PLANADVISER: How do you define excellence in retirement plan advising today, and what factors do you use to measure or evaluate your effectiveness with clients?
Thibault: Excellence in retirement plan advising is helping clients and participants meet their unique goals and objectives. Not all clients are created equal, nor do plan participants have the same goals and objective. Our motto is “Because you’re different,” meaning we customize our approach to meet our clients’ needs. We measure our success by seeing if we move the needle on our clients’ goals. For instance, if their goal is improved deferral rates, did we improve from 6% to 10%?
Excellence in retirement plan advising today is defined by our ability to help plan sponsors and participants achieve outcomes that are meaningful to them—rather than applying a one‑size‑fits‑all solution. Every organization has unique objectives, workforce demographics, corporate culture and fiduciary considerations, and effective advising begins with recognizing those differences.
Our philosophy is rooted in the belief that not all plans—and not all participants—are created equal. That is why our approach is intentionally customized. Our internal motto, “Because you’re different,” reflects our commitment to tailoring plan design, investment oversight, fiduciary support and participant education to each client’s specific needs and goals. Excellence means taking the time to listen, understand priorities and develop solutions that are both practical and actionable.
We measure excellence not by intent, but by outcomes. Our effectiveness is evaluated by whether we move the needle on the goals our clients define as success. Those metrics vary by plan and are established collaboratively with the sponsor. For example:
- If a client’s priority is improving participant savings behavior, we assess success through measurable changes such as increasing average deferral rates—moving from 6% to 10%, for instance;
- If the focus is stronger fiduciary governance, we evaluate improvements in committee processes, decision documentation and overall confidence in fulfilling fiduciary responsibilities;
- If participant engagement and retirement readiness are key objectives, we measure participation rates, utilization of education and advice, and progress toward readiness benchmarks; and
- When cost efficiency and value are top concerns, we review fee transparency, plan design optimization and whether services align with outcomes delivered.
Ultimately, excellence in retirement plan advising is demonstrated through measurable progress, informed decisionmaking and plan outcomes that align with the sponsor’s intent. Our role is to serve as a true strategic partner—helping clients and participants move closer to sustainable retirement success with clarity, confidence and accountability.
PLANADVISER: In what ways has your practice evolved in recent years in response to client needs, market conditions or industry developments?
Thibault: Our team has a passion for promoting financial literacy by helping educate individual participants by using whatever modem they prefer. We continue to hire education consultants that provide independent fiduciary services to all levels of plan participants.
Our practice has evolved significantly in recent years in direct response to changing client needs, participant expectations and broader industry developments. As plan complexity has increased and responsibility has shifted more toward individual participants, we recognized that financial literacy and accessible education are no longer optional—they are essential to plan success.
One of the most meaningful ways we have evolved is by expanding how we deliver participant education. We understand that participants engage differently depending on their age, role, comfort level and life stage. As a result, we focus on meeting participants through the communication modalities they prefer, whether that means in‑person meetings, virtual consultations, group workshops, webinars, mobile tools or written content. This flexibility has allowed us to reach more participants and drive higher engagement across the plan.
In response to heightened fiduciary awareness and demand for objective guidance, we have also continued to invest in and hire education consultants who provide independent fiduciary services to all levels of plan participants. These professionals deliver unbiased, participant‑centric guidance focused on education, retirement readiness and decisionmaking—rather than product sales. This evolution reflects both regulatory expectations and our belief that participants benefit most from advice that is conflict‑free and aligned with their long‑term goals.
Overall, our practice has shifted from a traditional advisory model to a more holistic, outcomes‑oriented approach—one that emphasizes education, fiduciary integrity and personalization. By evolving alongside our clients and the industry, we are better positioned to support improved participant behavior, stronger plan outcomes and greater confidence among plan sponsors and their workforces.
PLANADVISER: For plan sponsors evaluating advisers, what characteristics or capabilities distinguish you from your peers?
Thibault: First and foremost, does the plan sponsor like the individual or team that they will work with? Secondly, does the plan sponsor feel that the adviser will always have their best interest in mind? We want to make sure that our clients view our relationship as a true partnership that will evolve and adapt with evolving times and that we will always have their best interest in mind.
For plan sponsors evaluating advisers, our greatest differentiator begins with relationships built on trust, alignment and credibility. First and foremost, it is essential that the plan sponsor genuinely likes—and feels comfortable with—the individual or team it will be working with. Retirement plans are long‑term commitments, and productive outcomes depend on open communication, mutual respect and a strong working relationship.
Equally important, plan sponsors must feel confident that their adviser will always act in their best interest. We distinguish ourselves by placing fiduciary responsibility and client advocacy at the center of everything we do. Our advice is objective, transparent and guided by what is best for the plan sponsor and participants—not by product sales or short‑term incentives. This commitment builds confidence and reinforces trust over time.
Beyond personal rapport and fiduciary alignment, we focus on positioning ourselves as a true strategic partner, not simply a service provider. We take the time to understand each client’s goals, challenges and evolving needs, and we proactively adapt our approach as regulations change, workforce demographics shift or market conditions evolve. Our clients know that our relationship is dynamic, not static, and designed to grow alongside their organization.
What ultimately sets us apart is the consistency with which we show up: responsive, accountable and focused on outcomes. Plan sponsors view us as an extension of their team—someone they can rely on for thoughtful guidance, steady leadership and long‑term support. By combining strong personal relationships, unwavering fiduciary commitment and a partnership mindset, we deliver an advisory experience that evolves with our clients and remains aligned with their best interests at every stage.