SageView Advisory Group

Over the last four years, SageView Advisory Group has grown into a national practice, with six offices across the country—but the founder of the firm in 1989, Randall Long, and partner, Jon Upham, who joined in 1999, operate out of the headquarters location in Irvine, California. The headquarter office, with about 20 employees, is the home of investment research, reporting, and marketing. However, Long and Upham do not just lead the nationwide operations, they are the regional office for the West, with clients primarily in California and Arizona.

Although each plan is unique, SageView does follow a general procedure with clients. When a plan first is taken on, the plan sponsor receives a fiduciary due diligence check list and SageView works to ensure that processes are on a par with what ERISA requires, including an examination of the plan’s fiduciary oversight, employee communication, and investments. The advisers put together a business plan for their plan sponsor clients each year, plans that generally project out for a couple of years, Upham says. SageView also meets with the committees quarterly or semiannually to understand and review the investments and investment policies.

Looking ahead, “I believe SageView is in a good position to assist our clients in addressing market conditions [in 2009],” Upham says. With the prospect of new legislation just ahead, he says, “I think there will be an increased need for plan sponsor support and employee education.” In addition to onsite education (including bilingual participant educators), and that provided by the vendors, SageView also provides an additional 800 number connected with the home office if participants want help beyond the vendor.

The firm wants to continue to grow, but is not looking to grow too rapidly, Upham says. They want to be sure they bring on the right people and continue to build a high-quality brand. Although traditionally the firm has targeted 401(k) plans, it has had some successes lately with 403(b) and 457 programs. SageView’s retirement plan clients average $40 million in plan assets. In general, when seeking out new plans, “we are looking for plan sponsors that value what we do and what we can bring to the table,” he says.

Photo by Michael Justice