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

Charles Schwab

Qualified plan adviser votes149
Overall perception among plan advisers
Very favorable22.3%
Somewhat favorable31.5%
Not favorable11.5%
No opinion33.8%
Plan adviser experience with provider
Worked with many times18.5%
Worked with a few times31.5%
Worked with once12.9%
Never worked with37.1%
Top 10 service categories
1  Plan sponsor support6 votes
2  Reputation5 votes
3  Overall service to midsize plans4 votes
3  Supporting materials4 votes
3  Plan sponsor education materials4 votes
3  Fee structure for advisers4 votes
3  Overall service to large plans4 votes
8  Adviser support post-sale3 votes
8  Overall service to mega plans3 votes
8  Value for price3 votes