RESEARCH |

2017
PLANADVISER Retirement Plan Adviser Survey

When choosing recordkeepers and investment managers, advisers focus on their preferred firms

Reported by PLANADVISER | Art by Red Nose Studio
Art by Red Nose Studio
Survey Data
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Survey Data

Retirement Plan Adviser Experience vs. Perception of Plan Providers*

Legend
Worked w/ many times
Worked w/ a few times
Worked w/ once
Never worked with
  
Very favorable
Somewhat favorable
Not favorable
No opinion
Experience   Perception
ADP Retirement Services
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
46% 37% 10% 6%   16% 39% 42% 3%
Experience   Perception
American Funds Distributors
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
41% 40% 8% 11%   27% 40% 17% 16%
Experience   Perception
Ascensus
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
38% 40% 10% 12%   18% 34% 34% 14%
Experience   Perception
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
8% 32% 11% 49%   11% 16% 32% 42%
Experience   Perception
Charles Schwab
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
21% 26% 16% 37%   21% 30% 10% 39%
Experience   Perception
Empower Retirement
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
60% 26% 8% 6%   53% 35% 7% 5%
Experience   Perception
Fidelity Investments
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
69% 24% 1% 5%   43% 37% 14% 5%
Experience   Perception
John Hancock Retirement Plan Services
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
47% 33% 10% 10%   21% 50% 21% 9%
Experience   Perception
Lincoln Financial Group
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
13% 45% 14% 28%   13% 36% 27% 24%
Experience   Perception
MassMutual Financial Group
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
35% 45% 10% 10%   24% 53% 17% 6%
Experience   Perception
Nationwide Financial
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
22% 35% 14% 29%   11% 32% 32% 25%
Experience   Perception
Newport Group
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
19% 27% 19% 34%   17% 31% 17% 35%
Experience   Perception
OneAmerica
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
26% 22% 14% 39%   13% 27% 19% 40%
Experience   Perception
Paychex
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
35% 42% 13% 10%   1% 26% 60% 13%
Experience   Perception
Principal Financial Group
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
51% 38% 4% 7%   31% 38% 27% 3%
Experience   Perception
Prudential Retirement
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
23% 33% 11% 32%   27% 36% 10% 28%
Experience   Perception
The Standard
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
17% 24% 20% 39%   11% 30% 15% 44%
Experience   Perception
TIAA
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
27% 28% 17% 28%   12% 34% 35% 19%
Experience   Perception
Transamerica Retirement Solutions
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
36% 39% 15% 9%   21% 37% 31% 10%
Experience   Perception
T. Rowe Price
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
26% 35% 16% 23%   42% 27% 8% 23%
Experience   Perception
Vanguard
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
33% 48% 1% 17%   39% 43% 7% 11%
Experience   Perception
Voya Financial
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
30% 43% 8% 19%   16% 38% 29% 16%
Experience   Perception
Wells Fargo & Co.
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
18% 26% 14% 41%   10% 32% 22% 37%
Experience   Perception

*Among 205 retirement plan advisers, regardless of their experience with the provider (see Methodology).