy of imparting values that extend beyond financial gain, emphasizing personal growth and community contribution.