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

Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Qualified plan adviser votes132
Overall perception among plan advisers
Very favorable10.9%
Somewhat favorable8.4%
Not favorable35.3%
No opinion43.7%
Plan adviser experience with provider
Worked with many times11.1%
Worked with a few times17.9%
Worked with once17.9%
Never worked with53.0%
Top 10 service categories
1  Overall service to midsize plans9 votes
2  Overall service to small plans7 votes
2  Supporting materials7 votes
2  Adviser sales/marketing support7 votes
2  Plan sponsor education materials7 votes
6  Fee structure for advisers6 votes
6  Reputation6 votes
6  Plan sponsor support6 votes
6  Participant education materials6 votes
6  Overall service to large plans6 votes