Products September 20, 2010

Company Introduces Interactive Participant Education System

Manchester, New Hampshire-based TPA Retirement Alliance has launched SmartPlan Enterprise, an online participant education and communication system.
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The new offering, developed by vWise, is designed to help investment advisers and third-party administrators increase 401(k) and 403(b) plan participation, fulfill fiduciary duty and reduce the need for print communications and onsite meetings, the company said.

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Hosts on the SmartPlan Enterprise video discuss plan features and benefits of participation, then steer users through an interactive process that helps them discover their individual retirement needs, determine risk profiles, and choose plan investments and contribution amounts, an announcement said. Because the news system is integrated with Retirement Alliance’s recordkeeping, participant choices are uploaded directly to the plan database in real time.

For employers, the technology is supported by a set of customizable promotional tools, including payroll stuffers, automated e-mails, and video ads, among others. Customized user tracking and analytics reports allow employers to more closely manage retirement plans while reducing support costs.

According to vWise, sponsors who use the system seeing a 30% increase in plan participation, the release said.

Deals & People September 20, 2010

Reliance Trust Hires Buckles to Lead Expanded Retirement Unit

Reliance Trust Company's Retirement Strategies division is expanding its Special Fiduciary Services business unit.
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Reliance Trust has hired Kent Buckles, former CEO of Invesmart Inc., and former Senior Vice President of Standard Insurance Company, to lead the unit that will address the emerging fiduciary risks of qualified retirement plans, public company stock funds, ESOP transactions, and stable value funds.

Buckles will join Reliance Trust senior consultants Stephen Martin, Howard Kaplan and Lance Studdard, who have been responsible for growing the company. Buckles will direct all Special Fiduciary Services operations and contribute to the strategic development of fiduciary activities for Reliance Trust. He will also work with Reliance Financial Corporation’s senior leadership to advance several of the company’s long-term initiatives and programs for its Special Fiduciary Services team.

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Prior to joining Reliance Trust, Buckles was the Vice President of Retirement Plans of Standard Insurance Company where he managed the merger of two sales organizations, developing an institutional sales unit and integrated an investment advisory unit as well as developing a fully integrated marketing organization. He has also served as the CEO of Investmart Inc., First Vice President CEO of Merrill Lynch & Company, and President and COO of Howard Johnson & Company.
 

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