2025 Top Retirement Plan Adviser: Chad Noorani
Thoughts from Chad Noorani, with Benefit Financial Services Group.
Chad Noorani
This year, PLANADVISER followed up with advisers on the 2025 Top Retirement Plan Advisers listing to get to know them better. These are the responses from Chad Noorani of Benefit Financial Services Group in Irvine, California.
PLANADVISER: What does it take to be a successful retirement plan adviser in 2025?
Noorani: In 2025, it takes more than just knowing the latest plan design strategies or ERISA regulations—it takes people skills, tech awareness and a passion for helping others get to retirement successfully. The most effective advisers on our team listen to their clients’ needs and wants before making recommendations; translate complexity into clear and simple terms; and build trust through honesty and authenticity. Having a good sense of humor does not hurt either when you’re explaining investments or fee disclosures for quarter after quarter. Our team prides itself on engaging and thoughtful commentary, regardless of the topic on the agenda.
PLANADVISER: How do you balance the desire to grow with the need to keep clients happy?
Noorani: We invest in every client relationship like it’s the foundation of our future growth—because it is. Happy clients become your best advocates. And for us, happy plan participants make for happy clients. The key is staying responsive, never losing that “white-glove” mindset, and using scalable tools and processes so new growth does not mean old friends are neglected.
New clients present an opportunity to interact with a new employee population and determine if proven methods are appropriate or if a specifically tailored approach would be optimal, based on plan or employee demographics. Existing clients have seen the path taken, have perspectives on what worked best for their unique employee base, and have been amazing with feedback as we consider new offerings along the way. The plan committees we serve also tend to go through member turnover, be it someone departing for a new role, or that successful retirement we’ve been working on for many years. A new committee member’s debut is a time for us to ensure clients remember everything our team makes available to them and their employees, as well as to highlight exciting offerings we have on the horizon.
PLANADVISER: What are the most challenging aspects of the job? What are the most enjoyable?
Noorani: Navigating constant regulatory change while making sure clients don’t feel overwhelmed, especially when many decisions are out of their hands, can be challenging at times. This is even more so when clients are balancing optional provisions as a fiduciary while also considering potential costs to the employer. Also, trying to make compliance testing and Form 5500s sound exciting in a meeting can be a challenge.
On the positive side, teaching a younger employee about the benefits of starting early or how to use Roth contributions, then seeing them five or 10 years down the road with excitement, wondering what their “next best step should be” is rewarding. Similarly, helping a participant understand that “Yes, I can retire comfortably,” is what we work toward every day. The same goes for or guiding a plan committee to make a change that will truly benefit employees and seeing the care and passion committees take in making those decisions. Those moments never get old.
PLANADVISER: For those plan sponsors looking for a new plan adviser, describe what makes your firm stand out.
Noorani: The industry is on the fast track to greater personalization, technology integration and holistic financial wellness. At BFSG, we’re not just checking the fiduciary and compliance boxes—we’re asking clients, “What we can do to make your life easier and your retirement plan better, all while reducing administrative workload and liability?” Our team approach ensures you’re never left waiting for answers, and we pride ourselves on proactivity. Sometimes a straight recommendation is what a client seeks, while other times a fair and objective group discussion that lays out the options and how they impact participants is preferrable. We blend deep industry knowledge with a down-to-earth style that makes complex topics digestible as we guide and inform client decisions. In short: We’re the team you want to work with, not the team you have to.
| Click to see the list of 2025 Top Retirement Plan Advisers |
 |