2025
PLANADVISER Retirement Plan Adviser Survey

From July through August, PLANADVISER asked retirement plan advisers about the factors they use to select investments and recordkeepers for their retirement plan clients. The 2025 PLANADVISER Retirement Plan Adviser Survey received 158 responses to questions about those and other subjects, relating to preferences in mutual funds, target-date funds, investment managers and defined contribution plan recordkeepers.

Advisers were asked to choose an investment manager as “best overall,” based on their experience with regard to listed service criteria. They were also asked to select an “honorable mention” among investment managers they’ve worked with. A selection of “best overall” received one vote, and a selection as “honorable mention” received a half-vote, with vote totals determining the investment manager ranking in the survey results. Advisers were also asked to select their most preferred fund families or individual funds for recommending to retirement plan clients. The total votes of advisers determined the ranking of asset manager firms home to those preferred fund families or funds.

DC recordkeeper ratings are based on responses from advisers who personally evaluate and recommend providers to their qualified plan clients. For each service category, the top-ranking list reflects the percentage of respondents who, having worked with the recordkeeper, recognized it as having the “best service” in that category. Advisers needed to have worked with a DC plan recordkeeper at least once to offer feedback on it.

At PLANADVISER, we are careful to preserve the integrity of the data collected in our various surveys. Our Plan Adviser Survey analysis is based on self-reported data that is impossible to independently verify. The data we present here accurately reflects what plan advisers have submitted to us.

For more information about the data presented, to view additional research or to receive notifications to sign up for the annual PLANADVISER Retirement Plan Adviser Survey, please reach out to the surveys team at surveys@issmediasolutions.com.

—Garrett Cox