PLANADVISER’s 2013 Top 100 Retirement Plan Advisers

The PLANADVISER Top 100 Advisers is a listing of the advisers and adviser teams competing for the annual PLANSPONSOR Retirement Plan Adviser and Adviser Team of the Year awards who stand out in terms of a series of quantitative measures.
Reported by PLANADVISER Staff
Zara Picken

For the 2013 list, we added a new category alongside the individual and team categories: multi-office team. As for how they are defined: An individual adviser is a single adviser with one group of clients; a team is a group of two or more advisers in one office location who collectively serve one group of clients, sharing relationships and sales and using the same client support team; a multioffice team is a group of two or more advisers across multiple office locations who share support staff and follow the same guidelines and procedures to serve clients. 

In the pages that follow, we highlight the quantitative standouts, in terms of dollar value of qualified plan assets under advisement as well as number of plans under advisement by individuals, teams and multioffice teams. We also draw attention to those who have a demonstrable presence, defined as having more than 20% of their practice (up from 15% or more last year) focused on 403(b) plans, 457 plans, defined benefit (DB) plans or nonqualified plans. 

Just how successful are these Top 100 Advisers? Collectively, the 32 individual advisers represent about 1,985 plans and $44 billion in retirement plan assets, while the 52 adviser teams on the list collectively serve approximately 3,670 plans and $113 billion in plan assets. Although there are only 16 multioffice teams, their client lists total 2,645 plans and $91 billion in retirement plan assets. 

 


Methodology: The advisers listed here are taken from entries for the 2013 PLANSPONSOR Retirement Plan Adviser and Adviser Team of the Year awards. To enter the awards process, nominees must complete a form providing various details of their practice. The PLANADVISER Top 100 is based solely on quantitative factors.
 
 
Individuals: 
Individuals With $200 Million or More in AUA 
Individuals With 50 or More Plans  
 
 
Teams: 
Teams With $750 Million or More in AUA 
Teams With 100 or More Plans  
 
 
Multioffice Team: 
Multioffice Team With $1.25 Billion or More in AUA 
Multioffice Team With 125 or More Plans 
 
 
Team and Individuals With: 
20% or More in 403(b) Plans 
20% or More in 457 Plans 
20% or More in Nonqualified Plans 
20% or More in Defined Benefit Plans 

Individuals With $200 Million or More in AUA: $200MM to $350MM 

John Barry 

JMB Wealth Management/National Planning Corporation
Torrance, California 

William B. Campbell 

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Hailey, Idaho 

Donald K. Jones 

Fiduciary Doctors LLC
Gilbert, Arizona 

John Ludwig 

LHD Retirement
Indianapolis, Indiana 

Mark D. Ray 

Praxis Consulting
Sacramento, California 

Allen Staples 

LPL Financial
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 

Erik K. Tappin 

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Carlsbad, California 

(Continued on next page) 

Individuals With $200 Million or More in AUA: More than $350MM to $900MM 

Stephen Cunha 

Baystate Financial Services
Wakefield, Massachusetts 

Steven Glasgow 

Avondale Partners LLC
Nashville, Tennessee  

Timothy Pitney 

Sapers & Wallack Inc.
Newton, Massachusetts 

Rick Wedge 

Pensionmark – San Francisco
Novato, California 

James Worrell 

GPS Investment Advisors
Providence, Rhode Island 

T. Henry Yoshida 

Maresh Yoshida 401k Group
Austin, Texas 

(Continued on next page)

Individuals With $200 Million or More in AUA: More than $900MM to $1.5B 

Carmela Elco 

RESOURCES for Retirement
Yardley, Pennsylvania 

Jeb Graham 

CAPTRUST Financial Advisors
Tampa, Florida 

Gary Handler 

UBS Financial Services Inc.
Encino, California 

Stace Hilbrant 

401k Advisors Chicago
Wilmette, Illinois 

Philip Steele 

Pension Architects
Malibu, California 

Peggy Whitmore 

Whitmore Retirement Solutions, Member firm of 401k Advisors
Port Washington, New York 

(Continued on next page)

Individuals With $200 Million or More in AUA: More than $1.5B  

Gregg Andonian 

Baystate Fiduciary Advisors Inc.
Boston, Massachusetts 

David Hinderstein 

Strategic Retirement Group Inc.
White Plains, New York 

Glenn Phillips 

Prudential Retirement
Yonkers, New York 

Andrew Prevost 

The Meltzer Group
Bethesda, Maryland 

Jon Strickland 

CAPTRUST Financial Advisors
Raleigh, North Carolina 

Attila Toth 

Portfolio Evaluations
Warren, New Jersey 

Individuals With 50 or More Plans: 50 to 65 Plans 

Thomas D. Ming 

Tower Rock Advisors Inc.
Bakersfield, California  

Jonathon Schultheiss 

Oak Ridge Wealth Management
Greensboro, North Carolina  

Erik K. Tappin 

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Carlsbad, California  

Rick Wedge 

Pensionmark – San Francisco
Novato, California  

James Worrell 

GPS Investment Advisors
Providence, Rhode Island 

(Continued on next page)

Individuals With 50 or More Plans: 66 to 80 Plans 

John Barry 

JMB Wealth Management/National Planning Corporation
Torrance, California  

David Hinderstein 

Strategic Retirement Group Inc.
White Plains, New York 

Steven Hocking 

UBS Financial Services Inc.
Irvine, California  

John Ludwig 

LHD Retirement
Indianapolis, Indiana  

Tuyen Pham 

Tutton Financial Services
Santa Ana, California 

 
(Continued on next page)

Individuals With 50 or More Plans: 81 to 150 plans 

Benedict A. Mitchell Jr. 

Florida Benefit Specialists
Fort Lauderdale, Florida  

Jim Sampson 

Cornerstone Retirement Advisors
Warwick, Rhode Island  

Thom Shumosic 

MidAtlantic Retirement Planning Specialists
Wilmington, Delaware  

Philip Steele 

Pension Architects
Malibu, California 

(Continued on next page)

Individuals With 50 or More Plans: More than 150 Plans 

Stephen Cunha 

Baystate Financial Services
Wakefield, Massachusetts  

Andrew Prevost 

The Meltzer Group
Bethesda, Maryland 

Teams With $750 Million or More in AUA: $750MM to $900MM 

GC Group 

Merrill Lynch
Northbrook, Illinois 

GPS Investment Advisors 

Providence, Rhode Island 

Oswald Financial Inc. 

Cleveland, Ohio 

The Peachtree Group 

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Atlanta, Georgia 

The Ratay Group at Morgan Stanley 

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Lisle, Illinois 

The Rinehart Staadeker Sussli Retirement Consulting Group of Wells Fargo Advisors 

Wells Fargo
Cincinnati, Ohio 

(Continued on next page)

Teams With $750 Million or More in AUA: More than $900MM to $1B 

Gallagher Retirement Services – South Florida Office 

Gallagher Retirement Services
Miami, Florida 

Heffernan Financial Services 

San Francisco, California 

The Kieckhefer Group 

Brookfield, Wisconsin 

The Myers Wolfe Myers Group of Morgan Stanley 

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Jenkintown, Pennsylvania 

The Willhite Institutional Consulting Group 

UBS Financial Services Inc.
The Woodlands, Texas 

(Continued on next page)

Teams With $750 Million or More in AUA: More than $1B to $1.5B 

Cammack LaRhette Consulting 

Wellesley, Massachusetts 

The D’Aiutolo Institutional Consulting Team 

UBS Financial Services Inc.
Rochester, New York 

NWK Group Inc. 

San Francisco, California 

The Retirement Group at Morgan Stanley 

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Jericho, New York 

(Continued on next page)

Teams With $750 Million or More in AUA: More than $1.5B to $2B 

The Brice Group 

Merrill Lynch
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan  

CAPTRUST Iowa 

CAPTRUST Financial Advisors
West Des Moines, Iowa 

The Kelliher Corbett Group at Morgan Stanley 

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Norwell, Massachusetts 

ProCourse Fiduciary Advisors LLC (Formerly Praxis Fiduciary Advisors LLC) 

Carmel, Indiana 

(Continued on next page)

Teams With $750 Million or More in AUA: More than $2B to $2.5B 

Cammack LaRhette Consulting 

New York, New York 

CAPTRUST Akron 

CAPTRUST Financial Advisors
Akron, Ohio 

Compass Financial Partners 

Greensboro, North Carolina 

Graystone Consulting – Potomac  

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Potomac,Maryland 

MFP Corporate Retirement Services 

Molewski Financial Partners
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 

PearlStreet Investment Management of Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. 

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc
Grand Rapids, Michigan 

Pension Consultants Inc. 

Springfield, Missouri 

Precept Advisory Group 

Irvine, California 

(Continued on next page)

Teams With $750 Million or More in AUA: More than $2.5B to $3B 

Graystone Consulting – Cincinnati 

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Cincinnati, Ohio 

Graystone Consulting – Tampa 

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Tampa, Florida 

Newport Capital Group 

Red Bank, New Jersey 

(Continued on next page)

Teams With $750 Million or More in AUA: More than $3.B to $5B 

The FDG Group 

UBS Financial Services Inc.
Stamford, Connecticut 

SageView Advisory Group 

Boston, Massachusetts 

Wile Consulting Group 

UBS Financial Services Inc.
Atlanta, Georgia 

(Continued on next page)

Teams With $750 Million or More in AUA: More than $5B 

401k Advisors – East Region 

West Chester, Pennsylvania 

Cammack LaRhette Consulting 

New York, New York 

Capital Strategies Investment Group LLC 

Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 

CAPTRUST Dallas 

CAPTRUST Financial Advisors
Dallas, Texas 

The Gsell Group 

Merrill Lynch
Edison, New Jersey 

Lockton Retirement Services – Dallas 

Lockton Retirement Services
Dallas, Texas 

The Parks Consulting Group of Graystone Consulting 

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 

SageView West Team 

SageView Advisory Group
Irvine, California 

Teams With 100 or More Plans: 100 to 110 Plans 

Heffernan Financial Services 

San Francisco, California 

The Kelliher Corbett Group at Morgan Stanley 

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Norwell, Massachusetts 

MCM Retirement Services 

MCM
Seattle, Washington 

Wile Consulting Group 

UBS Financial Services Inc.
Atlanta, Georgia  

(Continued on next page)

 

Teams With 100 or More Plans: 111 to 120 Plans 

Capital Strategies Investment Group LLC 

Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 

The D’Aiutolo Institutional Consulting Team 

UBS Financial Services Inc.
Rochester, New York 

Everhart 

Everhart Financial
Dublin, Ohio 

(Continued on next page)

Teams With 100 or More Plans: 120 to 200 plans 

Lockton Retirement Services – Dallas 

Lockton Retirement Services
Dallas, Texas 

Oswald Financial Inc. 

Cleveland, Ohio 

SageView West Team 

SageView Advisory Group
Irvine, California 

(Continued on next page)

Teams With 100 or More Plans: More than 200 plans 

The J & R Group 

Merrill Lynch
Chicago, Illinois 

The Schwamb O’Day Group 

Merrill Lynch
Garden City, New York 

Multioffice Team With $1.25 Billion or More in AUA:  

$1.25B to $2B 

Alliance Benefit Group Financial Services Corp. 

Albert Lea, Minnesota 

Barney & Barney Retirement Services 

Barney & Barney LLC
San Diego, California 

Cafaro Greenleaf 

Red Bank, New Jersey 

More than $2B to $4B 

The FDG Group 

UBS Financial Services Inc.
Stamford, Connecticut 

Moreton Retirement Partners 

Denver, Colorado 

White Oak Advisors 

Indianapolis, Indiana 

(Continued on next page)

Multioffice Team With $1.25 Billion or More in AUA: 

More than $4B to $10B 

Institutional Investment Consulting (IIC) 

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 

Pensionmark Retirement Group 

Santa Barbara, California 

Sheridan Road Financial 

Northbrook, Illinois 

More than $10B 

401(k) Advisors 

Aliso Viejo, California 

Fiduciary Investment Advisors 

Windsor, Connecticut 

Plan Sponsor Advisors LLC 

Chicago, Illinois 

Multioffice Team With 125 or More Plans: 

125 to 175 Plans 

Alliance Benefit Group Financial Services Corp. 

Albert Lea, Minnesota 

Fiduciary Investment Advisors 

Windsor, Connecticut 

Moreton Retirement Partners 

Denver, Colorado 

The Noble Group 

Sugar Land, Texas 

176 to 300 Plans 

Barney & Barney Retirement Services 

Barney & Barney LLC
San Diego, California 

Bukaty Companies Retirement Plan Services 

Leawood, Kansas 

Sheridan Road Financial 

Northbrook, Illinois 

More than 300 Plans 

401(k) Advisors 

Aliso Viejo, California 

Pensionmark Retirement Group 

Santa Barbara, California 

Teams and Individuals With: 20% or More in 403(b) Plans 

Gregg Andonian 

Baystate Fiduciary Advisors Inc.
Boston, Massachusetts 

Cammack LaRhette Consulting 

New York, New York 

Cammack LaRhette Consulting 

Wellesley, Massachusetts 

Stephen Cunha 

Baystate Financial Services
Wakefield, Massachusetts 

The Dubie Group 

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
South Burlington, Vermont 

Carmela Elco 

RESOURCES for Retirement
Yardley, Pennsylvania 

ERISA Fiduciary Advisors Inc. 

Stuart, Florida 

ERISA Fiduciary Advisors Inc. 

Weston, Florida 

The FDG Group 

UBS Financial Services Inc.
Stamford, Connecticut 

Fiduciary Investment Advisors 

Windsor, Connecticut 

Gallagher Retirement Services 

Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania 

Gallagher Retirement Services – South Florida Office 

Miami, Florida 

Jeb Graham 

CAPTRUST Financial Advisors
Tampa, Florida 

(Continued on next page)

Teams and Individuals With: 20% or More in 403(b) Plans (cont.) 

Heffernan Financial Services 

San Francisco, California 

David Hinderstein 

Strategic Retirement Group Inc.
White Plains, New York 

John Ludwig 

LHD retirement
Indianapolis, Indiana 

NFP Thorbahn Retirement Team 

NFP Thorbahn
Norwell, Massachusetts 

Oswald Financial Inc. 

Cleveland, Ohio 

Phillips/McGinn Retirement Resources 

Peabody, Massachusetts 

Timothy Pitney 

Sapers & Wallack Inc.
Newton, Massachusetts 

Plan Sponsor Advisors LLC 

Chicago, Illinois 

SageView Advisory Group 

Boston, Massachusetts 

Jonathon Schultheiss 

Oak Ridge Wealth Management
Greensboro, North Carolina 

White Oak Advisors 

Indianapolis, Indiana 

Teams and Individuals With: 

20% or More in 457 Plans  

Barney & Barney Retirement Services 

Barney & Barney LLC
San Diego, California 

Glenn Phillips 

Prudential Retirement
Yonkers, New York 

20% or More in Nonqualified Plans  

MCM Retirement Services 

MCM
Seattle, Washington 

MFP Corporate Retirement Services 

Molewski Financial Partners
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 

Allen Staples 

LPL Financial
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 

Teams and Individuals With: 20% or More in Defined Benefit Plans  

BCG Terminal Funding Company 

Braintree, Massachusetts 

The Brice Group 

Merrill Lynch
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 

Capital Strategies Investment Group LLC 

Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 

CAPTRUST Akron 

CAPTRUST Financial Advisors
Akron, Ohio 

CAPTRUST Dallas 

CAPTRUST Financial Advisors
Dallas, Texas 

CAPTRUST Iowa 

CAPTRUST Financial Advisors
West Des Moines, Iowa 

The Ellsworth Group 

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Hudson, Ohio 

Fiduciary Investment Advisors 

Windsor, Connecticut 

Graystone Consulting – Potomac 

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Potomac, Maryland 

Graystone Consulting – Tampa 

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Tampa, Florida 

The Parks Consulting Group of Graystone Consulting 

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 

The Peachtree Group 

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Atlanta, Georgia 

The Ratay Group at Morgan Stanley 

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Lisle, Illinois 

The Robertson Group 

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Columbus, Ohio 

Jon Strickland 

CAPTRUST Financial Advisors
Raleigh, North Carolina 

Peggy Whitmore 

Whitmore Retirement Solutions, Member Firm of 401k Advisors
Port Washington, New York 

Wile Consulting Group 

UBS Financial Services Inc.
Atlanta, Georgia 

The Willhite Institutional Consulting Group 

UBS Financial Services Inc.
The Woodlands,Texas