James F. Sampson

Jim Sampson likes to think that the retirement plan at his firm can be used as a role model for his clients. “We firmly believe if it’s not good enough for us, it’s not good enough for our clients,” he says. Telamon’s plan uses automatic enrollment, automated deferral increases, target-date funds, and offers a Roth 401(k) option. Practicing what they preached wasn’t always enough, unfortunately. Sampson says that, when he was pushing these plan designs about two years ago, his clients were reluctant to consider them. However, since the passage of the Pension Protection Act, “people don’t think I am as crazy as they used to,” he says.

Sampson is the 401(k) specialist at Telamon, a property, casualty, and employee benefits firm. He has been there for almost five years and, during that time, has grown it from a relatively small practice with a smattering of 401(k) plans to one with $107 million under management. He focuses on plans with between $1 million and $10 million in assets.

Sampson is going to add some administrative support in the beginning of 2008, and the firm’s CFP, who traditionally has helped Sampson by offering one-on-one meetings with plan participants, will be taking on more of a servicing role, he explains. Also planned is the development a new Wealth Management group. Part of the growth will be facilitated by the recent move to NFP Securities as his broker/dealer, he says, allowing him to operate under their corporate RIA and move to a fee-based model.