2015
Retirement Plan Adviser Survey

Arguably, retirement plan advisers have a better—or at least
a more comparative—perspective than their plan sponsor clients about the
relative strength of products and services offered by investment and
recordkeeping providers. After all, advisers can—and usually do—work with many
of them concurrently. The 2015 Retirement Plan Adviser Survey, our eighth,
endeavors to gain insight from the adviser community about how providers and
funds are selected, and which are the favorites each year.

Providers

Providers

Ascensus

Qualified plan adviser votes213
Overall perception among plan advisers
Very favorable16.0%
Somewhat favorable37.8%
Not favorable31.4%
No opinion14.1%
Plan adviser experience with provider
Worked with many times36.1%
Worked with a few times43.2%
Worked with once7.1%
Never worked with13.5%
Top 10 service categories
1  Overall service to micro plans15 votes
2  Value for price14 votes
3  Fee structure for advisers12 votes
4  Overall service to small plans8 votes
5  Adviser support post-sale4 votes
5  Wholesalers4 votes
5  Value-added adviser services4 votes
8  Reputation2 votes
8  Plan participant support2 votes
8  Plan sponsor support2 votes